Hundreds of historically important documents and personal things, pictures, photographs and video materials belonging to the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov will be exhibit in the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Above all, to the public will be representing with rare exhibits related to the life and socio-political activities of Islam Karimov.

The correspondent of UzA is talking to the Head of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the Doctor of Historical Sciences, and Professor Temur Shirinov.

As is well known, in accordance with the decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev "On perpetuating the memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Abduganievich Karimov" signed on January 25, 2017 and "On the organization of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan» signed on April 25, 2017 successively realizing on the perpetuation of memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, his outstanding contribution to gaining independence and building national statehood.

In his honor has been called streets and parks, architectural structures and educational institutions, and creating of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

-Why the residence of «Oqsaroy» chosen for the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov?

-We all know that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiated the perpetuation of the historical role of Islam Karimov, as well as the creation of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex.

It was he who, suggested putting up the complex in the former residence of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and keeping the cabinet of Islam Karimov as it exists.

The President of Uzbekistan ShavkatMirziyoyev defined a historical place and appraised the merits of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in the thousand-year history of Uzbekistan. In particular, he noted that:

"Thanks to the First President for his invincible will, unique talent of the leader, bravery and courage for saving our republic from terrible tragedies, which managed in the 90s of the last century in the abyss of extremely acute problems, ethnic conflicts, and brought the country to the road on the path of dynamic development”.

For the prosperity of native Uzbekistan, he did not spare his strength and energy, deep knowledge and rich experience. Undoubtedly, his good deeds will forever be inscribed in our history as the brightest example of selfless service to the Motherland".

The total area of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov is 9.6 hectares. The complex includes the buildings of the Oksaroy residence, exhibition hall, library, conference hall and administrative building.

The installation of monuments to the great statesman in Tashkent and Samarkand, and will be opening in January 2018 of the memorial complex in Samarkand - all this is a tribute of respect and gratitude to the people of our country for his enormous contribution to gaining independence and building the national statehood of our Motherland. Undoubtedly, this will contribute to the education of the younger generation by the example of Islam Karimov's life and activities in the spirit of patriotism and responsibility for the fate of the Motherland.

-What are the main functions of the complex?

-Among the main tasks of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex is the study of the life and work of Islam Karimov as an outstanding personality, founder and architect of the independence of modern Uzbekistan, the founder of strengthening the authority of the country in the world community, his personal morality and human qualities. This approach is aimed at demonstrating the formation and strengthening of our country as an independent state, an acquaintance of our fellow citizens, first of all, with young people and foreign guests with the history of independent development of Uzbekistan.

The staff of the complex will deal with the publication and distribution of books, catalogues, booklets, guidebooks and other materials, storage, accounting, organization of expositions, the formation, maintenance and updating of a database of museum items and collections related to the life and activities of Islam Karimov.

We can also make proposals for the inclusion of museum items and museum collections in the National Museum Fund of the Republic of Uzbekistan in printed and electronic form.

To perform the tasks assigned, the memorial complex, will keep in touch with an international organizations, state and economic management bodies, state authorities in the localities, citizens' self-government, legal entities and individuals. In accordance with the country's legislation, all conditions are created here to ensure the proper maintenance, preservation, accounting, study and use of historical objects, monuments of material culture and archival documents.

As part of activities, we’ll give expert opinions on the information contained in published, printed, cinematographic, artistic and other materials and products for compliance with historical reliability. We also entitled to establish and award grants and scholarships for carrying out scientific research in the field of history and state building of Uzbekistan, as well as supporting young talents in the field of culture, science, education, enlightenment, sports, art and creativity.

A special library has been created in the complex, interacting with the National Library named after Alisher Navoi and other libraries, in cooperation with which various educational activities are held. At the same time we’ll working for entrancing tothe ICOM - an international organization representing the interests of the world museum community and providing protection, preservation, transfer of cultural values.

In addition, the complex provides for organizing conferences, symposiums, seminars, briefings, roundtables, meetings with the participation of officials, prominent political, scientific and public figures and dedicated to the history and state building of Uzbekistan, as well as acquaintance with the memories of people who knew Islam Karimov personally.

Herewith, the complex can conduct cultural and educational events, both in Uzbekistan and abroad, consulting and other activities.

-What scientific and educational work will be conducted on the basis of the complex?

On the basis of the complex, it’s planning to organize research work on studying the life and activities of the First President Islam Karimov, in particular, in such areas as economics, socio-political and spiritual-cultural spheres. Along with this, will be developed and coordinated in accordance with the established procedure of scientific topics of dissertation researches about the life and activity of the First President of Uzbekistan.

We’re planning to organize master classes, creative evenings, exhibitions, seminars, as well as scientific and practical conferences on various aspects of life and activities of Islam Karimov. And also for teachers of schools, lyceums, and colleges will be organized specifically short-term preparatory courses on the basics of civil society, the theory and practice of public administration, the national idea, the strategy of socioeconomic development of Uzbekistan, the basics of spirituality, the country's newest history.

-What work is being done to create the museum and what technologies will be used in it?

The exposition of the museum will feature rare documents and personal belongings of the First President of Uzbekistan. For example, Grand Order of “Mugunkhwa” (Republic of Korea), Order of “Merit” of the Cavalier of the Great Cross of the Italian Republic, Order “Altyn Kyran” (Kazakhstan), Gold Medal of the International Olympic Committee, Golden Order of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Golden Order of the International Amateur Sambo Federation (FIAS), as well as other awards received by Islam Karimov during his years of life.

It is noteworthy that the museum will collect a unique collection of gifts, souvenirs, photo and video materials, paintings. A great amount of respect for Islam Karimov is also evidenced by the impressive number of portraits donated to him, made of different materials and in different artistic styles.

During the process of creating the museum will be equipped with the latest multimedia systems, projection systems, augmented reality, wide-format screens, and advanced interactive information ports to familiarize visitors with an extensive database of multimedia data. At present, the site is already functioning, which contains materials on the life and activities of Islam Karimov, including the use of 3D panoramas for virtual tours.

- What events on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the First President of Uzbekistan are planned at the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov?

Within the framework of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the birth of the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Abduganievich Karimov, planning on the presentation of the book "The Chronicle of the activities of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Abduganievich Karimov", his works "Youth will be the decisive force of our today and tomorrow", "High spirituality is an invincible force", and also the book "Letters to the President".

In addition, we’ll plan to organize an international scientific conference "Islam Karimov - the founder of an independent state of the Republic of Uzbekistan" in Samarkand. Also in the first quarter of 2018, we’ll to organize the award ceremony for the winners of the contest for the best popular science article dedicated to the memory of Islam Karimov. The best works of the contest participants will be published in a separate collection and posted on the official website of our complex.

Also, we’ll to organize the meetings dedicated to the memory of the First President of Uzbekistan in the complex, as well as in many educational institutions, with the participation of well-known writers and scientists.

Acts of the great personalities determine the movement of history and the fate of entire nations. The outstanding state and political figure, the founder and the First President of the independent of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov carried out a tremendous creative work and large-scale reforms on the development of our country, increasing of spirituality and standard of living of the people.

Roman Bondarchuk, UzA