Uzbek Senate ratifies agreement with U.S. on transit of goods and personnel

Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Aug. 30 / Trend D.Azizov / The Senate (upper house of parliament) of Uzbekistan on Thursday ratified an intergovernmental Uzbek-US agreement on air transit of the U.S cargo and personnel through the territory of Uzbekistan, in an effort to ensure the security and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The agreement was signed on March 28, 2012 in Tashkent. In June this year the law on ratification of the agreement was passed by the Legislative (lower) house of parliament. The agreement is in line with UN Security Council resolution calling on states neighboring Afghanistan to provide the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan the necessary assistance, the chairman of the Senate Committee on foreign affairs Sadiq Safayev told senators. The document defines the procedure for the transit by U.S. government of cargo and personnel through the airspace of Uzbekistan. "The agreement does not contradict the legislation of Uzbekistan and is not an interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan," Safayev said. Under the agreement, the transit is carried out through specially designated for this purpose by the Uzbek side air corridors without making intermediate stops in the territory of Uzbekistan, unless an emergency situation on board or force majeure circumstances. Transportation of nuclear, biological, chemical and other weapons is excluded. Airspace of the Republic is used by aircraft on the basis of the transit permit issued by the Uzbek side, in accordance with the request of the American side through diplomatic channels. The Uzbek side has the right to deny permission for the transit requested by the U.S. side, cancel it or suspend the authorization, if it is established that the movement of cargo and personnel of the U.S. and the personal of its contractors is not consistent with the purposes and provisions of the agreement or may endanger the national security. The Agreement shall remain in force for one year and is automatically renewed for subsequent one-year periods. "The agreement is a further contribution to the international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in neighboring Afghanistan," Safayev said.