Republic of Uzbekistan, 1991

On 20 June 1990 the Uzbek SSR became a sovereign state within the USSR, referred to as Soviet Uzbekistan and on 31 August 1991 declared independence as the Republic of Uzbekistan. A new flag was adopted on 18 November 1991: light blue over white over light green, with thin red stripes separating the three stripes. In the upper hoist is a white crescent and 12 white stars. Those may stand for Islam (or the rebirth of the nation) and the 12 districts of Uzbekistan; another interpretation is the zodiac and the historical traditions of the Uzbek people, as well as the ancient solar calendar. Blue stands for water as a source of life, white for peace, green for nature and red for the life force; there are other interpretations as well.