A source in the Kremlin reported earlier, "The presidents will discuss the current situation in Central Asia in the wake of recent events."
On May 12-13, Uzbekistan's fourth largest city, Andijan, saw public unrest instigated by what the Tajik authorities called radical Islamic groups.
"For this reason, a key issue on the agenda will be efforts to combat international terrorism and other global threats and challenges," the source said. He added that the two leaders planned to consider specific ways to enhance cooperation in this sphere, prospects for closer interaction between Russia and Uzbekistan both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other regional and international organizations.
In addition, Putin and Karimov will discuss "military and technical cooperation, the improvement of its contractual basis and space research collaboration," the source said.
The Kremlin source added that the heads of state would consider prospects for possible Russian-Uzbek cooperation in the context of the global community's common efforts under the aegis of the UN to assist Afghanistan's post-conflict resolution.
