Souring relations

The information on the preparations for the visit (of Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller to Uzbekistan) may prove even more interesting than the visit itself.

The visit was planned back in 1993, when the charming premier took office, but was postponed at least twice for various reasons. While officials cited technical problems, the real rationale appears to be the change in relations between the two countries.

The first rapprochement between Turkey and Uzbekistan occurred in 1991. It was then that Tashkent began to pursue a Turkish model of economic development.

But the euphoria did not last long. Adoration of all things Turkish was replaced in 1993 by disgust with Turkey, and relations have since deteriorated.

Uzbek officials play down the drastic change, saying not all Turkish methods can take root in Uzbek soil, but observers cite other causes of the rift.

Uzbek leaders saw in comments of Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and other officials a certain disregard for Uzbekistan and arrogance toward the "little brother" in Central Asia -- an attitude that fit poorly into plans for Uzbekistan's great future.

Also, while Turkey is a secular state, Islamic influence there is strong. Uzbek leaders fear the growth of Muslim influence in some Islamic-leaning provinces of Uzbekistan, such as the Fergana valley, could bring about irreversible consequences.

But the chief reason is that opposition leaders routed from Uzbekistan have found refuge in Turkey, which has refused to extradite them. Banned in Uzbekistan, the opposition newspaper Erk is published in Ankara, which makes Tashkent very unhappy.

Turkey's granting of asylum to Uzbek opposition figures (also) remains a major road block in relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey.

-- Commersant-Daily, Moscow