HDI Congressional Delegation to Uzbekistan

HDI, working with the Embassy of Uzbekistan to the United States, organized a MECEA Congressional visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan on August 27-31, 2013.  Uzbekistan is one of the select countries which has a MECEA Agreement (Mutual Education and Cultural Affairs Act) that facilitates U.S. Congressional travel.  The delegation was composed of Congressman James Moran (D-VA), Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), and Chief of Staff to Congressman Faleomavaega Lisa Williams.

On August 28, the delegation was welcomed to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, with a dinner hosted by U.S. Ambassador George Krol.  Early on the following morning, the Congressmen boarded the high-speed train to the famed city of Samarkand.  The Members of Congress were honored guests at the opening ceremony of Sharq Taronalari, the premier ethnic music festival in Central Asia.  On Friday, August 30 the delegation participated in the U.S./Uzbekistan Parliamentarian Conference in Samarkand after which the group returned that evening by high-speed train to Tashkent.

In pursuit of strong U.S./Uzbekistan relations, Congressmen Moran and Faleomavaega met on Saturday, August 31 with Mr. Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.  This was followed by a meeting with Mr. Ilgizar Sobirov, Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and with Ms. Diloram G. Tashmukhamedova, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Congressman James Moran (D-VA) in Front of the Registan in Samarkand
HDI Executive Director Joseph Merante, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), Congressman James Moran (D-VA) in Tashkent