OSCE Chairman condemns terrorist attacks in Uzbekistan

VIENNA, 30 March, 2004 - OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Solomon Passy, today voiced his shock at the continued spate of terrorist attacks which now have entered a third day in Uzbekistan, a participating State of the Organization.

Passy, who is also Bulgaria's Foreign Minister, said he was horrified by news of the slaughter of women and children when a bomb exploded at a shopping centre and at the latest reports of a bomb explosion at a police checkpoint and gun battles on the edge of the capital which have killed several policemen.

He has already written to the Foreign Minster of Uzbekistan and today he said: "My condolences go to the families of the victims. I cannot express strongly enough my shock and horror at the news that Tashkent is the latest city to suffer from indiscriminate terrorism.

"This only renews the determination of the 55 OSCE States to try and fight the spread of this plague by whatever means are at our disposal. But at the same time we shall not allow these misguided people to hinder the growth of democracy, which seems to be part of their aim. I shall be visiting Uzbekistan next week and I hope to take that opportunity to personally convey my feelings to the Government and people of that country."