The Russian Air Force One has landed in Tashkent early in the morning. Diplomatic services of both countries thoroughly prepared the visit. Tashkent city was beautified and decorated with flags. The weather in Tashkent was warm and welcoming. During the first day of the visit, Medvedev and Karimov will have one-on-one negotiations discussing security and economy issues. The issue of labor migrants is expected to be raised as well. Russia was always considered as economical partner of Uzbekistan, the trade turnover between the countries in 2008 totals to 3.8 billion dollars, whereas the volume of Russian investments into the Uzbek economy exceeded one billion dollars. Uzbekistan has around 800 companies with Russian capital and 1 million of ethnic Russians residing in the country, representing...

Today Dmitry Medvedev, the President of Russian Federation arrives in Tashkent, reports Uzbekistan National News Agency. Dmitry Medvedev arrives in Tashkent upon the invitation of Uzbek President Islam Karimov. Newspaper “Kommersant” specifies: the visit “initially was planned as an official one, but upon insistence of Uzbek side the status of the visit was raised to the state visit.”

According to Uzmetronom, “despite the routine of the usual state visits, the familiarization of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev with Uzbekistan will begin in ancient Samarkhand. This is where Russian Air Force One will land on January 22. After visiting historical and architectural sights of Samarkhand, President Medvedev will depart to Tashkent on the same evening, to participate in the main events of the visit.”

Uzbekistan is planning to end its membership within the Euro-Asian Economic Community (EAEC). The news was reported today by the Regnum News Agency, citing reliable sources in the government of one of the Central Asian countries. According to the source, Uzbekistan has submitted official nota to the EAEC Secretariat three weeks ago and is expecting to receive an answer before November 25. The organization’s Secretariat declined commenting the information. At the same time, the Uzbek Embassy in Russia is not confirming, but also not refuting claims that Uzbekistan has already notified the EAEC about its exit from the organization.

Meanwhile, Arkadiy Dubnov, an expert on Central Asia and an international observer of newspaper Vremya Novostey has informed Fergana.Ru News Agency that his reliable diplomatic sources within the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the region also confirm the exit of Uzbekistan from the EAEC.

Vladimir Putin has returned to Moscow after his official visit to Uzbekistan. In the light of Uzbekistan’s independence day celebrations Putin has held negotiations with Uzbek President and Prime Minister. Islam Karimov stated that Uzbeksitan is always open for Russian investments. Development of the Russian Uzbek relations is planned for four years in advance. A special program implies building a new gas pipeline and mutually beneficial price on export of Uzbek gas.

The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Uzbekistan with a two-day official visit yesterday evening. He was met in the Tashkent Airport by the Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

In the course of his visit Putin will review issues of the bilateral cooperation in energy and transport sectors. Additionally, issues of the further expansion of the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia, as well as relevant problems of regional and international importance will be discussed.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov met with the Minster of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov. During the negotiation process the sides have marked the importance of agreements in cultural and humanitarian areas signed earlier...

Defense minister of Russia Anatoly Serdukov, who arrived with a work visit to Uzbekistan on October 29th, met with President Islam Karimov in the Oksaroy residency. In the course of the conversation, they exchanged opinions on important topics of military cooperation between the two countries and regional security. There is an acting agreement between Uzbekistan and Russia on military and technical cooperation, according to which, defense ministries of two countries annually elaborate and realize joint programs and plans

Yesterday, the President of Kazakhstan made a stop in Tashkent, Uzbek on his way back from visiting Islamic Republic of Iran, report Uzbekistan’s Mass Media. Nursultan Nazarbaev met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Tashkent airport. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

European Union is ready to remove several visa constrains in connection to several Uzbek authorities, which were imposed according after Uzbekistan’s denial to accept international investigation of Andijan events of 2005.

On March 2 2007, Evan Feigenbaum, deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs held a press conference in US Embassy in Uzbekistan. The press conference was dedicated to the economical integration of Central Asia.