UZBEKISTAN’S BROAD VISTAS.

Uzbek president Islam Karimov appeared concerned by recent trends in Russian foreign policy: "How can one declare oneself European and distance oneself from America at the same time?" He pointed out that Uzbekistan has chosen to export its goods outside the CIS for hard currency, instead of engaging in barter trade within the CIS and receiving, for example, "tractors that can’t be sold anywhere on world markets" — a jab at Russia and Belarus. "Categorically opposing" any CIS-wide or intra-CIS union, Karimov said that Uzbekistan pursues "national development" and bilateral relations with CIS member states, of whom he singled out Ukraine as a partner. (On Uzbekistan’s position see also Monitor, October 23)

Turkmen President Was Prophetic.