His Excellency February 2018 BakhƟyor Ibragimov

Permanent Representave to the WHO WE ARE United Naons from The Office for Global Engage- ment acvely supports UVU’s global efforts by advancing UVU’s presence and presge in the Internaonal community; The new Permanent Representa- Coordinaon of Acvity of Over- helping UVU students become ve of Uzbekistan to the United seas Consular Offices, having pre- globally competent graduates; Naons, Bakhyor Ibragimov, viously served as First Secretary. promong cultural literacy and presented his credenals to UN diversity both on campus and in Mr. Ibragimov graduated from the community. Secretary-General António Gu- Tashkent Economic University in terres in May 2017. 1989, and completed diplomac Unl his latest appointment, Mr. courses at the Instute of Diplo- Ibragimov was Deputy Chief of macy and Internaonal Relaons

Mission at his country’s Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, be- in Seoul, Republic of Korea, since tween 1992 and 1993. CONTACT US 2011, holding the rank of Polical He is married and has two chil- Office for Global Engagement Counsellor. Between 2009 and dren. LA111p 2011, he was the Director, United States and Americas Affairs De- 800 West University Parkway partment, at the Ministry of For- MS 124 eign Affairs, a post he previously Orem, UT 84058 held from 2003 to 2004. Phone: 801-863-8897 A career diplomat, Mr. Ibragimov E-mail: abarne@uvu.edu was appointed Polical Counsel- www.uvu.edu/intlaffairs lor and Deputy Chief of Mission at Uzbekistan’s Embassy in Wash- ington, D.C., serving between 2004 and 2009. He was previous- ly Third Secretary at the Embassy, between 1993 and 1995. From 2002 to 2003, he was Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Division on

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT

Uzbekistan

 Once part of the Turkic Khaganate and THE OF later Timurid Empires, the region that Uzbekistan today includes the Republic of Uzbeki- stan was conquered in the early 16th century by Eastern Turkic-speaking no- mads. The area was gradually incorpo- rated into the Russian Empire during the 19th century, and in 1924 what is now Uzbekistan became a bordered constu- ent republic of the Soviet Union.

 About 80 percent of the country is flat The flag of Uzbekistan consists of desert, with mountain ranges rising in three horizontal blue, and the far southeast and northeast. bands separated by two thin fimbriaons, with a crescent  Islam is by far the dominant religion in moon and twelve stars at Uzbekistan, as Muslims constute 96% of the populaon while 2% of the popu- the canton. Adopted in 1991 to laon follow Russian Orthodox Chris- replace the flag of the Uzbek Soviet anity, and 2% of the populaon follow Socialist Republic (SSR), it has been other religions. the flag of the Republic of Uzbeki-  During the golden age of the Samanids, stan since the country gained inde- Bukhara became a major intellectual  Tashkent’s metro features chandeliers, pendence in that same year. The center of the Islamic world, second only marble pillars and ceilings, granite, and to Baghdad. The historic center of Bu- design of the present flag was part- engraved metal. It has been called one khara, which contain numerous of the most beauful train staons in ly inspired by the former one. mosques and madrassas, has been listed the world. by UNESCO as one of the World Herit- The white stands for peace and age Sites. purity, while blue repre- sents water and the sky.  Uzbekistan is sll one of the largest ex- porters of coon, and the world's larg- est open-pit gold mine is at Muruntau in the Qizilqum desert.

 Uzbekistan’s signature dish is palov (plov or osh), a main course typically

made with rice, pieces of meat, and hps://www.cia.gov ; en.wikipedia.org/ grated carrots and onions.  The Silk and Spice Fesval takes place hp://travel.naonalgeographic.com/ travel/countries/uzbekistan-facts/ annually in the Great Silk Road city of Bukhara.