The United States National Nuclear Security Administration reported that it has removed 139 pounds of weapons-grade nuclear material from and Uzbekistan reactor to a secure storage site in Russia. This move was atypical of U.S. åö Uzbekistan relations; the two have been at odds since last year when Uzbek forces opened fire on antigovernment demonstrators in the northeastern part of the country.
Interestingly, cooperation in the matter came about after a concerted humanitarian effort by the United States. In the past year, USAID has been responsible for approximately US$4 million in health programs in Uzbekistan; and US$2 million in economic aid targeting microcredit for small businesses.
Additional Resources
1) New York Times: “Uzbeks Ship Bomb-Grade Waste to Russia,” April 20, 2006.
2) USAID
3) MicroCapital Blog: “Microfinance Investments Seen as a Cornerstone in the Rebuilding of Iraq- USAID Laying the Foundations for Growth,” April 20, 2006.
Similar Posts:
- MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Al-Qutaibi Funding Renewable Energy Products, Climate Adaptation Strategies for SMEs, Farmers in Yemen in Collaboration with USAID
- MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Gendered Investment Differences Among Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from a Microcredit Programme in Western Kenya,” by Keiji Jindo et al
- MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Impacts of Microcredit Access on Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Adoption and Rice Yield in Kwara State, Nigeria,” by Adejoke Yewande Bakare et al
- MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: First City Monument Bank of Nigeria Offers Asset Financing Starting at $600
- MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Uzpromstroybank (UzPSB) Borrowing $15m from EBRD for SMEs in Uzbekistan
