DUSHANBE, January 15, 201, Asia-Plus – Uzbekistan will never join any alliance similar to the former USSR, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said on January 12 at the first session of the Uzbek parliament lower house elected last month, according to Regnum news agency.

12news.uz quoted Karimov as noting that some countries are trying to glorify Lenin and Stalin era of the Soviet Union.  Uzbekistan will never accept this, he added.

Regnum reports during an official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tashkent that took place on December 10 it was noted that the Eurasian Economic Union and Uzbekistan will conduct consultations on the beginning of negotiations on creation of a free trade zone.

Meanwhile, some media sources report that Karimov’s remarks appeared aimed to set Uzbekistan apart from the newly formed Eurasian Economic Union, which now comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia.

Karimov has reportedly been wary of Russian President Vladimir Putin''s efforts to increase Moscow''s influence on other former Soviet republics.

Interfax reports that the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople held a joint session on January 15 and they nominated the incumbent president as a candidate in the March 29 presidential election.

Islam Karimov, who turns 77 on January 30, is in power in Uzbekistan since the Soviet ear.  He was last reelected in 2007.