TASHKENT, Dec. 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday urged Uzbek leader Islam Karimov to follow through on promises to improve human rights in the Central Asian state, which provides help for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.
Clinton also assured civic leaders of U.S. support as they seek democratic change in Uzbekistan, widely regarded as one of the most repressive countries to emerge from the Soviet Union.
"I met with President Karimov. I urged him to demonstrate his commitment through a series of steps to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms are truly protected," Clinton said in prepared remarks to religious leaders, journalists and non-governmental organisation workers in the capital Tashkent.
Clinton has defended her visit to Uzbekistan on a tour of the region as an opportunity to push for human rights, while also deepening security cooperation, which has grown increasingly important as the conflict in Afghanistan drags on.
Uzbekistan is one link in what the United States calls its Northern Distribution Network, which brings supplies to Afghanistan through countries including Azerbaijan, Russia, Latvia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Clinton made similar calls at stops in both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, repeating that Washington viewed human rights and democratic governance as bulwarks against extremism and unrest in a region that fears growing instability.
Karimov has been criticised by foreign human rights groups for a record which they say includes the use of torture in jail.
NO DISSENT
The 72-year-old leader, who has tolerated no dissent during two decades in power, denies the accusations but says he needs to be tough in the face of a growing Islamist threat to his secular rule.
"We do appreciate the relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Uzbekistan," Karimov said via an interpreter. "We appreciate the cooperation established between the two parties."
Clinton had no public events with journalists in Tashkent, but her aides released the remarks at the reception to indicate that she was still pushing the human rights message.
"No country has a monopoly on wisdom in this area, including the United States. So, when we speak to your government about issues such as religious and media freedom, torture, or child labour, we do so in a spirit of mutual respect," Clinton said.
But she indicated that better protection of human rights was integral to an improvement in ties.
She said Karimov had recently pledged to expand democratic freedoms and now was the time to "translate words into practice". "We are prepared to support and assist in that effort," she said.
Uzbekistan, the region’s most populous country, has intensified a campaign against dissent over the years, driving most Western media outlets out and putting pressure on local reporters.
It has never held an election judged fair by international observers, and criticism of state policies can land people in jail. There are no registered opposition parties.
