Relations between Tashkent, Moscow to remain strategic, allied - Uzbek PM to Putin
SAMARKAND. Sept 6 (Interfax) - Relations between Uzbekistan and Russia "were, are and will remain a strategic partnership, an alliance," Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev told Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I believe, and everyone knows that, Islam Abduganiyevich always said so, our relations with the Russian Federation, foreign political activity are absolutely strategic. We will continue to develop them," he said.
The bridges Putin and Karimov were building for years will be reinforced, the prime minister said.
Putin's visit to Samarkand demonstrates his attitude to the people of Uzbekistan and the first Uzbek president, Islam Karimov, the Uzbek prime minister said.
"Your visit says a lot, and we are very grateful. This is the shoulder a true friend offers at a time of ordeal for us, the republic grieving for our first president, Islam Abduganiyevich [Karimov]," the Uzbek prime minister told Putin.
He said he was grateful that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attended the funeral. "All of us watched your interview in China yesterday and heard your remarks on our esteemed Islam Abduganiyevich. You rightly said that a solid structure of relations between Uzbekistan and Russia was built through those years," Mirziyoyev said.
"Your visit to Uzbekistan demonstrates your personal attitude to our esteemed Islam Abduganiyevich, your attitude to the people of Uzbekistan. People in Tashkent, Samarkand and the entire country proudly say that your move, your visit says a lot," the Uzbek prime minister said.
