Page "Foreign relations of Kyrgyzstan" Paragraph 8

Uzbekistan dominates southern Kyrgyzstan both economically and politically, based on the large Uzbek population in that region of Kyrgyzstan and on economic and geographic conditions.

Much of Kyrgyzstan depends entirely on Uzbekistan for natural gas ; on several occasions, Karimov has achieved political ends by shutting pipelines or by adjusting terms of delivery.

In a number of television appearances broadcast in the Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces of Kyrgyzstan, Karimov has addressed Akayev with considerable condescension ; Akayev, in turn, has been highly deferential to his much stronger neighbor.

Although Uzbekistan has not shown overt expansionist tendencies, the Kyrgyz government is acutely aware of the implications of Karimov's assertions that he is responsible for the well-being of all Uzbeks, regardless of their nation of residence.