PAYING DUE TRIBUTE

Letters and cables with warm words in memory of the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov continue to come from all over the world. Friends and partners of our country, who share with us all the joys and sorrows, who contribute to the development of our nation with their attention, respect and activities, share their sincere feelings in connection with the birthday of the founder father of the contemporary Uzbek statehood.

Udo Völker, holder of Dustlik (Friendship) Order, member of the German-Uzbek Business Council, a senior consultant of CLAAS (Germany):

Working with Uzbekistan for many years, I was personally acquainted with the first President Islam Karimov, a true patriot of his country, a wise politician and an outstanding statesman.

The founder of the independent Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov turned his country into a respected member of the international community and made an enormous contribution to the development of friendly, mutually advantageous and multilayered relations with Germany. President Karimov paid special attention to attracting the leading German companies to the economy of the republic.

Over the past years, one of the most successful examples of economic cooperation between the two countries has been the joint Uzbek-German venture MAN Auto-Uzbekistan established in 2008 in Samarkand for the production of trucks, special vehicles and trailers. This project took an important place in the automotive industry of Uzbekistan, which greatly benefited from the continued support from Islam Karimov.

During my last trip to Uzbekistan in early December last year, I visited Samarkand to once again pay tribute to the memory of the true son of the Uzbek people, who devoted his entire life to serving the Motherland.

The Uzbek government’s adoption of a decree to perpetuate the memory of Islam Karimov, assigning his name to many institutions and facilities of national importance is a worthy expression of sincere respect by the people toward the first President and the recognition of his invaluable contribution to the establishment of an independent country.

I am proud to have had the opportunity to meet and interact repeatedly with the great and unique man. The bright memory of him will live forever in our hearts.

Edgar Klose, President of the Brandenburg Institute for Technologies and Innovation (Germany):

Islam Karimov has left a free, peaceful, stable and prosperous country. His name is by right will be written with golden letters in the annals of the history of independent Uzbekistan.

In our minds, Islam Karimov will remain first of all as the founder of modern Uzbek statehood and a national leader, who, in spite of many calamities, effectively brought the young republic to the path of sustainable development.

As a scientist and educator, I would also like to characterize Islam Karimov as a true nurturer of a freethinking, highly educated and spiritually rich younger generation.

The works, manuals and all the life and activities of the first President Islam Karimov constitute a great source of knowledge and a model for Uzbekistan’s growing generation. Today we are witnessing the Uzbek youth become a progressive and a generating force in the society. In this regard, I cannot help but recall the words of Islam Abduganievich that Uzbekistan is a country with a great future.

We, the friends of your country in Germany, will always honor the blessed memory of Islam Karimov. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the government of the republic for the efforts to perpetuate the memory of the first President of Uzbekistan.

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