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UZBEK COURT SUSPENDS U.S. EXCHANGE ORGANIZATION FOR SIX MONTHS. RFE/RL Newsline, Vol. 9, No. 174, September 14, 2005. Acivil court in Tashkent ruled on 12 September to suspend for sixmonths the activities of U.S.-based exchange organization IREX,RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported. The court argued that IREX hadengaged in activities and pursued goals not covered by theorganization's charter. In a press release published on IREX'swebsite on 13 September, President Mark G. Pomar stated, "Suspendingthe activities of IREX in Uzbekistan is an unfortunate step that willimpede the development of Uzbek civil society and the strengtheningof higher education." The press release called the move "part of abroader trend by the Uzbek government to close down bothinternational and local nongovernmental organizations." Otherinternational organizations that have been forced by court decisionsto curtail or end their operations in Uzbekistan include the OpenSociety Institute (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 April 2004) and, onlydays ago, Internews (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 September 2005). DK