Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to raise a positive
development in Uzbekistan.
The United States welcomes the registration on March
4 of the Independent Human Rights Organization of
Uzbekistan (IHROU).
A vibrant civil society is critical to democratic
development, transparency, and good governance. Allowing
NGOs to work freely also allows constructive expression
of various points of view, which strengthens stability
and undercuts efforts by radicals or terrorists to
garner support.
We hope that other human rights organizations will
soon be registered as well.
Thank you very
much.
