TERMEZ /Republic of Uzbekistan/, April 1. /TASS/. Tashkent is not yielding to Western pressure and, instead of joining anti-Russian sanctions, is choosing to develop cooperation with Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of a Russia-Uzbekistan conference organized by the Valdai Discussion Club and the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the Uzbek president.
"In these conditions [Western pressure], we highly value that our partners take a balanced, mature and wise position based on understanding the enduring value of large-scale Russian-Uzbek cooperation, which brings significant benefits to both sides. We note that instead of harming themselves by joining sanctions against Russia, our partners clearly choose development, including through cooperation with us as a key trade and investment partner and an important guarantor of global and Central Asian security," the senior diplomat said.
Galuzin added that this assessment is confirmed by major economic projects, including the construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant with two large and two small power units, the construction of the fourth copper processing plant at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, as well as supplies of Russian rolling stock for Uzbekistan’s railways and metro.
"These are only our largest projects, in fact, there are many more. Currently, about 115 projects worth 3.2 trillion rubles ($39.3 bln) are being implemented. Trade turnover is growing and has reached $11.5 billion, while Russian investments in Uzbekistan’s economy amount to $13 billion. The mutual benefit of such cooperation is obvious," the deputy minister said.
He also noted that "Russia cannot even imagine" any element of coercion or sanctions in relations with Uzbekistan. "There has never been, is not, and cannot be any such thing. Meanwhile, the West continues its line of coercion," the Russian deputy foreign minister concluded.