About 5,400 Uzbek citizens to perform Hajj in 2014

The delegation of Uzbekistan included the chairperson of the Committee on religious affairs Artukbek Yusupov and chairperson of Uzbekistan Muslims Board muftiy Usmonhon Alimov, the Committee on religious affairs said.

On 25 February, the delegation of Uzbekistan visited Uzbek pilgrims in Mecca, who are conducting Umrah pilgrimage. During the visit they familiarized with conditions created for pilgrims and services, rendered to them.

Next day, the Uzbek delegation met with Minister of Hajj Affairs of Saudi Arabia Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar. At the meeting, the Saudi side highly rated measures on organization of Hajj pilgrimage for citizens of Uzbekistan and noted that the Uzbek citizens adhere to rules and laws of Saudi Arabia.

It was underlined that organization of pilgrimage by Uzbekistan can serve as an example for other countries.

The delegation of Uzbekistan expressed gratitude to all divisions of the Ministry to support on organization of Hajj pilgrimage in 2013. Uzbek officials expressed gratitude for keeping quota for Uzbekistan last year and organization of flights to Medina.

On 26 February, the Uzbek delegation met with the members of the board of Organization of Representatives Union in Jeddah Ahmed Bashar. At the meeting, the Saudi side underlined that Uzbekistan fulfilled all conditions and no violations were recorded in Saudi Arabia and during Hajj pilgrimage.

Ahmed Bashar said that the organization is not planning to introduce any changes to the agreement with Uzbekistan on Hajj.

On the same day, the delegation met with a member of the Board of National Establishment on rendering services to pilgrims from Turkey, Europe, America and Australia Tarik bin Muhammed Ankarai.

At the meeting, Tarik bin Muhammed Ankarai underlined great organization of pilgrimage by Uzbekistan and the country can serve as an example to other countries.

On 27-28 February,the delegation also met other officials of Saudi Arabia to discuss issues of organization of Hajj.

On 1 March, the delegation visited Medina and met Uzbek pilgrims, who are performing Umrah piligrimage. They familiarized with conditions created for them here.

On 2 March, Uzbekistan delegation and Ministry of Hajj Affairs of Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on holding Hajj-2014 season. The quota of Uzbekistan for Hajj was set at 5,200 people.