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November 23, 2005
Uzbekistan: NATO Won't Be Allowed to Use its Airspace
Uzbek President Islam Karimov is not only booting the United States, but NATO as well: Uzbekistan refuses airspace to NATO
BRUSSELS: Uzbekistan has told the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that it can no longer use its territory or airspace for the peacekeeping mission in neighbouring Afghanistan, NATO officials said on Wednesday.The decision is likely to affect Germany in particular, because it uses a base in southern Uzbekistan to provide backup for its troops across the border.
However, NATO said that alternatives would be found if needed and the mission would not be hurt. "There will be no diminishment of our ability to support our operation in Afghanistan," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
NATO diplomats said that Uzbek authorities informed the allies that they must withdraw troops and stop flights by January 1. The order comes amid worsening relations between the Central Asian republic and western nations that have been critical of a May crackdown on demonstrators in Uzbekistan.
Shortly after Karimov "disinvited" the United States a few months ago, he signed a far-reaching cooperation accord with China. But that is not all: Russia to deploy Air Force in Uzbekistan
Russia may deploy an Air Force unit at Khanabad airbase in Uzbekistan, a top military official has said.The final decision on the deployment of a Russian Air Force unit at the Khanabad airbase would be taken soon, he told Interfax news agency.
US closed its airbase at Khanabad on November 21.
And you know what is truly sad? I can't blame Karimov for his alliance with the Russian and Chinese thugocracies. The United States government should have kept its mouth shut after Karimov's cracked down on the pro-Islamist protests. That action might have reminded him what happenned to the Shah of Iran for trusting the United States.
Posted by Ruy Diaz at November 23, 2005 6:12 PM
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