[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 173 (Monday, December 9, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMENDING UZBEKISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 9, 2013

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, as the Chair of the Congressional 
Central Asia Caucus, I rise today to commend Uzbekistan on its ongoing 
efforts to strengthen relations with the United States. In August 2012, 
Uzbekistan's legislature approved a foreign policy concept submitted by 
President Islam Karimov which is intended to strengthen the country's 
independence and sovereignty, ensure Uzbekistan's role in international 
affairs, create security and stability in Central Asia, and sets 
Uzbekistan on a path of joining the ranks of democratic countries.
  The United States and Uzbekistan belong to a number of the same 
organizations, including the United Nations, Organization for Security 
and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. 
Uzbekistan is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's 
Partnership for Peace and an observer to the World Trade Organization.
  Home to more than half of the population of Central Asia and located 
at the center of regional trade and transport networks, Uzbekistan is a 
potential Central Asian regional power. For more than a decade, I have 
worked closely with the country and I am pleased by the developments 
that have occurred in such a short time since Uzbekistan gained 
independence at the end of 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union.
  Uzbekistan has supported North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
troops in Afghanistan through provision of electricity, development of 
rail infrastructures and the Northern Distribution Network. Uzbekistan 
was also one of the United States' main regional partners in the war on 
terrorism.
  Under the leadership of President Karimov, our relationship with 
Uzbekistan has now developed beyond Afghanistan. The United States and 
Uzbekistan are cooperating on security, economic relations, political 
and civil society issues, agricultural development, transnational 
crime, and the threat of infectious disease. Although we have a ways to 
go, we are in the process of strengthening our bilateral relations.
  This is why I am pleased to welcome President Karimov's delegation to 
the United States which is visiting Washington, D.C. from December 8-
12, 2013. Uzbekistan's delegation is led by my good friend, Foreign 
Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, who served previously as Uzbekistan's 
Ambassador to the United States. The delegation also includes my good 
friend, Senator Sodiq Safoyev, who served previously as Uzbekistan's 
Foreign Minister and also as Ambassador to the United States and State 
Advisor to the President.
  Other members of Uzbekistan's delegation include the First Deputy 
Minister of Defense, First Deputy Minister of Justice, First Deputy 
Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman 
of the Committee on Science and Technology, the Chairman of the 
Committee on Democratic Institutions, the Head of America's Department, 
and a member of the National Security Council under the President of 
Uzbekistan. H.E. Bakhtiyar Gulyamov, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to the 
United States, will accompany the delegation.
  While in Washington, the delegation will be hosted by Members of the 
U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. Having traveled to 
Samarkand in late August of this year, to Tashkent more than once, and 
in tribute to my long-standing friendship with Foreign Minister Kamilov 
and Senator Safoyev which spans nearly a decade, it was my sincere hope 
to personally host a Members Only meeting for them. But, in my absence, 
I thank my esteemed colleagues for doing so.
  The people of Uzbekistan are, as President Kamilov said, ``a creative 
people who deeply realize their identity, take pride of the fact that 
they live on the sacred land and are the descendants of great 
ancestors, capable to subdue any peaks.'' I agree.
  And so, once more, it is my privilege to welcome Uzbekstan's 
distinguished delegation to Washington and extend my kindest regards 
and best wishes for a successful dialogue.

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