The US policy towards Uzbekistan is based on five key pillars, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Ambassador Alice Wells said.
According to her, for Uzbekistan now is “a key moment in history. What is happening here, in the most populous country of Central Asia, will determine not only the future of this country, but also the future of the entire region and territories beyond its borders.” She believes that the time has come to restore the full potential of Central Asia.
“To understand how the United States and Uzbekistan can better move forward, it is necessary to understand what our common priorities are. The US policy towards Uzbekistan is based on five key pillars that are closely related to the priorities set by President Mirziyoyev for Uzbekistan,” said PDAS Wells, speaking at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy on Wednesday, February 27.
First of all, the United States remains committed to supporting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan.
“There is nothing that Americans value more than our independence - the inalienable right of every person to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In Uzbekistan, we see a kindred spirit - a nation that steadfastly resisted external pressure and avoided dependence on foreign powers, a nation that is committed to go its own way, defining its own policies and priorities, and carefully choosing its allies,” the diplomat said.
Therefore, the US authorities appreciate the “first and foremost neighbors” policy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, “which is a model for the region,” and believe that this policy benefits not only the people of Uzbekistan, but also the population of neighboring states.
With regard to the second pillar of US policy in Uzbekistan, the United States is committed to ensuring sustainable growth and economic prosperity. A State Department spokeswoman said she welcomes reforms aimed at creating an open, transparent market economy.
In addition, the United States supports the aspirations of Uzbekistan to join the World Trade Organization. In this regard, the American side provided an expert on WTO accession to advise the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment on this process.
“Turning to the third pillar of US policy in Uzbekistan, both our countries are united in their determination to ensure regional stability and fight terrorism,” said Wells.
