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U.S. nonlethal military assistance to Uzbekistan will support country’s ability to counteract terrorism

Uzbekistan Materials 2 February 2012 11:57 (UTC +04:00)
The U.S. nonlethal military assistance to Uzbekistan will enhance the country’s ability to counteract transnational terrorism and support the ability to secure the routes in and out of Afghanistan, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said at the daily press briefing, the department reported.
U.S. nonlethal military assistance to Uzbekistan will support country’s ability to counteract terrorism

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.2 / Trend A.Badalova/

The U.S. nonlethal military assistance to Uzbekistan will enhance the country's ability to counteract transnational terrorism and support the ability to secure the routes in and out of Afghanistan, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said at the daily press briefing, the department reported.

According to the State Department official, the U.S. temporarily waived a ban on providing military assistance to Uzbekistan. On Jan.18, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed the waiver, which allows the United States to provide Uzbekistan so-called "nonlethal" defensive equipment.

In 2003 the U.S. banned providing military aid to Uzbekistan due to concerns over human rights abuses in the country.

"Under the Foreign Operations and Related Programs Act of 2012, the Secretary of State has the authority to waive certain restrictions on assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan if she certifies that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so, and also that it's necessary to obtain access to and from Afghanistan for U.S. assistance to that country," Nuland said.

She said it is a six-month waiver, and it is the first time that the U.S. have done this one.

Nuland said the U.S. assistance will include providing the things like night vision goggles, personal protection equipment, as well as global positioning systems.

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