Embassy News
Religious and Community Leaders Welcome Ambassador Norland to Historic Bukhara (01/11/2008)
From January 9 to January 11, 2008 Ambassador Norland visited the historic city of Bukhara on his third official trip outside of Tashkent as the U.S. Ambassador. This trip follows earlier visits to the Andijon and Samarkand areas.
Ambassador Norland received a gracious welcome from the Hokim of Bukhara Province, Samoidin Khusenov. The Ambassador also met with Islamic and Jewish community leaders, visiting with both the Head Imam of Bukhara Province at the Naqshbandi Sufi Shrine and Jewish community members at the Chabad Lubavitch Synagogue.
Other highlights of the visit included a stop by the Oydin Nuri (“Moonlight”) Women’s Crisis Center, which provides support and protection to victims of domestic violence, including legal consultations, psychological counseling, and vocational courses in sewing, hairdressing, and computing. Oydin Nuri was founded in 1999 by teachers from different educational institutions of Bukhara and will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year. The Center has received previously technical and information support from the U.S. Embassy.
In addition to his official visits, Ambassador Norland toured the Bukhara State Art-Architectural Museum with its renowned director, Robert Almeev. The Embassy has provided several grants to Bukhara museums overseen by Almeev, including aid in restoring the façade of the Faizulla Khodjaev House Museum and the donation of computers for the establishment of an Information Resource Center in the Bukhara Ark Museum. Ambassador Norland also stopped in the town of Gidjuvan, about 35 kilometers from Bukhara on the road to Samarkand, to visit the ceramic workshop of brothers Abdullo and Alisher Narzullaev. These sixth-generation potters make pialas, bowls and dishes in traditional floral designs of local browns and yellows.
