Are Tashkent And Tehran Seeking Rapprochement?
Uzbek President Islam Karimov is quietly pursuing better relations with Iran (file photo) (AFP)There has been a noticeable change in the Uzbek media’s coverage of Iran recently. Since most of the country’s media are strictly controlled, freedom of speech is nearly nonexistent and most journalists exercise self-censorship. Media coverage of any issue, particularly those related to international affairs, is done in concert with the government. Positive articles on Iran along with the recent visit of an Iranian delegation to Tashkent may signal a change in the country’s foreign-policy orientation.
