Uzbekistan 2020 Celebrated in Paris the Astronomer Mirzo Ulughbeg in presence of Buzz Aldrin

PARIS, November 26 - Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, permanent representative of the Republic of
Uzbekistan to UNESCO and founder of Fund Uzbekistan 2020, opened today, the
International Astronomy Conference held in Institut d'Astrophysique de
Paris - CNRS, "A tribute to the Uzbek astronomer Mirzo Ulughbeg".

The event, which gathered scientists, astronomers, historians and
scholars of high rank, began with welcome speeches of Laurent Vigroux,
Director of the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Philippe Morel President
of the Astronomical Society of France, followed by Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva,
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to UNESCO, Yolanda
Berenguer, Space Eduction Programme Coordinator Focal Point for International
Year of Astronomy (2009) and in the presence of and Buzz Aldrin, the famous
Astronaut and second person to set a foot on the moon.

Today's event is a logical continuation of the international conference
"Mirzo Ulugbek and his contribution to the development of the world science,"
which was held in Samarkand on 10-11 June this year and attended by over 100
national and foreign experts from France, Italy, Japan, Russia, India
Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, as well as representatives of
international organizations.

Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva said: "2009 was declared International Year of
Astronomy by UNESCO and marked the 615th anniversary of Mirzo Ulugbek. The
combination of these two events has a symbolic importance. I would also
like to mention that the year 2009 was declared by UNESCO as the
International Year of Astronomy, and this year we mark the 615th anniversary
of Mirzo Ulugbek.

"The concurrence of these two events has symbolic importance. The rich
scientific heritage of Mirzo Ulugbek testifies to the fact that he was not
only a great son of the Muslim world, but also a genius of the creative
thought, whose contribution to the development of all humanity is
inestimable. That is the reason why at present, many centuries on, the name
of Ulugbek still remains a symbol that brings together the people of the East
and the West in the name of achieving noble goals."

Ashraf Akhmedov, research assistant at the Institute of Oriental Studies
at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Christophe Benoist
and Françoise Le Guet Tully, astronomers and historians of astronomy,
Observatory of the Côte d'Azur Shukhrat Egamberdiev, director of the
Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
Uzbekistan, Patrick Fuentes, president of the History Committee of the
Astronomical Society of France, Lucien Kehren, president of the Association
of the Art and history of Timur and Timurid Shirinov, president of the State
University of Samarkand, were present.

To learn more about Uzbekistan 2020: www.lolakarimova.com News
section

Created at the initiative of Ambassador of Uzbekistan to UNESCO Ms. Lola
Karimova-Tillyaeva, the support fund "Uzbekistan 2020" is designed to
accompany the evolution of the country by developing cultural exchanges,
human and intellectuals with Western Europe

Contact: Embassy of Uzbekistan in Paris +33-01-53-30-03-53