January 18. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited the exhibition devoted to the conditions of the military service on 18 January. The exhibition was organized by the Defense Ministry of Uzbekistan.

The head of the state familiarized himself with the mobile complex of material and technical provision of the military, including samples of 60-person mobile catering stations, showers and container refrigerators.

“The military should have the opportunity to use all conveniences of the modern life,” Islam Karimov said at the exhibition. “Peculiarities of the military service and climatic conditions of the regions they serve should be taken into account,” he added.

July 17. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited Kagan district of Bukhara region on 17 July. Here he participated in the meeting of the governmental commission investigating the fire and explosion at the ammunition depot of the Defense Ministry’s military unit. The explosion occurred in the night of 10 July, caused by the ignition at the depot.

August 31. President of Uzbekistan visited Shohidlar Khotirasi memorial complex in the morning to honor the memory of victims of repressions.

The head of the state familiarized with the exhibition of the newly reconstructed Museum of memory of repression victims.

The memorial complex Shohidlar Khotirasi (Memory of martyrs) is the homage to the memory of innocently lost compatriots and visiting it before celebrating the Day of Independence ennobles our thoughts, allows make conclusions of the past, to appreciate the today, to realize all the value of independence.

August 31. Celebrations of the 17th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan were held on 31 August at the National park named after Alisher Navoi.

Members of the government, the Senate and the Legislative Chamber, representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations and others were among the gathered at the celebrations.

President Islam Karimov congratulated the people of Uzbekistan with the 17th anniversary of the country’s independence.

October 2. President Islam Karimov visited Tashkent region on 2 October to familiarize himself with the socioeconomic reforms and changes in the agricultural sector.

October 3. President Islam Karimov visited Khorezm region on 3 October to familiarize himself with the socioeconomic reforms and changes in the agricultural sphere and the ongoing construction work in the area.

As in other regions of our country, farming is successfully developing in Khorezm region. The difficulty of this year related to water shortages affected the area as well. However, the farmers have grown a rich harvest of cotton.

The President visited the Bogot farm of the Bogot district and familiarized himself with the agricultural works here. He met the leading farmers, specialists of the agro-industrial complex and the public.

12 December. The extraordinary session of the Navoi regional council of people’s deputies was held. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov made a speech at the session.

16 December. The extraordinary session of the Tashkent regional council of people’s deputies was held on 16 December. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the session.

The head of the state noted that in Tashkent region, as in other parts of the country, wide-scale reforms were being implemented. At the same time, there are unsolved problems, he said, and pointed to the way of their solution.