World Refugee Day 2004: Uzbekistan

On 18 June, an art exhibition dedicated to World Refugee Day opened at the Tashkent Centre of Modern Arts. The exhibition included crafts produced by Afghan refugees in the Social Services Centre of UNHCR's implementing partner, "Hayot Yollari"; applied arts of Afghanistan that were collected by the refugees for the exhibition; and photos of Afghan returnees and scenes of daily life in Afghanistan.

About 170 persons were invited to the exhibition, including the diplomatic corps, UN and other organisations, the government of Uzbekistan, the Refugee Council, as well as local and international media.

The UNHCR Representative gave a speech on the significance of World Refugee Day and presented a book of poems by 13 Afghan refugee poets living in Uzbekistan. The documentary film, "Return to Afghanistan", produced by UNHCR, was shown. It was followed by the traditional Pashtun dance, "Atan", presented by young Afghan men. All guests were invited to the buffet held in the exhibition centre. Throughout the reception, live traditional Afghan music was performed by four Afghan musicians who are refugees in Uzbekistan.

On 18 June, Afghan refugee children presented a concert in Termez. UNHCR invited Afghan girls to visit Al-Termezi Museum.

On 19 and 20 June, a feature film "The Fate", directed by Seddiq Abedi, an Afghan refugee living in Uzbekistan, was shown in the public cinema house, "Musey Kino". The film director dedicated his film, which was produced in 2001, to all its compatriots living in exile.

A football match was also organised in Termez football stadium.