Moscow, January 18 (Interfax) - Uzbek ambassador to Russia Ilhomzhon Nematov has given explanations to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in relation to the dismantling of the monument to Soviet soldiers in Tashkent.
The Foreign Ministry reported that during their telephone conversation Karasin told the ambassador about "the concern and negative reaction of the Russian public to the dismantling of the monument to the Soviet Soldier – Defender of Fatherland in Tashkent."
"The ambassador of Uzbekistan gave corresponding explanations on the issue," a report posted on the ministry website says.
Earlier reports said that a monument to the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan was unveiled in the place of the Soviet monument in the capital of Uzbekistan.
The ministry report says that Karasin and Nematov also discussed "the present state and prospects of Russian-Uzbek relations, specifically in the context of preparations for the upcoming visit of Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Russia and also to the SCO summit in Tashkent on June 10-11, 2010."
The sides raised "the issue of the upcoming Moscow consultations of SCO countries on Afghanistan ahead of the London conference on Afghanistan scheduled for January 28," the report says
