Independence:
Although Uzbekistan had not sought independence, when events brought them to that point, Karimov and his government moved quickly to adapt themselves to the new realities. They realized that under the Commonwealth of Independent States, the loose federation proposed to replace the Soviet Union, no central government would provide the subsidies to which Uzbek governments had become accustomed for the previous seventy years. Old economic ties would have to be reexamined and new markets and economic mechanisms established. Although Uzbekistan as defined by the Soviets had never had independent foreign relations, diplomatic relations would have to be established with foreign countries quickly. Investment and foreign credits would have to be attracted, a formidable challenge in light of Western restrictions on financial aid to nations restricting expression of political dissent. For example, the suppression of internal dissent in 1992 and 1993 had an unexpectedly chilling effect on foreign investment. Uzbekistan's image in the West alternated in the ensuing years between an attractive, stable experimental zone for investment and a post-Soviet dictatorship whose human rights record made financial aid inadvisable. Such alternation exerted strong influence on the political and economic fortunes of the new republic in its first five years.
* - The religious system of the Persians before their conversion to Islam: it was founded by Zoroaster, and its principles, contained in the Avesta, include belief in an afterlife and in the continuous struggle of the universal spirit of good (Ormazd) with the spirit of evil (Ahriman), the good ultimately to prevail.
** - A dualistic religion that combined Zoroastrian, Christian, Gnostic, and other beliefs in a theology of cosmic struggle between Good (light, God, spirit) and Evil (darkness, Satan, matter): it was founded by Mani (in Latin name Manichaeus) in Persia in the 3d century A.D.
*** - Sunni (Sunnite) a member of one of the two great sects of Muslims: Sunnites approve the historical order of the first four caliphs as the rightful line of succession to Mohammed and accept the Sunna***** as an authoritative supplement to the Koran.
**** - Shia(h) (Shiite) a member of one of the two great sects of Muslims: Shiites consider Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law and the fourth of the caliphs, as the first Imam and the rightful successor of Mohammed, and do not accept the Sunna as authoritative.
***** - Muslim law based, according to tradition, on the teaching and practices of Mohammed and observed by orthodox Muslims: a supplement to the Koran.
* - The religious system of the Persians before their conversion to Islam: it was founded by Zoroaster, and its principles, contained in the Avesta, include belief in an afterlife and in the continuous struggle of the universal spirit of good (Ormazd) with the spirit of evil (Ahriman), the good ultimately to prevail.
** - A dualistic religion that combined Zoroastrian, Christian, Gnostic, and other beliefs in a theology of cosmic struggle between Good (light, God, spirit) and Evil (darkness, Satan, matter): it was founded by Mani (in Latin name Manichaeus) in Persia in the 3d century A.D.
*** - Sunni (Sunnite) a member of one of the two great sects of Muslims: Sunnites approve the historical order of the first four caliphs as the rightful line of succession to Mohammed and accept the Sunna***** as an authoritative supplement to the Koran.
**** - Shia(h) (Shiite) a member of one of the two great sects of Muslims: Shiites consider Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law and the fourth of the caliphs, as the first Imam and the rightful successor of Mohammed, and do not accept the Sunna as authoritative.
***** - Muslim law based, according to tradition, on the teaching and practices of Mohammed and observed by orthodox Muslims: a supplement to the Koran.