On telephone conversation of President Islam Karimov with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

Tashkent, June 17, 2010

On June 16, 2010 the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov held a telephone conversation with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

The President of Uzbekistan briefed in details the UN Secretary General on the facts witnessing unpunished murders, violence, pogroms and arsons by gangs of bandits against peaceful population for over the last days in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Hundreds of people have been killed while thousands of people of Uzbek origin were injured. Following appeals by peaceful population and the President of interim Kyrgyz government Roza Otunbaeva the border with Kyrgyzstan was opened for accepting the refugees who fled from the area of violence. At the moment the number refugees exceeds 70-80 thousand people.

This requires taking immediate measures for providing all these people with medical assistance and accommodation.

Mr. Karimov noted that Uzbekistan has been creating all necessary conditions for injured people and pregnant women who have been admitted to the local hospital, the refugees get medical aid and food three times a day. The situation is worsened by a growing number of refugees and their physical and stressed conditions.

The President once again underscored the UN bodies and some countries which offer their assistance need to expedite their actions. Mr. Karimov noted that it would expedient to decrease the number of intermediate tiers of delivering the humanitarian aid to the refugee camps. The Uzbek leader believes that this process must be taken under strict control.

Ban Ki Moon thanked President Karimov for information and openness of Uzbek government which had granted a free access to the UN staff-members and the UN structures as well as media persons to the refugee camps.

The UN Secretary General assured that he has been personally coordinating all works on rendering humanitarian aid and has been taking all necessary measures to enhance efficiency of measures being taken to help the population.

Mr. Ban Ki Moon said that the UN has been closely watching the situation in Kyrgyzstan and will take swift measures to contribute to stabilizing the situation in the country.