NATO hails Tashkent’s readiness to allow US to use Termez base

"We welcome the fact that Uzbekistan shows readiness to provide other countries, in addition to Germany, with an opportunity to use this base. As far as I understand, the United States has begun using the facility," Simmons told a news conference at Interfax on Wednesday.

NATO has used the Uzbek base as a transit point for troops and equipment headed to Afghanistan for some time, the NATO envoy said.

"During the period the base was used, Uzbekistan cooperated with a number of NATO members, in particular Germany; however, cooperation was suspended following the Andijan events," Simmons said.

"After a number of events, in particular the discussion of human rights issues with some EU members, the situation has improved and Uzbekistan has been showing readiness to cooperate," Simmons said.