ASIA/UZBEKISTAN - Info

Vatican City (Fides Service) - Tension in Uzbekistan is still high. To offer a picture of the situation in the central Asia republic Fides publishes this background note on Uzbekistan.

area: 447.400 sq. km - population: 25.2 million - Capital: Tashkent
Languages: Uzbek 74% - Russian 14%-Tagiko 4%- other 6%
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80% - Russian 6% - Tajik 5% - Kazak 3% - other 6%
Religion: 90% Islam - 1.7% Christianity (Catholics 4.000)- other 3%
literacy: 99% (highest rate in the Stans)
life expectancy: 63.8 years
infant mortality: 72 out of every 1000

Uzbekistan is one of the five central Asian territories which became independent republics after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In the past it was a meeting place for civilisations and one of the most lively points of cultural and commercial exchange between East and West, a neuralgic crossroads on the silk route. Today Uzbekistan wants to encourage tourism by exploiting its history and natural beauty spots including Fergana, the scene of riots and clashes at the moment.
With its population of 25 million it is the most populous country in the region and has the largest army. The President is authoritarian Muslim leader Karimov who is backed by Moscow and also has an alliance with the United States president Bush in the war on terrorism. This fellowship brought conspicuous funding and the installation of a US airbase in Uzbekistan. Karimov, whose presidency expires in 2007, has reinforced his position also in the name of the struggle against Islamic fundamentalism: the main suspect is the Uzbekistan Islamic Movement suspected of having connections with Al Qaeda. Although, in this largely Muslim state Sufism, a mystical and less politicised version of Islam, is widespread.
Agriculture is important, whereas industry is almost non existent. 65 per cent of the people live in rural areas and grow cotton of which Uzbekistan is the world’s 5th largest producer and second largest exporter after the United States. The path to win international markets goes hand in hand with heavy social costs: the first who do not enjoy the benefits of cotton are the farmers. This has led to increasing malcontent over corruption and widespread poverty.

The Catholic Church
In Uzbekistan, former territory of the Soviet Union and independent since 1991, the first Catholic Mission was opened on 29 September 1997 although Christianity had been present here since the 9th century. Islam arrived here in the 7th century. Today the population of about 25 million is 95% Muslim and 1.1% Christian including 4,000 Catholics gathered in three parishes and three mission stations. Pope John Paul II raised the Mission to an Apostolic Administration on March 22, 2005 and appointed first apostolic administrator and titular Bishop of Nara Fr Jerzy Maculewicz O.F.M. Conv., Assistant General of the Order of friars Minor for Eastern Europe.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2005 righe 31 parole 324)