Photo by UzA.Uz

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited the Namangan and Andijan regions on June 21-22. The head of state had already visited the Horezm, Bukhara, and Navoi regions earlier this month. Karimov usually travels to the regions whenever he contemplates staff shuffles in regional power structures but the local media have reported none so far. Observers suspect therefore that Karimov whose term of office ended in January 2007 launched a campaign for reelection.

Insiders say that unprecedented security measures have been taken on the visit to Namangan. Phones were dead and remained dead until after the president's departure. Communication by cell phones was unavailable too.

Traffic on all major roads and nearby streets in Namangan was halted on June 21. Residents of the buildings along the streets Karimov's cortege was expected to take were not permitted outdoors. Policemen flanked all streets at the 20 meter interval. "Not even flies were permitted to buzz by," source told Ferghana.Ru. He added that the men from the presidential secret service were extremely rude when ordering the local police about.

The president met with local farmers and gave state power structures their orders concerning development of the regional agricultural complex, private property, and construction projects.

Touring the recently reconstructed central square, Karimov made an emphasis on the necessity to make it comfortable for pedestrians and convenient for all sorts of celebrations. "The whole place should be made nice to augment the feeling of gratitude for stability in the population," the president said. "The monument here at the square center should become a single ideological complex. To accomplish that, some thought is to be given to reconstruction of the space around it. And that requires a thorough study of what general public wants."

Karimov was also given the tour of Saidana (a private medical center). "We should pay serious attention to the private sector of the medical system in the second phase of its reorganization," the president said and proceeded to offer Saidana management and specialists invaluable recommendations.

Visit to Saidana wrapped up Karimov's schedule in Namangan. He departed it for Andijan in the afternoon on June 21.

"The Andijan region occupies a special niche in the socioeconomic life of the country. Results of the reforms carried out in the country are particularly visible in Andijan," local media outlets wrote.

"The president began his fact-finding trip with the agricultural complex," Ahborot news programme reported. All land in the Andijan region is divided among farmers. Karimov visited Ihlos-Baraka farm in the Altynkul district and met the new owners. "The conversation there was centered around matters of importance like the latest changes in the life of the region, farming, and increase of the people's well-being," local TV networks reported.

Karimov was given a tour of the Alisher Navoi Spinning Mill. Mostly employing the local youth, this factory works for export. Once again, the president gave local specialists some priceless advice.

The president visited the recently reconstructed regional Drama Theater named after Babur that had been torched during the May 2005 tragedy. He met with the troupe and praised it for its accomplishments before departing the Andijan region.