[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E81]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING UZBEKISTAN ON 25 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 2017

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record an 
opinion piece written by our former colleague, the gentleman from 
American Samoa, Mr. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, who was the first Asian-
Pacific American in U.S. history to serve as Chairman of the U.S. House 
of Representatives' Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, 
and the Global Environment, which had broad jurisdiction for U.S. 
policy affecting the region, including Central Asia. Mr. Faleomavaega 
also founded the Congressional Caucus on Central Asia, and his work 
continues to influence the region today.

        2016 marked the 25th anniversary of Uzbekistan's 
     independence from the Soviet Union. For some 15 years, it has 
     been my privilege to work closely with the government of 
     Uzbekistan in various capacities--as a Member of the U.S. 
     House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs; as 
     Chairman of the Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the 
     Pacific, and the Global Environment; as Ranking Member; and 
     as founder of the Congressional Caucus on Central Asia.
       I am proud of Uzbekistan for the great progress it has made 
     on its march to democracy, and I especially commend 
     Uzbekistan on its recent presidential election as well as Mr. 
     Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his victory. In an act that 
     demonstrated Uzbekistan's commitment to a transparent 
     process, Uzbekistan invited about 300 international 
     observers, including a full-scale election observation team 
     from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
     (OSCE), to monitor the election, which was held on December 
     4, 2016 upon the passing of the late President Islam Karimov 
     who served as Uzbekistan's president since independence. 
     While every government, including the United States, has room 
     for improvement, I am pleased that Uzbekistan's first 
     election upon the passing of President Karimov was carried 
     out peacefully and in accordance with Uzbekistan's 
     constitution.
       Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the 
     United States until now, Uzbekistan and the United States 
     have built a broad-based relationship. During U.S.-led 
     operations in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan provided the use of a 
     military base to serve as a hub for combat and humanitarian 
     missions and, later, permitted the U.S. to move equipment and 
     supplies through Uzbekistan to Afghanistan in support of U.S. 
     troops. In the past 25 years, our relationship has also grown 
     in other ways, including economically, politically, and 
     strategically.
       In fact, Uzbekistan and the United States belong to a 
     number of the same international organizations including the 
     United Nations and the OSCE, as well as the International 
     Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Uzbekistan is an observer 
     to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has attracted 
     investment from Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, 
     Boeing, and so on.
       From firsthand experience, I know Uzbekistan's 
     accomplishments have been fast-paced, and I have recognized 
     those accomplishments in the Congressional Record for 
     historical purposes. As Uzbekistan continues to excel, I am 
     reminded of these words from the late President Karimov who 
     said that the people of Uzbekistan are ``a creative people 
     who deeply realize their identity, take pride of the fact 
     that they live on sacred land and are the descendants of 
     great ancestors, capable to subdue any peaks.''
       Uzbekistan is a land more than 2,500 years old. Its history 
     is rich and deep, spanning far beyond its brief encounter 
     with the Soviet Union. Its leaders--then and now--have sought 
     for security and stability at home and abroad. And so, I wish 
     President Mirziyoyev well as he assumes his duties. I have 
     every reason to believe he will succeed for and on behalf of 
     the people of Uzbekistan who have put their hope in him, 
     especially the youth and women, who showed up at the polls to 
     support his candidacy.
       I thank my dear friends including Foreign Minister 
     Abdulaziz Kamilov who previously served as Uzbekistan's 
     Ambassador to the United States, and Senator Sodiq Safoyev 
     who once served as Foreign Minister as well as former 
     Ambassador to the United States and currently as Chairman of 
     the Foreign Political Affairs Committee of the Senate of the 
     Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. I commend them for 
     their hard work in developing stronger U.S.-Uzbekistan 
     relations, and for dedicating their lives in service to their 
     country.
       I also commend Uzbekistan's Ambassador to the United 
     States, H.E. Bakhtiyar Gulyamov, and Uzbekistan's former 
     Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Ilhom Nematov, as well 
     as the many other leaders in Uzbekistan who have contributed 
     to building an independent nation.
       I join with the people of Uzbekistan in celebrating 25 
     years of independence, and it is my sincere hope that 
     Uzbekistan, like all freedom-loving nations, will hold these 
     truths to be self-evident--``that all men are created equal, 
     that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 
     unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and 
     the pursuit of Happiness.''

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