Nursultan Nazarbayev laid flowers to the place of Islam Karimov’s burial.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that for many years he associated a strong friendship, mutual understanding and sincere support with Islam Karimov.
- I am sure that Uzbekistan’s next generations will always remember Islam Karimov. His solid legacy, the state activity results will be under study of descendants, and the state affairs will be written in the history of the Uzbek people in golden letters. He was known to the world as a leader, whose name is related to the formation and growth of the economy, and people's welfare improvement. We have lost a great man, said the President of Kazakhstan.
Nursultan Nazarbayev also stressed the invaluable role of the first President of Uzbekistan to strengthening the historical and strategic ties between the two brotherly countries.
- Kazakh and Uzbek people have always gone to meet each other. Islam Abduganievich and I signed the agreement on eternal friendship at the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in 1998, and our relationships are based on that historic agreement. Kazakhstan has always been and will be close to the Uzbek nation; we share with you the joys and empathize together in the hour of need, said the Head of State.
Nursultan Nazarbayev also met with Islam Karimov’s family and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and on his own behalf.