Posted on 04/19/2004 7:10:21 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Uzbek Authorities Label Soros Foundation 'Undesirable'
19 April 2004 -- The Uzbek government said today that George Soros's foundation is "undesirable," one day after the billionaire philanthropist criticized the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and said new regulations are forcing the group's office to close.
Today, Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesman Ilkhom Zakirov said if the foundation was not accredited, it meant the organization's activities in Uzbekistan were undesirable.
Soros said at a meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) yesterday that the Uzbek branch of his Open Society Institute (OSI) is being forced to close after the government declined to renew its registration.
The announcement of the closure of the OSI's Uzbek branch came after the EBRD said earlier this month it is limiting investment in Uzbekistan due to the government's lack of progress on democratic and economic reforms.
A quarrel between Soros and Uzbeks is like a quarrel between Hitler and Stalin: he hated communism but for a wrong reason, and that does not make him our ally. Stalin hated Hitler for attacking him, although they both were socialists. That made him our ally --- for a while; you know how "good" of an ally Russians were after WWII.
Here you have the same thing: a socialist Soros, who would deprive us of our freedoms for one reason, criticizes the dictatorial Uzbek system leaders. One tyrant against another; nobody is correct here.
Taking sides in this case, as you appear to do, is like wrestling with the pigs: you are bound to get dirty. Leave them alone.
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