We commend Ambassador Gantchev for the work he has undertaken to develop a new strategy for his office’s operations. With the opening of three new OSCE offices in the region, the Tashkent office will have the opportunity to provide greater focus on developments in Uzbekistan.

We note from central Asian liaison office’s reporting that greater domestic focus has allowed it to undertake more activities in Uzbekistan outside of the Tashkent. We strongly support this.

Ambassador Gantchev this morning has noted his request to augment the office by adding local staff to assist in work on human rights issues. This is also an approach we strongly endorse.

We note with concern that the Uzbek government has shown little intention of allowing voters any real choice in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Likewise, Uzbek election law does not allow registration of political parties that are not supported by the government, and in practice the government has consistently refused to register opposition parties.

Unless there are major changes to bring Uzbek law and practices into compliance with international standards, we see no potential for a free and fair election.

In this light, we urge the government of Uzbekistan to take immediate steps to bring its electoral laws and practices into compliance with OSCE and other international commitments.

Until we see a change, our intent is to support programs and activities fostering democratization at the grass-roots level, where they are most likely to be effective.

The reporting on the Feb 16 bomb blasts in Tashkent was timely and useful. We again condemn the bombing and offer our condolences to the families of those killed. We understand that the Uzbek authorities have already arrested some 30 people in connection with this incident.

While we hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and intend to assist in this task, we also hope that the government of Uzbekistan will ensure that it adheres to its OSCE commitments with regard to respect for human rights as it carries out this task.

In this regard, we are concerned by the arrest of Ms. Munnura Nazarov, the wife of a prominent imam. The investigation of the Tashkent bombings should not be used as a pretext for additional human rights violations.

We look forward to next week's open-ended meeting on coordination in central Asia, and to the upcoming visit to the region by the chairman-in-office.