Expressing support of independence and further development of the strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 599 Expressing support of independence and further development of the strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 Mr. KELLY of Mississippi (for himself and Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas) sub- mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing support of independence and further development of the strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan. Whereas the people of Uzbekistan are celebrating September 1, 1991, the 28th anniversary of the independence of Uz- bekistan from the Soviet Union; Whereas the principles of the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Framework between the United States and the Republic of Uzbekistan of July 2002 reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to further in- tensify the democratic transition of its society politically and economically; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Sep 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR599.IH HR599 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 599 IH Whereas Uzbekistan’s ongoing regional initiatives aimed at strengthening stability and economic cooperation in Cen- tral Asia contribute greatly to the stability of the region; Whereas President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s ‘‘Five Year Strategy of Action’’ promotes good governance, judicial reform and rule of law, economic liberalization, social development, and an open and constructive foreign policy; Whereas the historic first visit of President Mirziyoyev of Uz- bekistan to the United States in May 2018 launched a new era of strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan; Whereas during the visit of President Mirziyoyev to the United States business deals valued at more than $4,800,000,000 were signed followed by contracts valued at more than $2,500,000,000 at the bilateral business forum in Tashkent in October 2018, and the first-ever Department of Commerce-led Certified Trade Mission to Uzbekistan in June 2019; Whereas the creation of the Congressional Uzbekistan Caucus in the House of Representatives has led to unprecedented levels of dialogue between American and Uzbek political leadership; Whereas support provided to the United States by the Gov- ernment of Uzbekistan in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States was crucial to the expulsion of al-Qaida from Afghanistan; Whereas the deepening of ties between the State of Mis- sissippi and Uzbekistan through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program has led to increased levels of military cooperation; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Sep 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR599.IH HR599 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 599 IH Whereas the eagerness of Uzbekistan to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States, share burdens, and address regional issues, including stability in Afghani- stan, has fostered an environment of political and eco- nomic cooperation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) reaffirms the enduring commitment of the 2 United States to the independence, territorial integ- 3 rity, and sovereignty of Uzbekistan; 4 (2) recognizes Uzbekistan’s tremendous 5 progress on important political, economic, and social 6 reforms under the leadership of President 7 Mirziyoyev; 8 (3) resolves to strengthen the bilateral relation- 9 ship between the United States and Uzbekistan with 10 a new dialogue to reinvigorate, building on a broad 11 range of mutual priorities; 12 (4) applauds the efforts of the Government of 13 Uzbekistan to strengthen cooperative dialogue, open- 14 ing new possibilities for intraregional commerce and 15 cooperative approaches to all challenges in Central 16 Asia including by means of the ‘‘Central Asia: 17 Shared Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for 18 Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity’’ 19 conference, which took place in Samarkand on No- 20 vember 10–11, 2017, and the ‘‘Central Asian 21 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Sep 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR599.IH HR599 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 599 IH Connectivity: Challenges and New Opportunities’’ 1 conference, held in Tashkent on February 19–20, 2 2019; 3 (5) welcomes the ambitious reform program of 4 President Mirziyoyev aimed at a dramatic improve- 5 ment of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, 6 advancing anticorruption measures and greater 7 transparency in the judicial system, strengthening 8 accountability of public servants, providing freedom 9 of expression and press, ending systematic forced 10 and child labor, eliminating trafficking in persons, 11 and ensuring religious freedom; 12 (6) supports deeper economic cooperation be- 13 tween the United States and Uzbekistan that will in- 14 crease trade and create new business opportunities 15 in the fields of agriculture, energy, financial services, 16 chemical, tourism, textile, health, and digital innova- 17 tion; 18 (7) commends the launch of the first American 19 university in Uzbekistan, the Webster University 20 Center in Tashkent, and accreditation of the Amer- 21 ican Councils for International Education in Uzbek- 22 istan, and encourages further broadening of edu- 23 cational cooperation between the two countries, in- 24 cluding through fostering academic and research 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Sep 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR599.IH HR599 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 599 IH partnerships between United States and Uzbekistan 1 universities and expanding English language train- 2 ing and STEM programs in public education in Uz- 3 bekistan; 4 (8) underscores important dialogue between the 5 United States and Uzbekistan in multilateral co- 6 operation formats in Central Asia, including the 7 C5+1 regional format; 8 (9) underlines the emerging role of Uzbekistan 9 as an economic leader in Central Asia as dem- 10 onstrated by hosting the Central Asia Trade Forum 11 and the United States-Central Asia Trade and In- 12 vestment Framework Agreement (TIFA); and 13 (10) emphasizes the efforts of the Government 14 of Uzbekistan to assume the burden of promoting 15 the peace process, and social and economic develop- 16 ment in Afghanistan by means of assistance to the 17 Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, support 18 of the railway and electricity infrastructure develop- 19 ment in Afghanistan, educating Afghan youth, 20 partnering with the United States to address drug 21 production and trafficking and weapons smuggling. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Sep 27, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR599.IH HR599 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS