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Asia and Oceania
Uzbekistan |
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Last reviewed: 22 November 2007 |
Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Uzbekistan's Relations with Neighbours
Uzbek foreign policy has in recent years been preoccupied with the threat of Islamic fundamentalism in neighbouring Afghanistan, Tajikistan and increasingly Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where there are significant Uzbek minorities. President Karimov's rigid policies have strained relations with his immediate neighbours, particular with respect to cross-border trade and movement. Areas bordering Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are mined. Uzbekistan has expressed a wish to de-mine, but has requested international assistance. This is complicated by the fact that Uzbekistan has not signed the Ottawa Convention, a treaty banning all types of anti-personnel mine.
Uzbekistan's relations with Russia have strengthened in the last two years. In November 2005 the two sides signed a treaty on allied relations. This was followed in June 2006 by the announcement that Uzbekistan would resume active participation in the Russian-led CIS Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). (Uzbekistan had suspended co-operation with the CTSO in 1999). In 2006 - Uzbekistan also joined EURASEC, an organisation that aims for closer economic co-operation between the Russia, Belarus and the five Central Asian states.
Uzbekistan's Relations with the International Community
Uzbekistan's relations with the EU and the US have been strained since the events in Andizhan of 12-13 May 2005.
The EU General Affairs Council discussed the events in Andizhan in May, June and July 2005, calling on Uzbekistan to co-operate with the international community and permit an enquiry. As the Uzbek authorities remained intransigent, the EU General Affairs Council returned to the subject of Uzbekistan on 3 October. Chaired by then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Jack Straw, the Council adopted Conclusions which condemned the refusal to allow an independent international enquiry and called on the Uzbeks to discontinue the detention and harassment of those, including human rights defenders, journalists and others, who had questioned the authorities’ version of events. The Council imposed an arms embargo, a visa ban on ministers and officials directly responsible for the Andizhan events, suspended technical meetings under the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Co-operation Agreement and redirected assistance programmes to relieve poverty, and support human rights, democracy and civil society. Norway and Switzerland supported the EU action by adopting similar measures.
In November 2006 EU Foreign Ministers renewed the arms embargo and visa ban against Uzbekistan for three months, but welcomed Uzbekistan's agreement to dialogue with the EU on Andizhan and human rights. EU Foreign Ministers will review the measures again in May 2007.
In November 2007 the EU also lifted the ban on technical meetings under the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, to encourage respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law in Uzbekistan, through dialogue.
An EU delegation held expert-level talks with the Uzbek authorities on Andizhan and exploratory talks on holding a Human Rights Dialogue with Uzbekistan in December 2006. The first round of the Human Rights Dialogue took place in Tashkent on 8/9 May 2007.
In November 2005 seventy seven countries voted for an EU-sponsored country resolution in the UN General Assembly Third Committee. It expressed grave concern at the clear deterioration in the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and the government's refusal to co-operate with or address the concerns of the international community, including the UN. A similar resolution in 2006 was not successful.
In July 2006 the Uzbek authorities insisted the OSCE Mission in Tashkent be changed to a Project Co-ordinator's Office (PCO). The PCO mandate will be reviewed at the end of 2006.
In August 2005 Uzbekistan asked the US to leave its military base in Uzbekistan. The US forces left the base in November.
Uzbekistan's Relations with the UK
The UK recognised Uzbekistan as an independent state on 31 December 1991. Diplomatic relations were established in late 1992. A British Embassy in Tashkent opened in May 1993. The current Ambassador, Iain Kelly, has served in Uzbekistan since May 2007. The first Uzbek Ambassador to the UK arrived in May 1997.
Cultural Relations with the UK
The British Council (BC) has an office in Tashkent (which also covers Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). The UK offers a limited number of scholarships through the Chevening scheme. In 2002, the BC helped Westminster University open a British-Uzbek University in Tashkent.
Recent Visits
Inward
The last Uzbek Minister to pay an official visit to the UK was Elyor Ganiev, Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, in 2004. He had a meeting with the then FCO Minister of State Mike O’Brien
Outward
The last FCO Minister to visit was Malcolm Rifkind, as Foreign Secretary, in February 1997.
Country information
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Contacts
Address:
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
41 Holland Park
London W11 3RP
Telephone:
(020) 7229 7679
Fax:
(020) 7229 7029
Email: info@uzbekembassy.org
Office hours:
Mon–Fri: 0900-1230 and 1430-1730
Mon, Wed, Fri: 1000–1300 (Consular)
Website: http://www.uzbekembassy.org/