The Altyn Asyr TV, Turkmenistan’s main official TV channel, at 1440 gmt 18 October, on the day of the official visit by the Uzbek president, Islam Karimov, aired a recorded concert by prominent Uzbek pop singers.

One of the singers, Yulduz Usmonova, was shown singing on the stage of Ashgabat’s Ruhyyet palace, the venue of main official events. On the wall a portrait was displayed of the Turkmen and Uzbek presidents, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and Islam Karimov.

The concert, not supplied with presenter’s remarks, started with a script "Welcome to Turkmenistan" and lasted for some 40 minutes.