TASHKENT. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Commander-in-Chief of the United States Central Command General Tommy Franks has arrived in Uzbekistan.
On Tuesday Franks is to meet with Uzbek President Islam Karimov. He is also to hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and Defense Minister Kadyr Gulyamov on the current anti- terrorist operation in Afghanistan and on military cooperation, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry's press service has told Interfax.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Franks will go to Dushanbe and Bishkek for brief visits.
A source in the Uzbek Defense Ministry has informed Interfax that Franks plans to visit the Khanabad military base in Kashkadarya region, which the Uzbek authorities have placed at the disposal of the U.S. armed forces for humanitarian efforts and search-and-rescue work in the current anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan.