Press Releases 2008
Visit of Acting Deputy Secretary Pamela Spratlen to Uzbekistan (04/01/2008)
On March 27 - April 1, 2008, Acting Deputy Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Pamela Spratlen conducted a useful visit to Uzbekistan. She met with several Uzbek Government officials including the Speaker of Parliament Dilorom Tashmukhamedova, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov, Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Elyor Ganiev, Chairman of Religious Affairs Committee Ortiq Yusupov, and Secretary of the National Security Council Murod Ataev.
During her visit, Ms. Spratlen also met with representatives of various NGOs such as Open Dialog, the National Democratic Institute, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Human Rights Watch.
In her meetings, Ms. Spratlen reiterated the position of the United States Government that the relations between the United States and Uzbekistan are multi-faceted, and that the full range of issues in our bilateral agenda include regional security, trade and investment, and cultural exchanges, democratic reforms and human rights. Ms. Spratlen expressed the United States’ ongoing concerns on human rights, as well as U.S. support for the recent decision to permit ICRC prison visits, and for the release of some political prisoners.
While in Bukhara, Ms. Spratlen met with the Hokim of the Bukhara province, Samoidin Khusenov, leaders of the Jewish community, and representatives of civil society. She also visited several historical cultural sites, including the birth village and museum of Ibn Sina.
In addition to Uzbekistan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary will also visit Tajikistan.