He visited sites of cultural and historical interest in and around Nukus, the former Aral Sea port of Moynak, the medieval walled city of Khiva and Urgench, and held meetings with local organisations and commentators.

The Ambassador said: “My visit was a powerful reminder of the amazing beauty and diversity of Uzbekistan. The cultural highlights of my visit were the breathtaking artistic and ethnographical collections at the Savitsky Museum in Nukus, the astonishing underground mausoleum of Mazlum Khan Slu at Mizdakhan and the imposing Zoroastrian 'tower of silence' at Chilpik. Visiting the eerie ships' graveyard at Moynak was entirely different kind of experience: no one who visits can fail to be shocked by the impact on this once-thriving port of a short-sighted approach to the environment.”

“My only regret is that (as with my last regional visit to Navoi and Zarafshan) I was unable to make any official calls during my visit. I have no doubt that I would have learned much valuable information about this facinating region of Uzbekistan from meeting regional government officials, chambers of commerce and local business bodies, representative of Uzbektourism, educational establishments, women's committees, and environmental and health organisations. But alas on this occasion it proved impossible. I hope that I will be able to gain a fuller impression on my next visit”, he added.