"It is necessary to fundamentally revise the approaches to resolving the situation by giving Afghanistan purposeful economic aid, and efficiently resolving the most critical social problems," he said.

During the bilateral talks, Karimov called for the diversification of Uzbek-Russian investment cooperation. He also hoped for Russia’s "considered position" on the implementation of a Tajik water project.

The following is an excerpt from Karimov’s remarks broadcast in a special programme devoted to the Russian president’s visit to Uzbekistan broadcast by Uzbek state-owned Television First Channel on 23 January; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev started his visit to Uzbekistan from the central town of Samarqand.

The Russian leader accompanied by the Uzbek president went on a sightseeing tour in the ancient town; one-to-one talks are held at the Dormon presidential residence in Tashkent.

Karimov, speaking at an expanded meeting between the Uzbek and Russian delegations, said: “I want to again repeat that during the talks, which have just been held with the Russian president in an open and reliable atmosphere, we again confirmed the sides’ firm political will to consistently continue cooperation in resolving common difficult tasks facing our countries, in the conditions of rapidly changing situation in the world and the region, and to seek joint resolutions in fighting traditional and new threats to security in the world. We exchanged views, in an open and constructive atmosphere, on a quite wide range of issues that interest us, relating to bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as on topical international and regional issues. Of course, we focused our attention on consolidating and joining efforts in preventing the financial and economic crisis, whose scale is expanding, and stepping up cooperation relations between companies, enterprises, the real sectors of the economy and business, which are becoming very topical today.

“We note, with great satisfaction, constructive bilateral collaboration within the UN, SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization] and OSCE, where the positions and approaches of our countries are practically the same or similar in many aspects. We paid great attention to issues relating to expanding and stepping up integration processes in the post-Soviet area, above all, resolving long-standing issues, which are halting and preventing the strengthening of these processes.

“Cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres is also important in relations between the two countries. In this regard, we support expanding, systematically and actively, training of military personnel, and equipping the Uzbek armed forces with modern Russian military hardware.”

Afghan security

“Seizing the opportunity, I would like to speak shortly about the situation in Afghanistan, where the armed conflict has been continuing for almost 30 years. We are deeply convinced that with the situation unfolding today, it is impossible to resolve the Afghan problem only by military means and further militarization. It is necessary to fundamentally revise the approaches to resolving the situation by giving Afghanistan purposeful economic aid, and efficiently resolving the most critical social problems. It is very important to ensure respectful treatment and recognition of peculiarities of the mentality, national and religious values, as well as traditions of the multinational and multifaith Afghan nation, and thereupon, reach the consolidation of the confronting sides, which have been continuing the war in Afghanistan for 30 years already.

“We think that it may become an effective tool for achieving these goals to restore the 6+2 contact group on Afghanistan, which had successfully functioned in mid 1990s under the auspices of the UN by transforming it into 6+3 group and including the sides, which are involved in the conflict, into the group,” Karimov said

Diversification of investment cooperation

Stepping up trade and economic, as well as investment cooperation, is a priority area for further strengthening strategic partnership between our countries. Uzbekistan highly assesses Russia’s role as its most important trade partner. Trade between the countries totalled about four billion dollars in 2007, and this figure practically did not change in 2008, despite a significant reduction in world prices. At present, 786 enterprises with the participation of Russian capital function in Uzbekistan, a third of which, that is over 250 enterprises, have been set up over the last two years alone. The energy sphere has a leading role in the development of trade and economic, investment and, I would say strategic, relations, and above all, with the [Russian] Gazprom consortium.

Karimov said: “It is difficult to accept the fact that 95 per cent of [the Russian] investments, invested today in the Uzbek economy via joint enterprises, etc. are invested only in the energy and telecommunications spheres. I think that representatives of Russian business, who are present here, can understand well that it is not a normal situation, and we are ready for cooperation to expand investment spheres, trade and economic relations, including in other sectors, which Uzbekistan needs. We think that the diversification of investment cooperation should become a key area of bilateral dialogue in the immediate future and mid-term. We see good prospects for implementing joint investment projects in such fields like high technologies, electrical industry, machine building, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, producing building materials and furniture, as well as processing agricultural products. In particular, I know that representatives and heads of factories for producing gas pipelines and other products, which are very important for us, are present here. And we hope that we can sign long-term agreements in this regard, which will work in a long-term future.

Uzbekistan is for stepping up cooperation with Russia in the aircraft industry; Uzbek-Russian humanitarian cooperation is also developing.

Central Asian water projects

Karimov: “I would like to especially speak on one issue. Uzbekistan counts on Russia’s well-thought-out and considered position on issues relating the implementation of hydro power projects in the Central Asian region. This issue has been discussed for a long time already, and discussed many times at various levels. I, above all, mean in the West. Above all, great powers are interested in this, which by resolving this issue hope to get access to regulating water resources of trans-border rivers, that is Amu Darya and Syr Darya. These rivers have been feeding millions of people over thousands of years, and today the fate of over 50m people depends on how this issue will be resolved. This issue is vital for me, and not only for me, but also for the whole population of Uzbekistan, especially, if we take into consideration a disaster and tragedy - the shrinking of the Aral Sea - that we have been experiencing for several years. Those who have once been there and seen all this [the shrinking of the Aral Sea], will never forget this. Changes are already occurring at a genetic level. The Aral [Sea problem] is not the problem of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan alone, it is a global problem. And not well thought out and superficial resolution of the issues relating to the construction of dams on the Amu Darya river, in particular the Roghun [hydroelectric power station Tajikistan planning to build], [changes tack] I think a very serious approach is needed here, as it is, above all, a tectonic zone and the seismic activity is registered at 9-10 points [presumably on the Richter scale]. You can imagine a 340-metre dam which our neighbours are going to construct. Of course, this requires serious understanding. Our approach is very simple. We say, please, we ourselves are ready to participate in the construction of these facilities provided that an international expert judgment [is provided] and an international study is carried out over this issue, with the participation of environment and water experts who understand well the construction of grand facilities, and after this, as they say, welcome. If they say that the water flow will not change, that is, the people living along the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers will get the same amount of water, or the most important issue is the environment [sentence as received]. We hope that the Russian side will not just discuss these issues, but also make a principled decision so that UN conventions are observed and a rational resolution is adopted. We are not indifferent to Russia, and I believe that Russia is also not indifferent to the lives and future of our people living in Central Asia.

Medvedev praises Uzbek-Russian cooperation; urges resolving the Afghan problem collectively - covered; the sides signed several documents; a news conference was held after the talks; the two leaders praise the results of talks.

No military solution to Afghan problem

Karimov said: “We had a very open exchange of views. Many things are becoming apparent to me, many things are becoming clear. I can make some decisions with confidence knowing in advance Russia’s attitude towards some key issues relating to ensuring stability in our region. Believe me, it is not a simple issue altogether. The interests of many great powers cross here, as well as disagreements and conflicts. A serious groundwork is being laid so that radical forces can get a new breath here tomorrow, especially due to the events occurring in Pakistan and Pakistani-Afghan border. When it becomes apparent to me and I can orient [myself] to how Russia sees the solution of one or another problem, many things become clear for me and I am convinced that this makes it possible for Uzbekistan to make deliberate decisions in its foreign policy.

As for our positions, attitudes and approaches towards resolving the Afghan problem, we have several times spoken about this, and during today’s meeting, we also stressed our principled approaches to resolving this issue. Practically all the countries, which are involved in resolving the Afghan problem and the war continuing for over 30 years, have already come to one conclusion that it is absolutely unacceptable to resolve the Afghan problem, establish accord and stability not only in Afghanistan, but also neighbouring countries, by military means and further militarization. And this does not have any prospect. I repeat again, and above all, generals who speak on behalf of NATO or as representatives of NATO, the USA and the UK, especially, those specific people who are involved in this conflict on behalf of NATO or the USA, have several times stressed that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. It is becoming clear for the whole world today. I hope you have read about and are quite aware of this. What might be the solution to this issue? We believe that our recent initiative first expressed at the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest is significant and topical. That is, we suggest resolving these issues by involving the region’s countries, including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, say Iran, Pakistan, China, India and other countries, which have seen all this in reality for over 30 years and how serious consequences are and how the situation is escalating and no end is in sight for this war. At present, the Taleban gets great power not only because it is guided by the ideology of Al-Qa’idah or other radical forces, but, above all, ordinary Afghans themselves are joining the Taleban. No one can deny this. We say that the Taleban is a separate organization which fights, on the basis of its radical positions, against the government of [Afghan President Hamid] Karzai. However, actually the power of the Taleban lies in the fact, and no one can deny this, that they rely on ordinary Afghans, who have been frequently joining the Taleban and are dissatisfied with the war in Afghanistan. And it is clear that the [Afghan] people are becoming more and more convinced over almost eight years since the last stage of this war started that they are receiving practically nothing. And you know from the experience of many such wars that occur in regions that, the longer troops stay there, the more they acquire not just perception of being occupants, but also the nature of occupants.

Karimov urges that representatives of the region should participate in solving security issues in Afghanistan.

Karimov: “We believe that one of the absolutely unacceptable approaches of the forces which want to establish peace in Afghanistan is disrespect to the Afghan nation, its religious views. Billions [of dollars] have already been spent on militarization and the war in Afghanistan. If at least half of these funds were spent on resolving communication and social issues, and life became a bit easier for people, then I think the government of Karzai would have got much more support than today. This is why, I believe that people should be respected and given the chance to resolve their own problems themselves. This is Uzbekistan’s approach.”