IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 65 

Reaffirming United States-Uzbekistan relations. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 26, 2023 

Mr. KELLY of Mississippi (for himself and Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming United States-Uzbekistan relations. 

Whereas the Republic of Uzbekistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union on September 1, 1991; 

Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations 

with Uzbekistan in 1992, and has developed a strong 

strategic partnership since then; 

Whereas the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership and 

Cooperation Framework between the United States and 

the Republic of Uzbekistan, signed in July 2002, established a principled framework for mutually beneficial relations in the political, economic, military, military-technical, humanitarian, and other areas and recognized the 

importance of consistent implementation of democratic 

and market reforms in Uzbekistan; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HRES 65 IH 

Whereas Uzbekistan’s ongoing regional initiatives aimed at 

strengthening stability and economic cooperation over the 

past 5 years in Central Asia contribute greatly to the stability of the region; 

Whereas Uzbekistan’s ‘‘National Development Action Strategy on Five Priority Areas 2017–2021’’ laid out an ambitious plan to promote good governance, judicial reform 

and rule of law, economic liberalization, social development, religious tolerance and interethnic accord, and a 

balanced and constructive foreign policy; 

Whereas the official visit of President Mirziyoyev to the 

United States in May 2018 launched a new era of strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan; 

Whereas the November 2020 Annual Bilateral Consultations 

held in the District of Columbia resulted in a wide range 

of agreements to further develop bilateral cooperation, including on issues such as combating international terrorism, regional security including Afghanistan, bilateral 

trade and investment, education, health, cybersecurity, 

and promote further reform in Uzbekistan on human 

rights, combating trafficking in persons, religious freedom, civil society, and independent media; 

Whereas United States assistance to Uzbekistan is aimed at 

improving livelihoods of citizens through support to enhancing overall economic conditions, addressing the 

threats of infectious disease and transnational crime, increasing citizens’ access to justice and input into government decision making, promoting the rule of law, public 

education reform, defense cooperation, and encouraging 

government efforts that ensure respect for human rights 

and fundamental freedoms; 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HRES 65 IH 

Whereas the creation of the Congressional Uzbekistan Caucus 

in the House of Representatives has led to burgeoning 

dialogue between American and Uzbekistani political 

leadership; 

Whereas the deepening of ties between the State of Mississippi and Uzbekistan through the National Guard’s 

State Partnership Program has led to increased levels of 

military cooperation; 

Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan provided support to 

the United States in the aftermath of the September 11, 

2001, attacks on the United States and was a key partner in supporting international efforts in Afghanistan 

and providing critical access and support to drive alQaida terrorists from Afghanistan; and 

Whereas Uzbekistan has demonstrated a willingness to 

strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States, 

share burdens, and address regional issues, including stability in Afghanistan, and thereby has fostered an environment of political and economic cooperation: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms the enduring commitment of the 

3 United States to the independence, territorial integ4 rity, and sovereignty of Uzbekistan; 

5 (2) recognizes the progress that Uzbekistan has 

6 made in recent years on important political, eco7 nomic, democratic, and social reforms; 

8 (3) recognizes the election of Uzbekistan to the 

9 United Nations Human Rights Council for the peVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Jan 27, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR65.IH HR65

pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HRES 65 IH 

1 riod of 2021 through 2023, the first time in the 

2 country’s history, and encourages the Government of 

3 Uzbekistan to use this position to actively promote 

4 human rights and hold accountable those who do not 

5 respect them; 

6 (4) welcomes the elevation in December 2020 of 

7 the United States-Uzbekistan Annual Bilateral Con8 sultations to a Strategic Partnership Dialogue; 

9 (5) recognizes the efforts of the Government of 

10 Uzbekistan to strengthen regional dialogue and co11 operation, opening new possibilities for intraregional 

12 commerce and cooperative approaches to challenges 

13 in Central Asia, including by means of the Food and 

14 Agricultural Organization Regional Conference for 

15 Europe, held virtually on November 2, 2020, and the 

16 ‘‘Uzbekistan in the Context of Regional Security and 

17 Global Changes’’ conference held in Tashkent on 

18 November 7, 2019; 

19 (6) welcomes the ambitious reform program of 

20 the Government of Uzbekistan aimed at improving 

21 the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, advancing 

22 anticorruption measures and increasing transparency 

23 in the judicial system, strengthening the account24 ability of public servants, promoting freedom of ex25 pression and freedom of the media, eliminating trafVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:42 Jan 27, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR65.IH HR65

pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HRES 65 IH 

1 ficking in persons including forced and child labor in 

2 the cotton harvest, and ensuring religious freedom; 

3 (7) calls for deeper economic cooperation be4 tween the United States and Uzbekistan that will in5 crease trade and create new business opportunities 

6 in the fields of agriculture, energy, financial services, 

7 tourism, health, and digital innovation; 

8 (8) supports the establishment of Webster Uni9 versity Tashkent, the first American university in 

10 Uzbekistan, as well as the accreditation of the Amer11 ican Councils for International Education in Uzbek12 istan, and encourages the further development of 

13 educational cooperation between the two countries, 

14 including through fostering academic and research 

15 partnerships between United States and Uzbekistan 

16 universities and through expanding English lan17 guage training and STEM programs in public edu18 cation in Uzbekistan; 

19 (9) underscores the importance of cooperation 

20 between the United States and Uzbekistan in multi21 lateral formats in Central Asia, including the C5+1 

22 regional format; 

23 (10) underlines the emerging role of Uzbekistan 

24 as an economic leader in Central Asia as dem25 onstrated by its hosting of the Central Asia Trade 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
6 

•HRES 65 IH 

1 Forum and the United States-Central Asia Trade 

2 and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA); 

3 (11) appreciates the efforts of the Government 

4 of Uzbekistan to support the peace process and so5 cial and economic development in Afghanistan in6 cluding through the Afghan-led peace and reconcili7 ation process, supporting railway and electricity in8 frastructure development in Afghanistan, educating 

9 Afghan youth, and partnering with the United 

10 States to address illicit drug trafficking and weapon 

11 smuggling; and 

12 (12) looks forward to the continued develop13 ment of strong bilateral relations between the United 

14 States and Uzbekistan, as well as to further demo15 cratic, political, economic, and social reforms in Uz16 bekistan. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB