On 9 May, Uzbek people are widely marking the Day of Memory and Honour. This day is marked to commemorate those who passed away and honour those who are alive. We have been marking this day as a national holiday every year since 1999. The main events of the holiday took place in the Square of Memory in the capital city of Tashkent.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov visited the square, laid wreath at a monument and spoke to journalists.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said: "The construction of the Square of Memory in our capital in 1999 was not one day’s work. It was not set up by chance. At those times, 1.45m Uzbek people, our fellow countrymen, participated in the war. About 286,000 of our fellow countrymen did not return from the war. The number of those who are missing makes about 130,000 people. The problem that always concerns me is finding out who those missing people were, whose fathers, grandfathers and relatives they were. From this point of view, I think we should work more on this. We should search for them wherever they are."

Uzbek president drew attention to the fact that the threat of war not only existed in the world at present, but it was getting tougher day by day. Saying that the Uzbek young people have a certain understanding and vision of this issue, Karimov also expressed some of his views.

President Karimov said: "Above all, our people and the young people, who are starting their lives, should strengthen their will and have full faith. They should not forget yesterday’s life -- the history of the near past that we are marking today -- and they should study it."