Vladimir Putin Justifies His Trust in Islam Karimov [Barf! ...very anti-American speech.]

All day yesterday, Russian officials and President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, who was in Moscow, talked about what actually happened in Andijan. Karimov was convinced that the events in Andijan were the West's revenge on Uzbekistan for its independent foreign policy. According to the Russian leadership, they were the machinations of international terrorism. At the end, the leaders of Russia and Uzbekistan agreed that, in any case, Karimov's actions merited strong approval and support.

Islam Karimov decided to tell the press the whole truth about the Andijan shootings and hastened to what he called the “big, weighty points”. Since the press conference was held before the closed talks between the two presidents, Vladimir Putin also listened closely to Karimov's confession, which he was hearing for the first time, since the success of their talks, so crucial for the Kremlin's plans to form a Russia – Uzbekistan – China triangle depended on how Karimov described the events in Andijan [see yesterday's edition of Kommersant].

Judging from the Russian president's approving reaction, Karimov told the journalists about the shootings in Andijan exactly the way Putin expected him to and even tougher. To begin with, the president of Uzbekistan declared that the events in Andijan were the West's preplanned revenge on Uzbekistan for its independent policy. At the same time, he plainly alluded to the leading role of the United States in organizing the demonstrations. “The script writers and producers used the extremist they once called terrorists, whom they fought in the same way in Afghanistan and are fighting successfully now in Iraq.” According to Karimov, the media, that is, Western journalists were also involved in the conspiracy. They arrived in Andijan on May 10, settled into a hotel and chose convenient locations for watching the square.

Then Karimov assailed U.S. senators, the EU, and NATO, who spoke so freely about the tragedy in Andijan. “There is nothing in any of the resolutions and rulings they tried to pass on the European continent. They were all guided by enciphered messages, agency reports, and human rights activists,” the outraged Uzbek president said. This was why Karimov opposed any international investigations. “Any international commission would have emphasized that peaceful people were victims and the leaders of Uzbekistan must answer for that – that's your prepared resolution for you; there's your food for news agencies.”

Karimov intended to contrast the arguments of human rights activists with the open work of qualified Uzbek judges. According to Karimov, the trial of the participants in the Andijan events would take place within several months, while the law enforcement agencies were holding people trained outside Uzbekistan. “They had serious training at training grounds – they know how to bear weapons and grenade launchers,” Karimov set to frighten the journalists.

Then Karimov began talking about the connection between the Andijan shootings and the color revolutions. He could have gone on about this, but he suddenly stopped and glanced questioningly at President Putin. Putin asked the journalists if there were any questions, but after Karimov's performance, everyone was struck dumb. Then the Russian president took the floor. “We all feel very much for what happened in Uzbekistan and we're satisfied that the situation has successfully been brought under control,” Putin said significantly. He confirmed the fact of outside involvement but did not expand on Karimov's theory of Western and American influence and went on to the other side. “We have information about the infiltration of insurgents from Afghanistan, and our Special Services confirm it.” After this, both presidents went off to the closed talks.

It finally became clear yesterday that Moscow supports Karimov's actions in Andijan. At a meeting with Karimov, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, spoke even more emphatically about “foreign hands”. “There are clear outward signs of this. This allowed us to take an objective stands on the events in Andijan.” Karimov at once seized on Ivanov's thoughts and began to thank him. “There are few countries that have shown objectivity when assessing the situation in Andijan. Only President Vladimir Putin, and you, Sergey Borisovich, and Foreign Minister Lavrov have given a true evaluation of the events, and we will take it to our people.”

Then Karimov shared his impressions of the meeting with Putin. “I have never had such an open, thorough, and trusting conversation as I had with the President of Russia, and would like to express my respect for this person who has high personal qualities as both a person and a president. You can go out on reconnaissance with such people,” Karimov said, concluding his characterization of President Putin.

However, the parties clearly decided not to organize a reconnaissance mission. Ivanov said that the first joint Russian – Uzbek exercises would take place this summer, which is why Russia would rearm the Uzbek army and examine the possibility of setting up joint defense enterprises. A little later, a statement from Lavrov appeared on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, in which he said that from Russia's point of view, the activities of the special commission of the Uzbek parliament was a complete substitute for an international investigation of the shootings in Andijan.

==It finally became clear yesterday that Moscow supports Karimov's actions in Andijan. At a meeting with Karimov, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, spoke even more emphatically about “foreign hands”. “There are clear outward signs of this. This allowed us to take an objective stands on the events in Andijan.” Karimov at once seized on Ivanov's thoughts and began to thank him. “There are few countries that have shown objectivity when assessing the situation in Andijan. Only President Vladimir Putin, and you, Sergey Borisovich, and Foreign Minister Lavrov have given a true evaluation of the events, and we will take it to our people.”

Unfortunately, no one in America is going to care. Most people don't even know where the country is located, and most conservatives will be inclined to look the other way because the demonstrators have been labeled "Islamic extremists." The US and European Left is of course handcuffed because Karimov has declared, apparently with the full approval (if not the prompting) of V. Putin, that the entire demonstration was staged by the USA (code for CIA). Result: Neither Left or Right will do much of anything.

Why was Karimov's speech so important (according to the article)? Something about the need to form a "Russia – Uzbekistan – China triangle". Now that's something I'd like to learn more about, and why would the speech be such an important prerequisite to forming said alliance? I ponder these these things.

I'm a novice, but my translation of Komersant's Russian version would look something like this (typos my own, rush job):

World practice

Vladimir Putin justifies Islam Karimov's trust

// friendship among peoples

Photo: Vasiliy Shaposhnikov / Kommersant

After the unrest in Andizhan

All day yesterday in Moscow representatives of the Russian government and Uzbekistan's president Islam Karimov discussed what actually took place in Andizhan. Mr. Karimov is certain that the events in Andizhan are the West's revenge on Uzbekistan for their independent foreign policies. According to the Russian government, however, these were the intrigues of international terrorism. In the end the leaders of Russia and Uzbekistan agreed that, in any case, Islam Karimov's actions in Andizhan deserve fervent approval and support.

Islam Karimov decided to tell the press the whole truth about the Andizhan shooting, and hastened to arrange what were, in his words, 'the thick and weighty points'. Since the press conference took place before the leaders' closed discussions, it was Vladimir Putin's first time in hearing Islam Karimov's confession, and he listened attentively. Attentively, since the success of the talks, so important to the Kremlin's plans in establishing a triangle betweek Russia, Uzbekistan, and China (see yesterday's issue), would hinge on just how Mr. Karimov would describe the events in Andizhan.

Judging by the Russian president's encouraging reaction, Mr. Karimov described the shootings in Andizhan to the press in just the manner that Vladimir Putin expected, and even better. At the beginning the president of Uzbekistan declared that the events in Andizhan were a pre-planned act of vengeance by the West against Uzbekistan for its 'independent policies'. He hinted unequivocably that, in this case, the United States had a leading role in organizing the demonstrations: "scriptwriters and directors used the extremist forces, which they themselves once called terrorists, against whom they fought in Afghanistan, and whom they are so successfully fighting now in Iraq." In Islam Karimov's words, the media also took part: western journalists had already arrived in Andizhan by May 10th, set themselves up in hotels, and "selected the most convenient spots from which to observe the square."

Islam Karimov then attacked US senators, the European Union, and NATO, who had "so unceremoniously spoke about a tragedy in Andizhan. There is no substance whatsoever to all their resolutions and rulings which they tried to pass in Europe. They were all guided by coded communications of (intelligence) agencies and human rights activists," said the agitated Uzbek president. For this very reason Mr. Karimov was against an international investigation: "Any international commission would place emphasis on the fact that peaceful people became victims, and that the government of Uzbekistan should be held responsible - here is your prepared resolution, ready fodder for the news agencies".

Mr. Karimov intended to contradict the human rights activists' findings with an "open investigation by qualified Uzbek courts." In the Uzbek president's words, a hearing for the participants in Andizhan would take place only after several months. Moreover, Islam Karimov frightened the journalists with a statement that, in police custody "there are people who were trained outside of Uzbekistan. They were well-trained: they know who carry weapons and grenade launchers."

Then Islam Karimov began to describe the connection between the shootings in Andizhan and the 'flower revolutions'. He could have talked longer, but suddenly broke off and looked questioningly at President Putin. Vladimir Putin asked the journalists if they wished to pose any questions, but after Islam Karimov's speech all were struck dumb, and so the Russian president took over. "We are very anxious about what happened in Uzbekistan, and we are satisfied that it was possible to maintain control of the situation," Vladimir Putin stated significantly. He confirmed that foreign forces were involved, but did not adhere to Islam Karimov's thesis relative to the influence of the West or the United States, but went in an entirely different direction: "We had information about infiltration by fighters from Afghanistan, this is confirmed by our special services." After this, both presidents left for private talks.

It was made clear yesterday that Moscow supports Islam Karimov's actions in Andizhan. While meeting with Islam Karimov, Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov more persistantly spoke of 'the hands of foreign countries'. "Foreign tracks are clearly evident here. This allowed us to occupy an objection position relative to the events in Andizhan." Islam Karimov caught Mr. Ivanov's meaning immediately, and began to thank him: "There aren't many countries who have shown objectiveness in evaluating the situation in Andizhan. Only President Vladimir Putin, you, Sergey Borisovich, and Foreign Minister Mr. Lavrov, gave an accurate estimate of the proceeding events, and we brought it to our people."

Then Islam Karimov gave his impression of his meeting with Vladimir Putin: "Mever before have I had such an open, thorough, and confidence-inspiring conversation with a Russian president, and I'd like to express my admiration for this man who has such lofty personal qualities as a man and as a president. With such men you can go out on patrol," concluded Islam Karimov.

The parties, however, decided not to organize a reconnaissance mission. Sergey ivanov stated that this summer the first joint Russian-Uzbek exercizes would take place, which is why Russia is occupying itself with re-arming the Uzbek army and examining the potential for establishing joint defense companies. A little while later, on the Russian foreign ministry's website, a statement from Sergey Lavrov appeared. It stated that, in Russia's view, the actions of the Uzbek parliament's special committee were fully adequate as a replacement for an international investigation of the shootings in Andizhan.

ALEKSANDR GABUEV

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