The President of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) Umud Mirzayev has recently visited Uzbekistan. During the visit, the IEPF President has met with representatives of the media and civil society of Uzbekistan, artists, and attended the presentation of the Azerbaijani national cuisine.

The IEPF President's visit to Uzbekistan coincided with the 13th Tashkent International Film Festival "Silk Road Crane".

Mirzayev has shared his impressions of the visit:

“We attended the opening ceremony of the festival and took part in a number of events. During the visit, we had interesting meetings with the representatives of the media and civil society of Uzbekistan, the most active members of social media. At the same time, the memorandum of cooperation was signed between the IEPF and the University of Journalism and Mass Media of Uzbekistan, as well as the International Press Club. Azerbaijan Cultural Centre named after Heydar Aliyev in Uzbekistan closely involved in organising certain events and meetings in which we participated. The IEPF's long-standing relations with Uzbekistan have also been fruitful in holding meetings and conducting certain activities here," he said. 

The IEPF President noted that today's meeting with Sherzodkhan Kudratkhoja, the Chairman of the University of Journalism and Mass Media and the International Press Club, one of the most influential institutions in the field of media in Uzbekistan, has been of exceptional importance. According to him, meetings have also been held with the Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan and a general agreement was reached on cooperation.

According to Mirzayev, the delegation participated in a number of events in the field of cinema, and certain agreements have been reached within these events.

"Prior to the festival, a documentary film about our famous compatriot Magsud Sheykhzadeh, who is the classic of Uzbek literature, a prominent poet, translator, pedagogue,  as well as  the documentary film  "Pride of Two Nations", which took the first place in Uzbekistan, has been shown. I would like to note that the IEPF also contributed to the shooting of this film, and some parts of the documentary have been recorded in the memory of the camera while they were shown in the Old City and the Pirallahi district with the direct assistance of the IEPF. We had very productive discussions with the Deputy Director General of the Uzbekkino National Agency, Professor Shukhratullo Rizayev, and had meetings with filmmakers. Although the field of cinema is new for the IEPF, we have considered certain opportunities for cooperation and decided to cooperate, ”he said.

According to Mirzayev, Azerbaijan participated in the film festival with a large delegation.

“The delegation includes the head of the Cinematography Department of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, film director and screenwriter Rufat Hasanov, People's Artist, film director Vagif Mustafayev, director of Azerbaijanfilm studio Fariz Ahmadov. , director Afag Yusifli and others. "

Umud Mirzayev also noted that the Azerbaijani delegation witnessed the prevention of Armenian provocations in the festival.

"Our hostile neighbours presented four films via the cinemaphotography of France to the film festival. Each of these films has been rejected by the Uzbek Film Selection Commission, becuase those films have been directed to ignite national animosity.  Although the French Embassy protested the decisions of the members of the commission, the members made quite serious arguments. The commission included Uzbek intellectuals such as Batyr Bazarbayev, Azamat Irgashov, Dovlet Nadirov and Firuza Nadirova. By the way, I want to gratitude them. 

I tried to get more detailed information about this problem. Unfortunately, I only had the opportunity to meet with Batyr Bazarbayev. He did not deny the fact, but said that it was unethical for him to disclose details because he is a member of the Commission," the IEPF President added.