Uzbek Leader Thanks Putin For Support

"The problems that emerged in Uzbekistan in connection with the Andijon events showed very clearly who is who, so to speak," Karimov said. "And in this respect Russia once again proved its reliability."

Karimov was speaking at a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of a Central Asian Cooperation Organization summit in St Petersburg.

He said Russia and Uzbekistan should become "allies."

Putin said he was "pleased" to discuss economic and security cooperation with his Uzbek counterpart and stressed that Uzbekistan was on the "front lines" of the international war on terrorism.

Russia has not joined international demands for an independent probe into the May uprising and bloody military crackdown in Andijon.

(AFP/ITAR-TASS)

See also:

Uzbek Developments Present U.S. Policy Dilemmas

What Does Closure Of U.S. Military Base In Uzbekistan Mean?


For RFE/RL's full coverage of the Andijon trials, see "Aftermath Of Andijon"