A delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), headed by Torsten Gersfelt arrived in Tashkent on Monday

A delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), headed by Torsten Gersfelt, Chairman of the Board Steering Group, arrived in Tashkent on Monday for a five-day monitoring mission. Along with meeting government officials and representatives of the business and diplomatic communities, the delegation also met NGOs. In March 2003, the EBRD published its strategy for Uzbekistan, which set forth how the development bank might remain a key investor in Uzbekistan's private and public sectors. The bank committed itself to monitor progress on - and review within a year - seven bench marks that would accelerate Uzbekistan’s political and economic reform. The delegation will report back to the board of directors, which will, within a few weeks, consider the future course of the bank’s relationship with Tashkent. The EBRD’s cumulative investments in Uzbekistan stand at some US $660 million. In 2003 the Bank committed $32 million through five projects. Staying in Uzbekistan, newly appointed US Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Jon Purnell said at his first news conference in the country that US aid to Uzbekistan, would continue as normal. International press reports over recent weeks speculated that Washington might cut aid because of perceived lack of progress on human rights. "No assistance will be reduced. The assistance programme of the US to Uzbekistan remains unchanged," he said on Monday. Commenting on the issue of re-registration of international NGOs in the country, Purnell said that they were working with various NGOs to help them meet new registration requirements and they had also bilateral agreement with the government of Uzbekistan, which governed the role of US-based NGOs working in the country. "I see no reason to make any assumption that our NGOs are going to experience any obstacle. We are looking forward that they continue their work in Uzbekistan,” he ascertained. However, Uzbekistan was not listed among 63 countries that have met US administration criteria to be considered for a share of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), an unprecedented assistance programme initiated by President Bush that has received wide bipartisan support and $1 billion in funding from Congress, the US State Department announced. The list includes only two Central Asian countries, entitled to aid - Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, while Uzbekistan along with Turkmenistan, have been excluded.