Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov at the festive ceremony dedicated to the 2750th anniversary of the city of Samarkand

Assalomu-Alaykum, distinguished fellow countrymen!
Dear fellow citizens!
Dear guests!
Ladies and gentlemen!

Today we have gathered with you o­n this ancient and sacred soil, in the square of Registan, which witnessed numerous and various historical events, o­n the occasion of the dearest commemoration of the 2750th anniversary of the city of Samarkand, o­ne of the old and unique cities of the world.

Allow me to sincerely congratulate you o­n this sacred date, above all, the people of Samarkand, our entire nation, all people who live in near and far areas and regions loving this city, and those who nurture the fine memories of this beautiful venue in their hearts, and in short, the true friends and dears of Samarkand.

Particularly, o­n behalf of myself, our people and nation I am happy to express my highest respect and esteem, and the heartiest wishes to all our foreign guests and ambassadors taking part in our holiday which takes place with participation of the prestigious international organization – UNESCO.

Dear friends!

When we say Samarkand, we imagine a beautiful and great city which enchants the soul of any person, charms anyone forever. This is the city which you see o­nce and dream to see it o­nce again.

When we say Samarkand, we imagine a miraculous place which amazes everyone by its pure sky, bright stars like the pearls, wholesome air, fertile soil, sky-blue cupolas, and perpetual historical monuments.

When we say Samarkand, we visualize the historical and cultural layers in the ancient area of Afrosiyab and recently discovered rare and unique archaeological findings in Koktepa and Sartepa.

This city will certainly attract the attention of each and every educated person, firstly, the world scientific community as a cradle of civilization which since the ancient times maintained commercial and cultural ties with the states not o­nly in this region, but also China in the East, India - in the South, Egypt and Rome - in the West.

The formation of craftsmanship and agriculture, practice of irrigation and existence of such complex engineering facilities as pipe water supply to the town, caravansaries, bathhouses and hospitals in this area since the old times even now astonishes many people. We all take pride that the initial foundations of our national statehood were laid in this very area and that the states and developed civilizations famous as Sogdiana and Marokand were established o­n this land.

No doubt that there are few cities in the world with such a rich and invaluable heritage. Most importantly, Samarkand stands out among other cities of the same age for the fact that it has preserved for over the span of centuries the samples of developed civilization, rare historical monuments and memorials.

Indeed, there is a profound wisdom in every inch of Samarkand’s soil, and there is a grandeur, benediction and magnificence in its every street, square and avenue. The great talent and skills, as well as eternal values of our people are embodied in each and every brick of this ancient and ever young city.

In this context, we are not mistaken to say that the history of Samarkand constitute the brightest, glorious and magnificent pages of our Homeland’s history.

One may see in many examples that history itself has laid an enormous task o­n this ancient city to become a bridge linking the East and West and an important crossroads of various civilizations along the Great Silk Road.

From the standpoint of depth and antiqueness of historical roots the sacred name of Samarkand rightly stands in the same rank along with such ancient centers of civilizations as Rome and Athens, Babylon and Phoebes. However, if we take into account that o­nly Samarkand and Rome from among the mentioned cities gained the title of an “Eternal City” and the saying “Rome – in the West, Samarkand - in the East” was widespread among the people of the world, the meaning of this highest recognition becomes much clearer.

Dear fellow countrymen!

We all comprehend well that the fate of great cities has never been peaceful and tranquil. If we look at almost three thousand years-long history of Samarkand, we can see that this city has also shared such destiny living through so many storms and gales.

This city bravely battled many invaders, who claimed power in different periods of the far past, namely Darius, Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan. It withstood any grave catastrophes and trials, and managed to preserve its unique identity.

As we speak about this, we mention with respect the name of our forefather Amir Temur who liberated our lands from Mongol aggressors and declared Samarkand as the capital of his Empire. Since, o­ne cannot imagine the notions of Amir Temur and Samarkand apart from o­ne another.

Certainly, this great person could have declared other eminent cities of the world as his capital. However, our valorous forefather placed his love and devotion to Samarkand, and dedicated his entire self to turn it into o­ne of the most beautiful cities in the world.

For thirty-five years Amir Temur continuously led the works to develop the city of Samarkand, which turned into ruins as a result of the Genghis Khan’s invasion. Thanks to the wit and intellect, resoluteness and determination of our forefather Sakhibqiran Samarkand became a city that fully deserves the title of “the face of the Earth”.

Especially, there is no doubt that even today the accomplishments of this great person as a patron of science and knowledge, profession and skills, culture and arts, religion and faith serve as an example to all of us. The history testifies that he built a grand library unmatched in the world. Such spiritual treasures compiled at those venues of enlightenment served as a basis to ever exalt the fame of not o­nly Samarkand, but also the entire area of Movarounnakhr.

We can vividly see the confirmation of this in the example of historical monuments which have remained as a true miracle of the Oriental architecture, despite the fact that more than 600 years have passed.

Certainly, we all comprehend that to construct such everlasting monuments there was a need for both skilful masters and builders as well as knowledge and experience of scientists and specialists o­n such fundamental subjects as mathematics and geometry, geodesy and seismology, chemistry.

Our forefather Amir Temur, who well realized this pivotal need and highly honored the science and knowledge, attracted to his capital city the prominent scientists and religious scholars, architects and engineers from various regions of the world. The names of hundreds of scientists and scholars who carried out their activity in Samarkand, particularly, Balkhiy and Damashkiy, Baghdodiy and Marvaziy, Taftazoniy and Jurjoniy, Jazariy and Shomiy also prove this idea.

Mirzo Ulugbek, who worthily continued the noble deeds initiated by his outstanding grandfather, built an observatory in the city of Samarkand and created the complex astronomic table depicting the celestial movements of thousands of stars. This table still meets the latest needs of modern time.

Ulugbek’s bright intelligence and intellectual power for over the span of centuries continue to astonish not o­nly the East, but also the West nowadays. In this context, I want to give o­ne example. The fact that Mirzo Ulugbek was depicted together with such great scientists as Copernicus and Ptolemy in the picture supplemented to Jan Hevelius’ book “Atlas of stars” shows a high respect extended to this great person.

All this confirms what a great contribution Amir Temur and the Temurids’ dynasty made to Renaissance of medieval East.

It is also the very truth that the soil of Samarkand served as a cradle of perfection for many saints and holy persons, poets and scholars, such as Imam Bukhariy and Imam Moturidiy, Kozizoda Rumiy and Ali Kushchi, Khoja Ahror Waliy, Abdurakhmon Jomiy and Alisher Navoiy, Abulays Samarkandiy and Davlatshoh Samarkandiy who by their wit, intellect, and spiritual devotion take an incomparable place in the development of Islamic culture and philosophy.

Dear fellow countrymen!

The Uzbek people say: let the holiday be followed by holiday. We are all happy the International Music Festival “Sharq taronalari” that starts tomorrow in the city of Samarkand will continue this holiday and coalesce with it.

My dears, time and tide wait for no man. It has already turned ten years since this festival was launched. Certainly, it is not for nothing that we are holding this event, which expresses the soul and spirit of the East and serves the noble cause of preserving and developing the art of classical music, in the very city of Samarkand and in its heart - an incomparable Registan Square.

It is well known from the history that the land of Samarkand since the ancient times has been o­ne of the cradles of culture and arts. The fact that the flute made of bone 3 thousand 300 years ago has been discovered in the Village of Muminabad near Samarkand, is undoubtedly, a striking evidence of the aforesaid.

The famous historian Sharafiddin Ali Yazdiy in his book “Zafarnoma” wrote about the musical forums initiated by Amir Temur as follows: “The fine voiced songsters told poems and started their songs. And the Turk, Mongol, Chinese, Arab, or Persian - each of them kept his manner in performing the song”.

Please imagine, dear friends and brothers, how the cultural traditions which existed six centuries ago in this land of Samarkand are coalesced and harmonious with the spirit and ideas of the festival “Sharq taronalari”.

I think you will share my idea that participation of over 300 dearest guests from more than 50 countries of the world in this festival gives a special aura and splendor to this holiday.

It is an open secret that every nation in the world receives the person with a musical instrument at the doorstep as a dear guest.

Availing myself of this opportunity, allow me o­n behalf of myself and our nation to sincerely salute all participants of the International Music Festival “Sharq taronalari” by saying “Welcome to the land of beautiful Uzbekistan”, “Welcome to the ancient and beautiful Samarkand”, and wish them creative inspiration and success.

Dear friends, brothers!

I had an opportunity to visit so many faraway and near countries of the world and see numerous great cities.

However, if I compare all I have seen and speak openly, there are just few sacred and ancient cities o­n earth blessed by God as Samarkand.

One may speak for long about the charm and beauty, matchless gorgeousness of this city. However, o­ne should note that it is experienced, brave and devoted, creative and wise citizens of the city, who have turned Samarkand into Samarkand.

When we speak about this we should remember that the generous soil of Samarkand for many centuries open heartedly welcomed any pure-intended and honest men, equally sharing whatever they possess.

In this regard, I cannot but to speak about o­ne sincere thought from the bottom of my heart. It is not o­nly the rare architectural monuments and wonderful nature that attract thousands and thousands of people from all around the world to the ancient and noble Samarkand. I think they are also attracted by the people living here, their good nature, hospitality, unique clothing, nice language, the Samarkand dialect which you will not come across elsewhere and embodies the beauty of many languages, and in short, the devotion of Samarkand people to the national traditions and values.

You are well aware what a profound work has been accomplished for over the years of Independence to make Samarkand more beautiful, restore its true historical image, and enhance its economic potential.

Especially, the highways, squares and avenues, many new schools, lyceums and colleges, higher educational institutions, stadiums, medical facilities and hotels, which were constructed to create due conditions for the people living here, have totally changed the face of Samarkand.It is especially worth mentioning that in this city the ancient rare monuments harmoniously co-exist with modern town planning.

In other words, living with an aspiration to the future by preserving respect to history in the heart and harmonizing it with modernity is a main factor which defines the worldview and spiritual world of the people of Samarkand.

The nation with such wonderful virtues certainly deserves any highest reverence and esteem.

My dear friends, brothers, I believe that you will always deserve such respect and admiration of not o­nly Uzbekistan, but also the entire world community.

Distinguished people of Samarkand, my dears!

At these joyful moments, above all, we address our gratitude to our Creator for granting us such bright days, for bestowing us the sacred land of Samarkand, and for safeguarding our nation from evils and vices.

I o­nce again congratulate you o­n this sacred holiday and standing o­n this dearest soil - my mother town, I bow my head before the pure hearted, magnanimous people of Samarkand, and our entire nation.

Long live our people, who have established these eternal cities and taken them through the trials of time intact! Let them be happier!

Let the ancient and noble Samarkand - the pride of our nation and the Independent Uzbekistan live and flourish forever!