ALMATY, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan plans to quit a
Russia-dominated economic bloc in a move emphasising its efforts
to mend relations with the West, a diplomatic source said on
Wednesday.
Once a staunch U.S. ally, the gas-rich Central Asian state
broke off its ties with the West in 2005 after it was condemned
internationally for allowing state troops to fire on protesters.
Uzbekistan moved closer to Russia in response, joining a
number of pro-Moscow groups such as the EurAsEC customs union,
but has sought a rapprochement with the West again over past
months.
On Wednesday, a diplomatic source in Kazakhstan, also part
of EurAsEc, told Reuters that Uzbekistan had already notified
other member states that it was pulling out.
"They've sent around a notification. There's been some talk
about their withdrawal for some time," said the Kazakh source
who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Uzbekistan's foreign ministry declined comment.
Russia has used EurAsEc, a largely emblematic organisation
which unites Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan, to underline its clout in the former Soviet
region.
Separately, Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a
diplomatic source in Moscow as saying that Uzbekistan had long
been at odds with EurAsEC's operations.
"We are not too worked up about it and we do not intend to
make too much fuss about it," the source said. "Tashkent has
long said this organisation is not very effective."
Uzbekistan's move follows last month's decision by the
European Union to lift most of its sanctions against Uzbekistan
imposed after the Andizhan crackdown in May 2005.
Diplomats in Tashkent have said Uzbekistan wants to strike
more balance by maintaining pragmatic relations with Russia
while seeking better ties with the West to promote much-needed
foreign investment to spur its stagnant economy.
In Andizhan, Uzbek officials said 187 people died during
police action against armed Islamist extremists, while
independent witnesses have said hundreds of unarmed civilians,
including women and children, were killed and quickly buried.
(Writing by Maria Golovnina; Editing by Dominic Evans)
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