All news

Russia, Uzbekistan agree on $890 million debt settlement

President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov are expected to sign a particular agreement during the Russian leader’s official visit to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent on Wednesday
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov
© ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Klimentyev

MOSCOW, December 9. /TASS/. Russia and Uzbekistan have coordinated the terms of settlement of the Central Asian country’s debt before Moscow which totals $890 million, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov are expected to sign a particular agreement during the Russian leader’s official visit to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent on Wednesday.

The document envisages “a discount in the sum of Uzbekistan’s debt, clearing the debt in a single payment, and then all the issues can be finally considered as settled,” Ushakov said.

Uzbekistan’s debt comprises the primary amount of $500 million and the rest of the sum is the interest accrued.

The decision will allow Russia and Uzbekistan to boost bilateral cooperation, including “opening new loans in particular in the sphere of arms trade,” Ushakov said.

During Putin’s visit, the parties are expected to discuss further development of the Russian-Uzbek strategic partnership, primarily in the trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Putin and the Uzbek leadership are due to exchange views on regional stability, including the situation in Afghanistan, the Kremlin press service said.