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Article: State Department declines to assist Uzbekistan financially; U.S. refuses $18 million due to poor human rights record
- Article from:
- Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque)
- Article date:
- July 16, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Telegraph - Herald (Dubuque). Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department has declined to certify
Uzbekistan, its closest security ally in former Soviet Central Asia,
for military and economic aid of up to $18 million this year because
of its poor human rights record.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement
Tuesday that the former Soviet republic had made some rights progress
over the past year.
"We are, however, disappointed by lack of progress on democratic
reform and restrictions put on U.S. assistance partners on the
ground," the statement said.
U.S. law requires a human rights certification from the secretary
of state before appropriated foreign aid money can be dispersed.
After the Sept. 11, 2001 ...