Obama, Karimov discuss efforts to stabilize Afghanistan

President Barack Obama and President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan discussed their shared interests in supporting "a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan," as well as efforts they are undertaking together to further that goal, the White House announced late Wednesday. In a phone conversation, the two leaders "discussed their shared desire to develop a multi-dimensional relationship between the United States and Uzbekistan, including by strengthening the contacts between American and Uzbek civil societies and the private sector," the White House said in a statement released on Wednesday evening. Obama "expressed our view that a more prosperous and secure Uzbekistan benefits both countries, and that advancing democracy supports that goal," the statement said. Obama congratulated Karimov on Uzbekistan's 20 years of independence, and the two pledged to continue working to build broad cooperation between their countries, it said.