\"Uzbekistan is one of the recognized centers of the formation and development of Islamic culture and philosophy,\" the President of the American-Turkish Association Abdulla Khwaja wrote in his letter in response to the fact that Uzbekistan was listed by the US Department of State among the \"Countries of Particular Concern\" (CPC) for alleged violations of religious freedom. In his letter, Mr. Khwaja particularly draws attention to the fact that religious holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are official national holidays in Uzbekistan, and that every year over 50,000 Uzbeks receive government support in making pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.

Uzbekistan, an ancient centre of world civilization, is seeking Singapore\'s cooperation to bolster its drive to develop a modern market economy. In an exclusive interview with Today (Singapore), President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov talked about the growth of democracy in the country, opening it to foreign investment and its tourism potential.

The law was adopted by the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis on October 11, 2006 and approved by the Senate on December 1st, 2006.

I congratulate you, all the fellow countrymen who have devoted themselves to the noble cause of a defender of Homeland o?n the remarkable event in the life of the country ? the Day of Defenders of Homeland and the fifteenth anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

International Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), which is o?ne of the Islamic Conference Organization?s structures, has named Tashkent a world capital of Islamic culture in 2007.