Armenians Protest Non-Stop, Obama's Friendly Chat With Karimov

TOL.org ^ | Tuesday, October 4, 2011 | Ky Krauthamer

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Obama Congratulates Karimov, Military Aid May Soon Follow -- The United States appears to be willing to strengthen the regime of Uzbek leader Islam Karimov in order to secure the northern supply route for its forces in Afghanistan. The U.S. Senate may consider a bill backed by the administration of President Barack Obama that would allow restrictions on military aid to Uzbekistan to be lifted, EurasiaNet reports. The new, closer ties between Washington and Tashkent were brought home by Obama's congratulations to Karimov on the occasion of Uzbekistan's 20 years of independence. Following a letter in early September, Obama called Karimov on 28 September, Radio Free Europe reported. The indirect military aid, known as Foreign Military Financing, is contingent on the U.S. secretary of state certifying that Uzbekistan is making progress toward meeting human rights standards. Since 2004, no such certification has been issued, but on 22 September, the Senate Appropriations Committee sent to the full Senate a bill allowing the restrictions on aid to be lifted on grounds of national security interest. However, the committee attached a condition to the bill. Because of concerns over corruption in Uzbekistan, the committee asked for a biannual Defense Department report listing recipients of U.S. government funds related to the Northern Distribution Network into Afghanistan.

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Islam Karimov

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The connection is unexplained. :') There are four other sections, completely unrelated, which may be postworthy, lot of bang for the click.

• Armenian PM Vows Action For More U.S. Aid