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USA Wants to Control South Asia - Uzbek Commentator

Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 00:00 CST

Uzbek political commentator Qobilbek Karimbekov has said that US President George Bush's tour of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan is evidence that South Asia is the "focus of Washington's geopolitical interests". In a political in-studio discussion featured by Uzbek Radio, he said that the USA was trying to get economic and political processes in the region under its control. Turning to Russian- Iranian nuclear power cooperation, he said Russia had maintained good relations with Iran over the past ten years, but Teheran's "current nuclear activities put Russia in a slightly embarrassing situation". The following are excerpts from a report by Uzbek radio's Youth Channel on 2 March; subheadings inserted editorially:

[Uzbek political commentator Gofur Jamolov] Today is 2 March. Fourteen years ago, to the day, Uzbekistan joined the most prestigious organization in the world, the United Nations.

[Passage omitted: background on Uzbek-UN relations over the review period]

[Gofur Jamolov] US President George Bush is continuing his tour of Asian countries. Yesterday he paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan. He met President Hamed Karzai there. In the second half of the day, he went to India. Reports say that during his talks in [South] Asia, in particular, in the above countries, President Bush discussed cooperation in various fields, including in such delicate issues as fighting terrorism and cooperation in the nuclear power industry.

Qobilbek [Karimbekov] aka [term of respect], would you tell us what is the aim of White House leader George Bush's visit to the Asian countries.

[Uzbek political commentator Qobilbek Karimbekov] I have been watching events for the past three-four years. I remember George Bush and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair visiting Iraq when the situation in the country became very complicated. As for Afghanistan and other countries in the south of the region, including Central Asia, then these countries are the focus of Western countries' geopolitical interests. One should not forget that there are US troops in Afghanistan and there are troops from other Western countries. We know that after the 2001 events, military operations against Al-Qai'dah and the Taleban were carried out in that country. But if we look at present-day events, then we will see that South Asia is continuing to be the focus of Washington's geopolitical interests. It tries not to loose control over economic, integration and political processes in these countries.

Indian-Pakistani relations

Another important point is India and Pakistan. If I am not mistaken, you have already mentioned these countries. As far as I know, George Bush will also visit Pakistan. Both countries, India and Pakistan, possess nuclear weapons. There has been a major problem between the two countries over the past five-six years. The Kashmir and Jammu problem has become further complicated. It has been a problem in relations between the two countries over the past 50-55 years. The fact that both countries possess nuclear weapons is a great concern for many countries. That's why, I think, the USA and other Western countries are paying great attention to these South Eastern countries India and Pakistan. Here I think that India is pursuing the policy of expanding closer ties with Russia. Evidence of this is the Indian leadership's recent talks in Moscow. Military, economic and strategic cooperation between Russia and India is increasingly expanding.

In turn, Pakistan is more keen to develop relations with the oversees country. It is more interested in developing closer ties with the USA. But this does not mean that Pakistan has become alienated from Russia. But still, the country trusts the US administration. While India, in its foreign policy, trusts Russia a great deal.

[Passage omitted: Gofur Jamolov says more details of the visit will be given in next broadcasts]

Russian-Iranian nuclear cooperation

[Gofur Jamolov] Russia's foreign policy has been very busy of late the recent visit to Hungary by Russian President Vladimir Putin, ongoing talks on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization or, for example, Russian-Iranian nuclear relations. The talks are under way on setting up a joint venture, on the Russian territory, to enrich uranium for the Iranian nuclear plant. All that bears witness to the fact that Russia occupies a special role in the world of politics. Qobilbek aka, would you share your views on Vladimir Putin's visit to Hungary and on the present state of affairs in Russia' relations with Europe, NATO and the EU.

[Passage omitted: Russian foreign diplomacy was very active in the first two months of this year]

[Qobilbek Karimbekov] Russia is expanding cooperation with our country within the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], the CIS and the Eurasian Economic Community [of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan]. At the same time, Russia does not forget the West. Here I mean Russia's relations with Western countries and within NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme. Russia was the first among the CIS countries to sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union. Uzbekistan was the second to do so in 1996. So, Russia doesn't forget Europe and sees its interests in Europe.

As for Iran, it is a very complicated issue. This issue is very delicate and difficult from both political and international points of view. Russia has expanded its diplomatic relations with Iran over the past 5-10 years. Economic relations between the two countries have been expanding. Trade figures between Russia and Iran are not bad. However, nuclear activities of that Mr [Iranian President] Mahmud Ahmadinezhad have put Russia in a slightly embarrassing situation because relations with Iran are not Russia's only relations in the world. Russia's cooperation that is equal in rights should also be maintained with other countries in the world. That is why, Iran's nuclear programme, to a certain extent, has limited Russia's geopolitical opportunities and put it in a difficult situation.

Sanctions to hike oil prices

[Passage omitted: Gofur Jamolov on relations between Iran and the IAEA]

[Qobilbek Karimbekov] I think that views of Russia and the IAEA greatly differ. Iran is not yet ready for the talks to the extent the IAEA wants. On the other hand, the IAEA is an institution of the United Nations. That is why any sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Iran may lead to bad consequences. I think that Russia will take a fair decision in this matter.

[Gofur Jamolov] Sanctions are not in the least a solution to the problem. Some reports say that would such sanctions be imposed, the oil prices may skyrocket to 200 dollars for one barrel.

[Passage omitted: the problems have to be resolved by diplomatic means]

Source: BBC Monitoring Central Asia

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