Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Samarqand to personally pay tribute to the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, who died on 2 September. Alexander Lukashenko could not attend the funeral due to tight schedules and long distance. However, on the way fr om Islamabad to Minsk, the President made the decision to visit Samarqand, where Islam Karimov was born and buried. Alexander Lukashenko together with Uzbekistan’s Acting President, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev laid flowers at Islam Karimov’s grave in the Hazrat Khizr cemetery. The memory of the first President of Uzbekistan was honoured with a minute of silence
After that, the President headed for the Palace of International Forums, wh ere he laid a wreath at Islam Karimov’s photograph and extended condolences to Tatiana Karimova, the widow of Uzbekistan’s President.
The future of Belarus-Uzbekistan relations was touched upon during talks between Alexander Lukashenko and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the Palace of International Forums. The parties pointed out that Belarus and Uzbekistan had great potential for developing trade and economic cooperation.
The discussion on the prospects of relationship development will continue after the new President of the country is elected. According to the Constitution, early elections in Uzbekistan are to take place on 4 December.












