“I swear to serve the people of Uzbekistan, honor the Constitution and the law, guarantee rights and freedoms of citizens of the republic, and perform functions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the best of my ability.” Mr. Islam Karimov, inauguration speech, January 16, 2008.

“I swear to serve the people of Uzbekistan…”, promised a newly elected but in fact very “old” president of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov yesterday during his inauguration and thus officially entered his position as a president of Uzbekistan for the next seven year. The inauguration process was opened by Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, who delivered a speech about the recent presidential elections, and gave the floor to Mr. Islam Karimov.

President Islam Karimov, in order to make the atmosphere a little relaxed, made a joke asking the audience whether or not they were surprised seeing Karimov on inauguration speech without his glasses. The audience modestly laughed, even though the joke was not that successful. talking the truth, it would be surprising seeing Karimov on the podium reading his oath with his eye glasses. He is being elected for the third (?) time and it is high time for him to learn the text of the oath by heart.

So, Mr. Islam Karimov, who has been the head of the country for 19 years (two years during the USSR as the head of Uzbek SSR), will rule the country for seven more years. I really hope that during his presidency Mr. Karimov will keep his promises stated in the oath, as according to Uzbek mentality, a man must be responsible for what he says.

The inauguration was followed by immediate congratulations from other presidents. One of the first was a president of Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, who wished president Islam Karimov that his [Karimov’s] “authority, energy and sense of purpose will continue to serve as a reliable guarantee of Uzbekistan’s continued social and economic development and will strengthen its position on the international stage.” Mr. Putin did not forget to add that for him “it is pleasing to see that the relations Russia and Uzbekistan have as strategic partners and allies continue to expand on the basis of our traditional friendship, equality and respect for each other’s interests.”