March 3, 1997 - Ms. Robin L. Raphel, U.S. Assistant secretary of state for South Asian Affairs, visited Uzbekistan from 4 to 6 February. She held consultations with President Islam Karimov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov, and other officials of the government of Uzbekistan.

On February 5 Minister Kamilov and Assistant Secretary Raphel held a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In her statement following opening remarks by Minister Kamilov, Assistant Secretary Raphel noted that her discussions had focused primarily on Afghanistan. She emphasized that "the United States and Uzbekistan share similar views on the situation in Afghanistan".

During the consultations both sides reaffirmed their principal positions in resolving the conflict. Ms.Raphel and her interlocutors agreed that Afganistan's territorial integrity must be maintained and the conflict must be resolved under the aegis of the United Nations through negotiations involving all factions and groups.