UZBEKISTAN WARY OF RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND THE CIS.

Russian Duma chairman Gennady Seleznev disclosed yesterday that Uzbekistan has suspended its participation in the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, which pursues "legislative integration" of CIS countries. Seleznev, who is attending an international conference in Tashkent, complained also that Uzbekistan’s executive power is "critical toward the CIS" and that bilateral parliamentary relations between Russia and Uzbekistan are "nonexistent." (Russian agencies, September 24)

According to President Islam Karimov, state-to-state relations are being obstructed by "Russia’s many unresolved internal problems. Some in Russia, even in its leadership circles, continue to regard the former union republics from an imperial perspective," Karimov told a news conference last week. "We desire long-term relations with a democratic Russia, but only as equals. Russia will get nowhere if it desires to transform the CIS into a confederation, or along the lines of the Russia-Belarus Union." (Russian agencies, September 17)

Kazakhstan, China Sign Multibillion Dollar Oil Deal.