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Condoleezza of the Independent States
// The U.S. secretary of state concludes her tour of Central Asia
Friendship of the Nations
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ended her tour of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia yesterday. She was careful not to criticize the dictatorial ways of the local leaders and assured them that Washington does not need new military bases in the region. She is not indulging them in vain however. The United States closes its eyes to human rights abuses only as long as it does not conflict with its national interests, as the ostentatious exclusion of Uzbekistan from Rice's tour shows.
Rice ended her tour of Central Asia with negotiations in Tajikistan yesterday. Tajik Minister of Foreign Affairs Talbak Nazarov said that “nothing sensational” was discussed at them. “There was a discussion of continuing the course that we embarked upon in 2001,” the minister stated. “Tajikistan remains a partner of the United States in the fight against terrorism, extremism and the drug trade in Afghanistan.” At least one event deserves attention, however. Rice made one important statement at the end of her visit on her country's strategic interests in that region. “We have no intentions of having a military base in Tajikistan,” she said after negotiations with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov. “We are not trying to increase our military presence anywhere. On the contrary, we are reducing our military bases throughout the world.”
According to information obtained by Kommersant, finding a new home for the base that Washington will have to close in Uzbekistan was practically the main goal of Rice's trip. Those plans annoyed Moscow, however, which sees the “lingering” of the American bases in Central Asia after the war in Afghanistan as a threat to its interests. That was made quite clear to the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. As a result, the U.S. secretary of state decided not to force the issue. Washington has already lost a regional ally in Tashkent and excessive pressures on its remaining allies could strain relations with them and with Russia.
Rice's visit to Kazakhstan was even more curious than in Tajikistan. Rice was barely recognizable as herself in Astana. She talked endlessly about the progress of Kazakh-American relations and especially their economic component. “American companies have made big investments in Kazakhstan,” she said after meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, “and that will continue. But, for the economic relationship to deepen, it is necessary for the economic reforms in Kazakhstan to continue, so that Kazakhstan enters the international economic system and by being admitted to the World Trade Organization.”
Independent observers note that Rice was careful to avoid evaluations of the democratic transformations in Kazakhstan. American journalists accompanying her asked a question at the joint press conference with her and Nazarbaev about the Kazakh media controlled by Nazarbaev's children. “I sense that our opposition is informing you,” the Kazakh leader answered. “The Khabar television channel, which was founded by my daughter [Dariga Nazarbaeva], is a state company, and not her property. My second daughter [Dinara] is not involved in business. She works in an educational foundation.” He added that “freedom of speech is not supposed to be freedom of disinformation.”
Judging from the calmness with which he answered that question, it can be assumed that he understood from Rice that the U.S. does not intend to press the issue of democratic freedoms and human rights in Kazakhstan. Moreover, Kazakhstan is supposed to become the driving force for democratic transformation in the region. Rice did not say a word about Nazarbaev's dubious right to run for another term as president in the December 4 elections there or about persecution of the opposition. “I am disappointed that she did not say anything specific,” said Bulat Abilov, chairman of the opposition group Right Way. Rice flew to Paris last night, where she will have negotiation with French President Jacques Chirac on Friday. In the evening, she will have yet another flight, this time to London for negotiations with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Minister Jack Straw.
Olga Berezintseva
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 14, 2005
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