[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 65 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 65
Reaffirming United States-Uzbekistan relations.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 26, 2023
Mr. Kelly of Mississippi (for himself and Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of
Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming United States-Uzbekistan relations.
Whereas the Republic of Uzbekistan declared its independence from the Soviet
Union on September 1, 1991;
Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan in
1992, and has developed a strong strategic partnership since then;
Whereas the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Framework
between the United States and the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed in July
2002, established a principled framework for mutually beneficial
relations in the political, economic, military, military-technical,
humanitarian, and other areas and recognized the importance of
consistent implementation of democratic and market reforms in
Uzbekistan;
Whereas Uzbekistan's ongoing regional initiatives aimed at strengthening
stability and economic cooperation over the past 5 years in Central Asia
contribute greatly to the stability of the region;
Whereas Uzbekistan's ``National Development Action Strategy on Five Priority
Areas 2017-2021'' laid out an ambitious plan to promote good governance,
judicial reform and rule of law, economic liberalization, social
development, religious tolerance and interethnic accord, and a balanced
and constructive foreign policy;
Whereas the official visit of President Mirziyoyev to the United States in May
2018 launched a new era of strategic partnership between the United
States and Uzbekistan;
Whereas the November 2020 Annual Bilateral Consultations held in the District of
Columbia resulted in a wide range of agreements to further develop
bilateral cooperation, including on issues such as combating
international terrorism, regional security including Afghanistan,
bilateral trade and investment, education, health, cybersecurity, and
promote further reform in Uzbekistan on human rights, combating
trafficking in persons, religious freedom, civil society, and
independent media;
Whereas United States assistance to Uzbekistan is aimed at improving livelihoods
of citizens through support to enhancing overall economic conditions,
addressing the threats of infectious disease and transnational crime,
increasing citizens' access to justice and input into government
decision making, promoting the rule of law, public education reform,
defense cooperation, and encouraging government efforts that ensure
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Whereas the creation of the Congressional Uzbekistan Caucus in the House of
Representatives has led to burgeoning dialogue between American and
Uzbekistani political leadership;
Whereas the deepening of ties between the State of Mississippi and Uzbekistan
through the National Guard's State Partnership Program has led to
increased levels of military cooperation;
Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan provided support to the United States in
the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States
and was a key partner in supporting international efforts in Afghanistan
and providing critical access and support to drive al-Qaida terrorists
from Afghanistan; and
Whereas Uzbekistan has demonstrated a willingness to strengthen bilateral
cooperation with the United States, share burdens, and address regional
issues, including stability in Afghanistan, and thereby has fostered an
environment of political and economic cooperation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms the enduring commitment of the United States
to the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of
Uzbekistan;
(2) recognizes the progress that Uzbekistan has made in
recent years on important political, economic, democratic, and
social reforms;
(3) recognizes the election of Uzbekistan to the United
Nations Human Rights Council for the period of 2021 through
2023, the first time in the country's history, and encourages
the Government of Uzbekistan to use this position to actively
promote human rights and hold accountable those who do not
respect them;
(4) welcomes the elevation in December 2020 of the United
States-Uzbekistan Annual Bilateral Consultations to a Strategic
Partnership Dialogue;
(5) recognizes the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan
to strengthen regional dialogue and cooperation, opening new
possibilities for intraregional commerce and cooperative
approaches to challenges in Central Asia, including by means of
the Food and Agricultural Organization Regional Conference for
Europe, held virtually on November 2, 2020, and the
``Uzbekistan in the Context of Regional Security and Global
Changes'' conference held in Tashkent on November 7, 2019;
(6) welcomes the ambitious reform program of the Government
of Uzbekistan aimed at improving the human rights situation in
Uzbekistan, advancing anticorruption measures and increasing
transparency in the judicial system, strengthening the
accountability of public servants, promoting freedom of
expression and freedom of the media, eliminating trafficking in
persons including forced and child labor in the cotton harvest,
and ensuring religious freedom;
(7) calls for deeper economic cooperation between the
United States and Uzbekistan that will increase trade and
create new business opportunities in the fields of agriculture,
energy, financial services, tourism, health, and digital
innovation;
(8) supports the establishment of Webster University
Tashkent, the first American university in Uzbekistan, as well
as the accreditation of the American Councils for International
Education in Uzbekistan, and encourages the further development
of educational cooperation between the two countries, including
through fostering academic and research partnerships between
United States and Uzbekistan universities and through expanding
English language training and STEM programs in public education
in Uzbekistan;
(9) underscores the importance of cooperation between the
United States and Uzbekistan in multilateral formats in Central
Asia, including the C5+1 regional format;
(10) underlines the emerging role of Uzbekistan as an
economic leader in Central Asia as demonstrated by its hosting
of the Central Asia Trade Forum and the United States-Central
Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA);
(11) appreciates the efforts of the Government of
Uzbekistan to support the peace process and social and economic
development in Afghanistan including through the Afghan-led
peace and reconciliation process, supporting railway and
electricity infrastructure development in Afghanistan,
educating Afghan youth, and partnering with the United States
to address illicit drug trafficking and weapon smuggling; and
(12) looks forward to the continued development of strong
bilateral relations between the United States and Uzbekistan,
as well as to further democratic, political, economic, and
social reforms in Uzbekistan.
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