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Uzbekistan
Government and Politics
Government: Constitution, adopted 1992, provides
for strong presidency, with power to appoint government and dissolve
legislature. In practice, authoritarian state with all power in
executive and suppression of dissent. Referendum, 1995, extended
term of President Islam Karimov to 2000. Local government with
little autonomy; judiciary ineffective.
Politics: Successor to Communist Party, People's
Democratic Party, dominates legislature and government; other
major legal party, Fatherland Progress Party, has no opposition
role; opposition parties weak, fragmented, many excluded by government
and their leaders exiled or jailed.
Foreign Relations: To avoid domination by Russia,
wide relations sought, early 1990s. Major goal cooperation among
Central Asian states, which fear domination by Uzbekistan. Free-trade
zone with Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and cooperation on Aral Sea matters
are major steps. Economic and military dependence on CIS, especially
Russia, continues. Renewed economic ties with Iran, Turkey, possible
major role in Economic Cooperation Organization. Major aid programs
from United States, Western Europe, mid-1990s.
International Agreements and Memberships: United
Nations (UN), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Economic
Cooperation Organization (ECO), Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), North Atlantic Cooperation Council,
CIS, and North Atlantic Treaty Organi-zation (NATO) Partnership
for Peace.
Data as of March 1996
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