Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made a two-day visit to Uzbekistan where he met with his counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov and was hosted by President Islam Karimov.

"Relations between Russia and Uzbekistan are based on partnership and cooperation," the Russian Foreign Ministry's website said on Monday, the first day of Lavrov's visit.

"Uzbekistan remains one of Russia's main trade partners in Central Asia and fourth among CIS countries. The Russian Federation, in turn, ranks first among all trade partners of the republic," the statement says.

Lavrov said Moscow regrets that Uzbekistan suspended its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but Uzbekistan remains an ally of Russia, Interfax news agency reported. But he added that it was "a sovereign choice" of Uzbekistan.

Lavrov said Uzbekistan's request on quitting the CSTO will be considered at the organization's summit in Moscow on Wednesday.

Uzbekistan entered the CSTO in 1992 but declined to extend the relevant agreement in 1999 and suspended its membership. In August 2006 Tashkent restored its membership after its relations with the West cooled down after strong criticism of the Uzbek government's handling of the Andijan unrest in 2005. Uzbekistan suspended its membership again in June 2012.

The Russian FM said that there are bilateral agreements between Russia and Uzbekistan for deepening the cooperation and military programs have been developed between the two countries.

Lavrov reminded about the program on providing arms for the Uzbek army which was agreed in fall, a draft agreement of investment security, economic cooperation and humanitarian and scientific partnership programs.

Hosting Lavrov on Tuesday, President Karimov stated that Tashkent supports strengthening the strategic relations with Russia.

"One of the principal issues is to strengthen bilateral relations," Karimov said

"The security issue is especially important and it is on the agenda of our bilateral relations," the president said. He reminded of the agreement on deepening strategic partnership and cooperation.

Karimov also expressed concern over the situation in Afghanistan and in the Central Asia region.