MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister Of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli to Uzbekistan

MOS Masagos and Uzbek FM Abdulaziz Kamilov signing the Visa Abolishment Agreement.
 

Presentation of the customised Quran in Samarkand (L-R) Imam Mahmudjon Ibadullaev, MOS Masagos and NRA to Uzbekistan Zulkifli Baharudin.
 

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli co-chaired the Second Singapore-Uzbekistan Political Consultations with Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Oybek Usmanov in Tashkent on 3 April 2012. MOS Masagos and Deputy FM Usmanov reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations as both countries commemorated the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. MOS Masagos welcomed Uzbek officials to participate in training courses under the auspices of the Singapore Cooperation Programme to learn from Singapore’s experience. There was also a useful exchange of views on developments in Central Asia as well as the Asia Pacific region. Following the Consultations, MOS Masagos and Deputy FM Usmanov witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on training cooperation and collaboration on environmental protection.

While in Tashkent, MOS Masagos also called on Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov on 3 April 2012. MOS Masagos and FM Kamilov agreed to promote closer people-to-people relations through cultural exchanges and tourism. They signed the partial Visa Abolition Agreement, which allows diplomatic passport holders from Singapore and Uzbekistan to enjoy visa-free facilities for a period of stay not exceeding 90 days.

On 4 April 2012, MOS Masagos called on Minister of Internal Affairs Bahodir Matlubov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment & Trade Shavkat Tulyaganov. MOS Masagos and Minister Matlubov agreed on the importance of international cooperation in the fight against drugs and terrorism. They exchanged views on how Singapore and Uzbekistan tackled the issues of radicalism and religious extremism. MOS Masagos shared Singapore’s experience in promoting inter-faith dialogue in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society. During MOS Masagos’ meeting with Deputy Minister Tulyaganov, they agreed to continue to facilitate economic and business links between Singapore and Uzbekistan.

Apart from Tashkent, MOS Masagos visited the renowned historical and religious city of Samarkand. While in Samarkand, MOS Masagos presented a customised Quran and rehal (Quran stand) on behalf of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to Imam Mahmudjon Ibadullaev, Head Imam of the Imam Al-Bukhari Memorial Complex. MOS Masagos had earlier presented a copy of the Quran to the Hazraty Imam Complex in Tashkent.

MOS Masagos will return to Singapore on 7 April 2012.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
6 APRIL 2012