Novosibirsk 630090

                                                                   Computing center

                                                Corresponding member of the USSR AS

                                                                        A.P. Ershov

                                                                      June 18, 1979

To Academician V.K. Kabulov

Tashkent

Dear Vasil Kabulovich!

The membership of Urgench symposium became formed for the most part. The program is being
formed by degrees. The more I’m engaged in this business, the more I see, on one side - how
extraordinary this event promises to be, and on the other side – how great is our responsibility for
organizing everything in the best possible way and not making a mess in the face of the audience so
competent.

I just came to an agreement with Babamuradov about the details of the last circular letter. For your
information I include its copy as well as other papers sent to Moscow concerning guests and foreign
participants. The program, scientific as well as cultural, turns out to be very good, so now it’s
extremely important to make everything happen as was promised.

I took into consideration academician Siradzhinov’s intention to deliver a talk. It is fine that he
became interested in the symposium and actively joined in its preparation. I will also bear in mind
possible presentations by you and professor Faizullaev. It is most likely that we will compose the
final program in Urgench.

The current membership now amounts to 50 persons not counting the home party: 25 from abroad,
25 from the USSR including scientific interpreters. I strictly adhere to my promise not to increase
the number of visitors, but now I have three more requests for participation. I’m keeping them in
“hot reserve” until approximately August 25 – the time when you will be able to increase a little the
number of accommodations or when it will turn out that somebody is not coming. According to my
expectations 5 of 50 actually will not come, although for the time being it is only speculations.

I intend to come with my daughter Anna who will at the same time take up the duties of the program
committee secretary. If hotel conditions allow, I should like to stay in a 2-room suit to be able to
hold there meetings connected with program preparation and specification.

Scientific interpreters are our colleagues knowing the language and experienced in work with
foreigners. Vadim Kotov is an assistant director of the Computing Center. His wife, Liudmila, is
skillful in typing in English.

Most probably we will come together with Knuth from Moscow Friday morning. Depending on how
Intourist will plan Knuth travel we will either stay in Tashkent overnight or fly to Urgench the same
evening. It will make sense for us to come earlier then the main participants body to have time to
overcome any minor difficulties that tend to accumulate before the opening.

Attached to this letter is a memo for symposium preparation. I have a favor to ask you: please
entrust some accurate and reliable person concern for technical maintenance of scientific sessions.

…

You can call me at home any time.

Yours sincerely, A.Ershov