Speaking at the official dinner, Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan considers the UN as universal international organization on supporting global security and stability, unique organization on solving difficult inter-state problems.

The Uzbek leader said millions of people worldwide pin their hopes to the UN to solve modern threats and challenges, as well as combating poverty and deceases, drug trafficking, climate change, etc.

He said Uzbekistan values initiative of the UN Chief to visit Aral Sea zone and drew attention of the international community to global ecologic catastrophe.

President Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan suffered the most from Aral catastrophe, which is evidence for climate change consequences and imbalance of ecology and water in the region.

He said desert is expanding in Aral Sea region and for last 50 years, water area of Aral Sea shrank by four times and water volume decreased by 10 times and mineralization rose at the same volume.

Uzbek head said that without joint efforts and close cooperation with the UN, it is impossible to solve existing social-economic problems of population of Aral Sea. He added that UN chief visit to Aral Sea creates hope in Uzbekistan that many sharp ecologic and social problems will be solved.

President Islam Karimov also touched issues on achieving security in Afghanistan. He said conflict in Afghanistan is serious problem both for regional and international security.

He said Uzbekistan initiated a Contact Group 6+3 under aegis of UN to speed up the conflict settlement in Afghanistan. He said the group will include neighbors of Afghanistan, Russia and NATO. Uzbek leader expressed hope that the UN Secretary General to support this idea.

Uzbek President said there is not military solution for Afghan problem and peace can be achieved through social-economic rehabilitation of the country.