Karimov To Arrive In Moscow Today

President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan is to arrive on a state visit in the Russian capital today. Karimov was invited by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation. According to Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry, relations of mutual trust, which exist between the leaders of our two countries, facilitate expanded and more substantial bilateral ties. Russian-Uzbek economic cooperation hinges on more than 130 treaties and agreements. This is Karimov's second state visit to Russia over the last two years; the President of Uzbekistan would be expected to conduct negotiations with top-level Russian officials in various formats. Karimov and Putin are to negotiate on Friday, reports the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan. Both leaders will mostly discuss the subsequent enhancement of bilateral political and economic relations, as well as the development of science-technical, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. According to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, both sides consider the crackdown on terrorism, religious extremism and illicit drug trafficking to be particularly important. Consequently, Russia and Uzbekistan are interested in once again clarifying both countries' strategic goals as regards the preservation of regional peace and security. A number of documents dealing with customs control, trade-and-economic cooperation, humanitarian cooperation and cooperation in some other areas are to be signed, after the talks wind up. The President of Uzbekistan is to negotiate with the Russian Federation's Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov during his visit. Apart from that, Karimov would be expected to meet the faculty and students of Moscow's Lomonosov State University.