Central Asia

Central AsiaSec. 587. (a) Funds appropriated by this Act may be made available for assistance for the Government of Kazakhstan only if the Secretary of State determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that the Government of Kazakhstan has made significant improvements in the protection of human rights during the preceding 6 month period.(b) The Secretary of State may waive subsection (a) if he determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such a waiver is important to the national security of the United States.(c) Not later than October 1, 2006, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives describing the following:(1) The defense articles, defense services, and financial assistance provided by the United States to the countries of Central Asia during the 6-month period ending 30 days prior to submission of such report.(2) The use during such period of defense articles, defense services, and financial assistance provided by the United States by units of the armed forces, border guards, or other security forces of such countries.(d) Prior to the initial obligation of assistance for the Government of Kyrgyzstan, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations describing: (1) whether the 119 STAT. 2236 Government of Kyrgyzstan is forcibly returning Uzbeks who have fled violence and political persecution, in violation of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees, and the Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment; (2) efforts made by the United States to prevent such returns; and (3) the response of the Government of Kyrgyzstan.(e) For purposes of this section, the term “countries of Central Asia” means Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.