Administrator Of U.S. International Development Agency To Meet Uzbekistan Leaders

Andrew S. Natsios, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is to discuss issues of rendering humanitarian aid to Afghanistan with leaders of Uzbekistan. The U.S. representative arrived in Tashkent the other day within his one-week tour of the Central Asian countries. During his stay in Uzbekistan Andrew Natsios will hold meetings with representatives of the Uzbek government, including prime minister Utkir Sultanov and first deputy foreign minister Sadyk Safayev. The U.S. embassy in Tashkent informed RIA Novosti that the USAID head will also hold consultations with UN representatives and meet with leader of non-government organisations for rendering humanitarian aid. Before his departure to Tashkent Andrew Natsios said that "our prime task is to deliver foodstuffs and other aid to North Afghanistan, where a great number of people desperately need help." The U.S. embassy noted that Andrew Natsios has plans to visit the city of Termez to discuss with the local administration coordination of activities for rendering humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan.