NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson has asked Uzbek President Islam Karimov to provide assistance to NATO when that organization takes over command of coalition forces in Afghanistan, according to presidential foreign-affairs adviser Abdulaziz Komilov. Komilov said that Uzbekistan will provide full support in logistics, medical assistance, and humanitarian operations, using the U.S. base at Khanabad and the German base at Termez Airport and possibly other infrastructure as well. Komilov reportedly commented that relations between Uzbekistan and NATO have outgrown the framework of the \"partnership for peace,\" of which Uzbekistan is a participant. During a recent visit by Uzbek officials to NATO headquarters, an expanded cooperation program was developed. The report noted, however, that Karimov recently assured journalists that the Uzbek military will not become involved in actual military operations outside Uzbekistan\'s borders. (Deutsche Welle)