LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Uzbekistan: United States
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In 2001, Uzbekistan provided the U.S. and UK with a base to fight against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in neighboring Afghanistan and became the United States' main regional partner in the war on terror. Karimov linked his own battle against the Islamic opposition to the global fight on terrorism. He ... exploited the real threat of Islamicism by labeling all of his opponents as Islamic extremists. As a strategic partner, the U.S. has been reluctant to take a firm stand regarding Uzbekistan's dismal human rights record. According to a report in the New York Times in May 2005, the U.S. has sent clandestine planeloads of accused terrorists to Uzbekistan as part of its controversial “rendition” program, the delivery of prisoners to countries with abusive interrogation tactics that are prohibited in the United States.
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Uzbekistan provides support for the U.S.-led efforts in Afghanistan. The United States established a major operations base at the Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) airbase outside Tashkent in 2001, from which it ran the air war in northern Afghanistan and coordinated Special Forces operations throughout Afghanistan. As of yet, the U.S. has not formally committed to a continuing military presence in Uzbekistan. Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Secretaries of State and Defense and over 70 members of Congress have paid visits to Tashkent.
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Along with many Commonwealth of Independent States economies, Uzbekistan's economy has recently shifted into high gear, recording 9.1% growth in the first quarter of 2007, along with a low inflation rate of 2.9%. [2]. However, Craig Murray, author of "Murder in Samarkand", suggests that official statistics about Uzbekistan are not trustworthy. [3]
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In late July 2005, the government of Uzbekistan ordered the United States to vacate an air base in Karshi-Kanabad (near the Uzbekistan`s border with Afghanistan) within 180 days. Karimov had offered use of the base to the U.S. shortly after 9/11. It is ... believed by some Uzbeks that the protests in Andijan were brought about by the UK and US influences in the area of Andijan. This is another reason for the hostility between Uzbekistan and the West.
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Alarmed by signs that Uzbekistan is interested in a rapprochement with the United States and European Union, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Uzbek leader Islam Karimov would be making a hastily arranged visit to Moscow. When that trip ended on February 6, Putin had yet to hear Karimov make a clear-cut declaration of fealty to Moscow. Instead, the visit featured mainly general statements about the benefits of cooperation.
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The Republic of Uzbekistan maintains an embassy at 1746 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel.: (202) 887-5300; fax (202) 293-6804. Its consulate and mission to the UN in New York are located at 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 326/327a, New York, NY 10017. Consulate tel.: (212) 754-7403; fax: (212) 486-7998.
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