Oil fields a factor in U.S. bid for stability in Central Asia

WASHINGTON -- The United States has launched an effort to help its allies in Central Asia battle a rise in counterinsurgency and terrorism to ensure the development of what could turn out to be the next global energy center.

The Clinton administration has offered Central Asian republics aid packages to protect their borders from terrorists and traffickers in drugs and weapons. Officials said Washington's effort is to ensure stability as the administration helps develop oil and natural gas fields in Central Asia, regarded as having the potential to be the next global energy center.

So far, the administration has offered such packages to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The packages all comprise aid that amount to $3 million each and are meant to counter recent incursions and bombings in Kyrgyzstan and the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

The administration has also been concerned by the rise of Islamic fundamentalism aligned with Iran and Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia. Some officials said the goal of the fundamentalists is to turn Central Asia into a group of Islamic republics akin to Iran.

"We know that these threats have become more acute in Central Asia especially in the last year," U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told an audience at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. "While you are geographically distant from the United States, you are very closely connected to some of our vital interests."

Ms. Albright, who is completing a Central Asian tour, expressed the U.S. desire to increase its influence in the region. But she urged governments in Central Asia to liberalize their regimes in an effort to reduce violence.

U.S. officials have been concerned over the crackdown by authorities in the region, including that of Islamic fundamentalist groups. They said most fundamentalists are not linked to terrorism.

"One of the most dangerous temptations for a government facing violent threats is to respond in heavy-handed ways that violate the rights of innocent citizens," Ms. Albright said. "Indiscriminate government censorship and repression can cause moderate and peaceful opponents of a regime to resort to violence. It can turn civilians who have never before been interested in politics into extremists. These kinds of measures are not only abusive of human rights; they are also likely to fail."

For Kyrgyzstan, the United States will supply equipment and training to fight terrorism, smuggling of nuclear material and other material for weapons of mass destruction. Officials said Kyrgyzstan will be included in a regional conference on counterterrorism in June.

The United States also wants Central Asian countries to participate in NATO's Partnership for Peace and other programs meant to promote interoperability with the alliance.