Bilateral Relations: Putin expresses pleasure at growing relations with Uzbekistan

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his delight at development of relations with Uzbekistan.

Following his meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov in Moscow, Putin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying that "Our full-format negotiations with the Uzbek president have just ended. They showed active and fruitful political dialogue between our countries, and confirmed the firmness and progressive development of Russian-Uzbek relations in all directions."

"The fact that Islam Karimov, after his re-election to the post of Uzbekistan president, made his first visit to Russia underscores the special character of our interaction," he said.