By empty (7/19/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones told Uzbek television in an 18 July interview that a plan for political and economic reform in Uzbekistan has been drawn up.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Elizabeth Jones told Uzbek television in an 18 July interview that a plan for political and economic reform in Uzbekistan has been drawn up. The interview came on the heels of the U.S. State Department\'s 13 July decision to freeze $18 million in aid to Uzbekistan, as well as Jones\'s 14 July meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov. Jones stated in the interview, \"On the socioeconomic side, in terms of economic reform and political reform, we were able to have a good discussion in my official meetings with the president and with the foreign minister about progress in both of those areas, and we have set ourselves a work plan for how to address some of the political reform issues and some of the economic reform issues in ways that we think will be very positive for both countries and for the region.\" On the general subject of bilateral relations, Jones said, \"The relationship between the United States and Uzbekistan is really very good.\" (RFE/RL)