July 17, 2018 PROTECTING AMERICAN ELECTIONS: President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are defending the integrity of our election system. · From the beginning of his Administration, President Trump has taken action to defend our election system from meddling and interference. · In May 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order to strengthen and …

On March 23-26, 2016, State Department-sponsored English Language Specialist Dee Broughton led final training sessions as part of a year-long textbook design project for teachers of English in Uzbekistan. The final four-day training prepared 18 teachers to make presentations to university faculty and administrators on the fundamental concepts of materials design and second language acquisition …

On November 19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a five year project with the Uzbek Research Institute of Epidemiology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (RIEMID) on the “Prevention and Control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Uzbekistan”.  The project goal is to collect evidence-based data on the scope and magnitude of AMR …

On Monday, November 16, Ambassador Pamela L. Spratlen opened International Education week at the U.S. Embassy.  International Education Week (November 16-20) is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education which promotes the critical importance of international education and exchange opportunities and their roles in supporting U.S. foreign …

The United States Embassy is pleased to learn that former MP Murod Juraev has been freed after 21 years. Mr. Juraev, a human rights activist, had been one of Uzbekistan’s longest-serving prisoners. The Embassy regards Mr. Juraev’s release as a positive step and urges Uzbek authorities to build on it by making it a prelude …

Ambassador Pamela Spratlen, Deputy Chief of Mission Lesslie Viguerie and Embassy volunteers represented the United States at the Tashkent International School (TIS) annual UN Day celebration on October 24.  About 500 students from 37 different countries attend TIS. The school celebrates UN Day each year by hosting a special day of performances, displays, and events …

The U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) organized the first International Cancer Control Leadership Forum for Central Asia in Tashkent from October 14-16, 2015.  The forum was organized in partnership with the Republican Oncology Research Center (RORC), the Association of Directors of Cancer Centers and Radiation Institutes of the Commonwealth of Independent …

On July 9, 2015 representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tashkent Office and members of the National Information Analytical Center for Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan (NCDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the DEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  The Uzbek delegation was represented by NCDC Director, Mr. Mansurov.  …

On August 29, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rosenblum and Ambassador Spratlen visited the Mirzo-Ulugbek Interdistrict Civil Court, part of joint Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Uzbekistan Rule of Law Partnership (RLP) Project. The court is one of two pilot civil courts equipped …

On August 18, Dr. Shakhzod Tahirov, a leading earthquake engineer with the University of California, Berkeley, delivered a public lecture at the U.S. Embassy on planning, designing, constructing, and managing earthquake-resistant structures and facilities. In addition to his research, Dr. Tahirov discussed his field work conducting structural assessments of historical buildings in Uzbekistan.  After the …

On August 29, J. Kirby Simon Trust Grant Awardee, Management Counselor Brian Anselman, delivered food packages to 225 needy blind people and their families in the Mirabad District for the Society of the Blind. Brian proposed and received a grant from the J. Kirby Simon Trust to purchase a hearing assisted phone for the society …

The U.S. Embassy continues to work with its Uzbekistan partners to improve border security and stop the flow of illegal drugs.  The Embassy, with USCENTCOM Counternarcotics funding, is assisting the Uzbekistan State Customs Committee with improvements to the Customs post at Karakalpakiya.  These improvements include the installation of a series of steel tresses over the …

On July 27-28, CDC conducted a two-day workshop on “Interpretation of Laboratory Test Results” for 27 clinicians, epidemiologists and laboratory professionals of the Ministry of Health, operating in the area of extremely dangerous pathogens. The workshop objectives were to increase awareness of the factors affecting the interpretation of laboratory assays by clinicians and epidemiologists, to …

Gabriel Eckstein, an expert in water management and international water law with Texas A&M University, visited Uzbekistan July 6-10 to participate in a water management training seminar for GOU officials organized by UNESCO.  During his visit, Professor Eckstein also delivered a public lecture at the U.S. Embassy on water as an economic good.  After the …

The U.S. and Uzbekistan demonstrated their commitment to enhance bilateral science and technology cooperation during a midterm review videoconference of the JCM on Science and Technology Cooperation on June 29. Jennifer Haskell, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation at U.S. State Department, headed the U.S. delegation in Washington D.C.  Dr. Odilkhuja Parpiev, …

On June 9, 2015, Ambassador Spratlen spoke at a meeting of the Association of International Business and Technologies (AMBiT),  a send-off for a group of local businesspeople, who will tour California’s Silicon Valley in July 2015.  Ambassador Spratlen talked about the importance of entrepreneurship in growing the business relationship between the U.S. and Uzbekistan. AMBiT …

On June 3-5, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Arun Kumar visited Uzbekistan and held official meetings with First Deputy Prime Minister Azimov, Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Ganiev, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamilov. During his visit, Assistant Secretary Kumar also participated in …

On June 1, in commemoration of International Children’s Day, U.S. Embassy Tashkent held a book presentation and signing event with the National Library of Uzbekistan.  Ambassador Spratlen introduced the Dancing Bear, an American Tale by Laura Whitton, to almost 60 Uzbek school children and teachers representing three Tashkent elementary schools.  U.S. Embassy Tashkent translated the …

On May 18-22, a five-day Risk Management Training (RMT) course for a combined Uzbek Customs and Border Guard Officer class was conducted by EXBS program in Tashkent. The training focused on how U.S. Customs and Border Protection utilize RMT to enhance interdiction operations without slowing the clearance of the majority of cargo crossing U.S. borders.  …

On May 20, 2015,  Regional Environmental Officer, Robyn McCutcheon spoke at the Tashkent Innovation Forum regarding the State Department’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology initiative, which empowers young innovators through networking, skills building, mentoring, and access to financing to develop startup solutions that address economic and development challenges.  The Forum, which was organized by …

On May 18-19, Ambassador Spratlen visited Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s second largest city after Tashkent.  The visit was anchored by three official events:  a meeting with Rector Kholmukhamedov Rahimovich of Samarkand State University (SamSu) and the delivery of remarks to the students; a visit to the Afrosiyab Museum, the site of the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation …

A new CCTV system was installed last week for the Uzbekistan State Customs Committee at the Ayritom Customs Post on the border with Afghanistan.  The CCTV system is a significant upgrade over the old system and enhances the overall security posture at the facility.  Funded by USCENTCOM-CN, all installation work was completed by an Uzbek …

U.S. Embassy personnel and family members participated in the MFA Day event on May 2nd illustrating the generosity of Americans and their spirit of volunteerism.  MFA Day is an event in which foreign missions sell food and dishes representing their national cuisine with proceeds going to charity. The American Embassy booth grilled and sold hamburgers …

On April 17, Ambassador Spratlen visited the House Museum of Tamara Khanum in the framework of Women’s History Month. Tamara Khanum (born Tamara Petrosyan) was a significant figure in Soviet Uzbekistan.  In 1929, during the difficult transition period from a feudal Islamic country to the Uzbek Soviet Socialistic Republic, she was one of the first …

To commemorate Women’s History Month, on April 7, the Embassy Tashkent Public Affairs Section held the First Impromptu Model UN Conference in Uzbekistan on “Bridging the Gender Gap in Science.”  Around 35 youth delegates, including alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, students of different academic institutions in Tashkent and the general public took part in …

On April 3, Ambassador Pamela Spratlen and Chairman of the State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan, Botir Parpiyev, signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to improve International Tax Compliance with respect to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Uzbekistan is the first country in Central Asia to sign an IGA on FATCA with the United States.  …

April 2-4, the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan, the Public Youth Movement “Kamolot,” and Expocontact are hosting the 12th International Education and Career Exhibition at the Youth Creativity Center in Tashkent. 122 institutions from around the world, including Embassy Tashkent’s Education USA, …

Are you one of the passionate youth interested in finding solutions to global challenges? Have you ever thought of jumping into the shoes of UN Ambassadors and think about issues from multiple perspectives? To commemorate Women’s History Month, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent is pleased to organize the first impromptu Model UN Conference in Uzbekistan. …

On February 12, Regional Dialogue (RD), a Slovenian NGO funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, organized a public discussion on the role of prosecutors and defense lawyers. The panel of experts consisted of Mark Schamel, a renowned U.S. defense attorney, Ravshan Akhmedov, the Head of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Layers, David …

On December 1-2, Uzbekistan hosted the fifth round of Annual Bilateral Consultations, chaired by Assistant Secretary Biswal and Foreign Minister Kamilov. The U.S. delegation consisted of 22 people representing various bureaus and agencies. The U.S. and Uzbek delegates discussed a broad range of issues of mutual interest across four dimensions: economic, security, political, and human. …

On September 30, USAID Country Director John Riordan participated in the Apple Variety Contest, supported by USAID’s AgLinks Plus Project in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan. 35 Uzbek farmers presented their produce for nominations in four categories: (1) most marketable (2) sweetest (3) juiciest (4) Best in Show. Top …

Chargé d’Affaires Brink welcomed participants to a three-day workshop (September 24-26) on infection control sponsored by CDC, DTRA, and USAID. The event aimed at providing important information to 39 healthcare professionals on the importance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), main routes of transmission and means of prevention. HAIs are a major public health concern in Central …

On September 16, Chargè d’Affaires Bridget Brink attended a completion ceremony marking the return of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Antiterrorism Assistance program (ATA) to Uzbekistan.  Once a popular and thriving program, courses were stopped years ago.  This last course delivered information to 22 participants, focusing on Airport Security Management.  The course covered seven days …

Mr. Dean Reeder, former National Tourism Director for the U.S. National Park Service and ecotourism expert visited Uzbekistan from September 8-14.  Supported by Embassy Tashkent, Mr. Reeder led seminars on “Ecotourism Development” for Government of Uzbekistan officials at the Zaamin National Park and at the headquarters of the Main Forestry Department in Tashkent.  He also …

The U.S. Embassy, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the anti-trafficking NGO Istiqbolli Avlod jointly facilitated a seminar August 18-21 in Tashkent on combating trafficking in persons (TIP).  This seminar, the second in a multi-part series, exposed participants to a variety of mechanisms to combat human trafficking and promoted greater public-private …

Dr. Celeste Wallander, Special Assistant to the President of the United States of America and Senior Director for Russia and Eurasia on the U.S. National Security Council, visited Uzbekistan on June 13-14, 2014. Dr. Wallander participated in high-level meetings, pertaining to current issues of bilateral cooperation across a variety of spheres, including regional and international …

From March 11-12, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent supported a training course for users of forensic evidence. The workshop was designed and delivered by a joint interagency group of forensic experts from Uzbekistan and included a wide variety of forensic topics. The event was attended by investigators, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges from Tashkent and …