Remarks at Signing of Cooperative Threat Reduction Agreement With Uzbekistan

MR. JONATHAN BENTON (Acting Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs): Secretary Powell and Minister Kamilov will now sign the Cooperative Threat Reduction Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This agreement will enable enhanced defense cooperation and joint work under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and technology and expertise.

Cooperation will include the dismantlement of Soviet military, chemical and biological weapons facilities left on the territory of Uzbekistan at the time of independence.