DUSHANBE, December 11, 2014, Asia-Plus -- During an official meeting in Tashkent on December 10, Russian and Uzbek leaders first had a one-on-one meeting and then invited members of respective delegations to join them.  According to Uzbek media sources, Deputy Premier Rustam Azimov and Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov represented Uzbekistan, while Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Premier Dmitriy Kozak represented Russia.

“Russia always had interests in Central Asia, and its presence was always stabilizing,” Karimov was quoted by Itar Tass as saying during a meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Putin’s visit to Uzbekistan is needed to harmonize positions amid a thorny situation in international affairs, Karimov noted.  He reportedly suggested debating bilateral relations, including those “which should be changed.”

The sides reportedly also exchanged views on issues related to regional security and the situation in Afghanistan.  Uzbek leader Russia can help maintain security in Central Asia from what he described as a rising threat from militant Islam.  “Russia''s presence in Central Asia is important factor to support peace and security,” Karimov said.  Putin, for his part, said Russia shared Uzbek concerns over NATO''s impending pullout from Afghanistan, given its own conflict with Islamist militants in the Northern Caucasus.

The Russian president thanked the host for “a cordial atmosphere” which the latter always provides during bilateral contacts, Itar Tass reports.  Putin recalled that an election cycle would begin in Uzbekistan in the near future, at first polls in the Legislative Chamber, the lower house of Uzbekistan’s parliament, and then presidential election, and wished Karimov success in these large-scale events.

“Russia takes confidently the leading place among trade and economic partners (for Uzbekistan) and seeks to keep this position,” Putin noted.

“Uzbekistan is one of Russian priority partners in the region,” the Russian president noted. “Russia takes this as a matter of fact, because Uzbekistan is the largest country (in Central Asia),” the Russian leader added.

Following the Russian-Uzbek consultation at the highest level, a number of documents were signed in the presence of the heads of state.

The sides, in particular, signed an agreement on the regulation of mutual financial obligations.  The deal was signed by Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Uzbek Finance Minister Rustam Azimov.

Siluanov said earlier that Russia would agree to write off most of Uzbekistan''s $890 million debt to Moscow.  “The total amount owed is 890 million [US] dollars, 500 of which is the body of principle. The Uzbek side pays us 25 million of this body. The rest is to be used for alleviating the public debt [of Uzbekistan],” the Russian finance minister was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass.  

According to the Kremlin press service, Moscow and Tashkent also signed a government-to-government agreement on the main directions of expansion of economic cooperation for 2015-2019, a protocol on cooperation in the field of combating drug trafficking and a program of cooperation between foreign affairs bodies of the two countries.

The two countries reportedly also signed an accord for a long-term and stable presence of Uzbek farming products on the Russian market.

Russia has banned most Western food imports in retaliation against U.S. and EU sanctions over Moscow''s interference in Ukraine.

Upon the completion of talks and meetings, Putin and Karimov made a joint statement for press.  Russian president in particular, noted that Moscow and Tashkent would conduct consultations on the possible signing of an agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and Uzbekistan on a free trade zone.