US welcomes border agreement between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, says Blinken

Washington, The Gulf Observer: The US administration welcomes the agreement on the border demarcation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and also positively evaluates the reforms implemented by Tashkent. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced this on Monday before his meeting with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov in Washington D.C.

“We are pursuing our Strategic Partnership Dialogue, which I’m very pleased about,” Said Blinken. According to him, the dialogue meeting will be held on Tuesday. This is a very good and important opportunity for the two of us to compare notes on the many challenges that we’re facing together.”

The US Secretary of State added: “I reiterate, as always, the commitment of the United States to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan. I really want to applaud Uzbekistan for reaching a border demarcation agreement with Kyrgyzstan. I think this sends a powerful signal to many in the region, and beyond, about the importance of possibilities with diplomacy for resolving these issues. And I also appreciate the work that’s being done on reforms, including on religious freedom, on forced labor – and, of course, we have much to discuss, including with regard to Afghanistan.”

In turn, Vladimir Norov noted that Uzbekistan expects to continue the effective dialogue, including the expansion of bilateral relations in the fields of trade, investment, science and technology, education and human potential development.

On December 12-14, 2022, the delegation of Uzbekistan headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov is on a visit to the USA to participate in the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Dialogue between Uzbekistan and the United States.

The first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Dialogue between the parties was held on December 13, 2021, in Tashkent.