Russia: no country can challenge Uzbek decision to end US military presence

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Thursday that Uzbekistan's decision to end the US military presence was a decision made by a sovereign country and other countries have no right to interfere.

During a visit to the eastern Uzbek city of Samarkand, Ivanov told reporters that Uzbekistan's decision to close a US military base on its territory was "a decision made by a sovereign country, " according to press reports reaching here from the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

In 2001, the United States used the opportunity of anti-terrorism war to deploy troops in the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base in Uzbekistan to back up operations in neighboring Afghanistan.

In July this year, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry presented a note to the US embassy in Uzbekistan, demanding US troops leave the country within 180 days.

Also in July, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes Uzbekistan, issued a statement calling for a deadline for a US military withdrawal from its members.

Ivanov said Russia and Uzbekistan maintain a good relationship in the military field, adding he was satisfied with Uzbekistan's readiness to further develop bilateral relations.

He also said that Russia sees Uzbekistan as an outpost of the SCO in Central Asia in fighting terrorism.

During his visit, Ivanov will also watch joint anti-terrorism exercises held by Russian and Uzbek military.

Source: Xinhua