Turkish FM in Uzbekistan to reignite relations

Ahmet Davutoğlu visited Uzbekistan on July 10, the first such trip by a Turkish foreign minister in 13 years.

Davutoğlu held his first meeting in Taskent with his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulaziz Kamilov, to reignite strained relations between the two countries, with the latter stressing the “historic” aspect of Turkish minister’s visit.

Turkey was the first country to recognize Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991. But relations with Uzbekistan began to deteriorate when Uzbek troops killed hundreds of demonstrators in the town of Andijan on 13 May, 2005, provoking an international outcry.

Turkey backed a U.N. resolution condemning Uzbekistan over its human rights violations in Andijan, provoking the ire of strongman Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

“We are all upset that relations have not been at the desired level in recent years. We hope the current political environment will pave the way for us to enhance our relationship,” Davutoğlu said.

Prior to his visit, Davutoğlu referred to the halt in Turkish and Uzbek relations since 2006 as a “misunderstanding.”

“This [visit] will be a new and stronger beginning [in the diplomatic relations between the two countries],” he said.