WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Uzbekistan has agreed to let U.S. forces fighting terrorism use one of its air bases for humanitarian purposes ``in the first instance,'' the two countries said in a statement Friday.(Read photo caption below) In a deal signed Oct. 7, they also agreed on a need for urgent consultations should Uzbekistan's territorial integrity or security come under direct threat, it added.
The statement was a sign of diplomatic progress made following a visit to Uzbekistan by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Oct. 5 as the United States sought to build a coalition for its military campaign against Afghanistan's Taliban rulers who are sheltering Osama bin Laden.
President Islam Karimov said the air base could only be used for humanitarian purposes and rescue operations.
Karimov has apparently been reluctant to make public the level of his cooperation with Washington and fears instability from armed insurgents who have invaded his country in recent years in a bid to set up an Islamic state in the region.
U.S. and other media have already reported the arrival of 1,000 U.S. troops but the secretive Tashkent government has refused to confirm even that, let alone where they are.
Diplomatic sources said the statement also emerged as a result of increasing confidence in Karimov's part in articulating his government's position and his desire to make clear the two-way nature of the cooperation.
The statement said they had agreed to establish a qualitatively new relationship based on a long-term commitment to advance security and regional stability.
PHOTO CAPTION:
U.S. C-17 transport aircraft lands in Khanabad air base in southern Uzbekistan some 500km (310 miles) from Tashkent, October 8, 2001. Uzbekistan has agreed to let U.S. forces fighting terrorism use one of its air bases for humanitarian purposes 'in the first instance,' a joint U.S.-Uzbek statement said October 12, 2001. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)