The Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan declared its independence eight years ago on Sept. 1. The country is self-sufficient for its energy needs, supplies nearly all of its own grain and produce needs and still exports great quantities of cotton, which guarantee a steady income. But so far, independence has not translated into prosperity for the country's 24 million people.
Wages remain low and prices for basic goods are high.
And the villages help feed the urban populations but do not receive much in return. One reason for Uzbekistan's poor economic showing is the strong premium it has put on security in a region where security is often a rare commodity. Tashkent has spent extravagantly on building up its defense forces. But it has often come at the expense of infrastructure development programs. By building up its military, Tashkent has seemed to declare its intention to become the leading military power in the region in the wake of Moscow's widespread withdrawal of its troops from Central Asia.