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UZBEKISTAN DAILY DIGEST
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From: Ina Iankulova (iiankulova@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Mar 24 2003 - 12:54:07 EST
UZBEK PRESIDENT SAYS HUSSEIN MUST BE DISARMED
Speaking to journalists in Tashkent on 21 March following a celebration to mark the spring holiday of Norouz, Islam Karimov characterized the Iraq crisis as "the consequence of [Iraqi President] Saddam Hussein's reckless policy of conquest," Interfax reported. "In the case of Iraq, we ought to remember the lessons history has taught," he said, adding that Hussein must be disarmed in full to preclude a possible future crisis. Karimov said that Uzbekistan "is not taking sides" over Iraq, but is acting in accordance with its own interests, according to uzreport.com. Although he did not explicitly mention Iraq in his Norouz address, Karimov nonetheless stressed the need for "vigilance" and for swift action to counter international terrorism and any forces prepared to resort to the use of weapons of mass destruction. He also noted the U.S. contribution to removing the threat posed to Uzbekistan's security by the "evil forces on our southern border," meaning the Taliban regime in neighboring Afghanistan. LF
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