Uznews.net – The Forum of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan, sponsored by the Uzbek president’s daughter Gulnara Karimova, has bought airtime on CNN to show Tashkent as a fashion centre and Uzbekistan as gates of the world.

Millions of viewers of CNN will expand their knowledge of Uzbekistan from today.

The advert will now tell them about the absolutely unexpected side of Uzbekistan which last hit headlines of international broadcasters, such as CNN, during the massacre in Andijan on 13 May 2005.

The ad will show models walking in beautiful dresses along the catwalk and musicians in national dresses, as well as Rod Stewart and Julio Iglesias performing under the blue domes of Samarkand. The ad will end with a caption: “Uzbekistan is your gates of the world.” Some ads will feature Gulnara Karimova too.

The forum’s press service said that Gulnara Karimova, who heads the forum, had agreed with the British Council on cooperation in the education, cultural and arts spheres and with CNN on advertising Uzbekistan.

The ads will be aired until 10 November.