Uzbekistan marks Independence Day

UzA, 2 September 2010, 14:33

Celebrations of the 19th anniversary of independence of Uzbekistan were held on 31 August at Alisher Navoi National Park in Tashkent.

This year’s celebrations were held under the slogan: “The highest value of our sacred Motherland are people, their rights and interests”. There reforms carried out in the country in all areas are aimed primarily at ensuring the people’s interests.

Members of the Government, Senate, Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan workers of science, culture, art, businessmen, representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations took part in the holiday celebrations.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov congratulated the people of Uzbekistan with the 19th anniversary of the country’s independence.

The national anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan is played.

Celebrating Independence Day, we must first of all note the enormous progress achieved in a historically short period of independent development. These years are, no doubt, written in golden letters in the history of the country as years equaling to centuries on the way to building a new society and a new state, based on principles of democracy and market economy.

From the first days of independence, the head of the state Islam Karimov set the main task to build a democratic state and just civil society. Five principles developed by the President, which are the basis of constructing a new state and new society, have proven their effectiveness.

Proceeding from these principles, the idea of “From the strong state to the strong civil society” is being consistently implemented into practice.

A solid economic foundation of civil society has been created, a multiparty system was established in the political life of the country, the activity of non-state structures, NGOs and self government bodies is improving, wide-ranging reforms were implemented in the judicial system, the media, and in the educational field.

The principle “Reforms for people, their rights and interests, and for the sake of reforms” is finding its reflections in life. The Constitution states that the highest value are people, their lives, freedoms, honor, dignity and other inalienable rights.

The judiciary plays an important role in defending the rights and lawful interests of citizens. Consistent reforms were undertaken in order to enhance the credibility of the judiciary, to ensure its full independence, to further strengthen its role in the formation of the democratic state and a just civil society.

Consistent liberalization of judicial and legal system served as an important guarantor of human rights. In connection with liberalization of criminal penalties, classification of crimes was also revised and changed. The reconciliation institute was introduced in the criminal procedure law, the advocacy institute was reformed, the system of enforcement of court decisions and the activities of the prosecutors were improved.

On the initiative of the head of state, the death penalty was abolished in the country, and the courts received the power to issue detention orders. This caused a lot of positive resonance throughout the world.

The Constitutional Law “On strengthening the role of political parties in renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country” has had a strong influence on the development and strengthening of the multiparty system, strengthening the role of political parties in the Legislative Chamber and decision making.

In the years of independence, the country has established the electoral system corresponding to the highest democratic requirements, generally accepted international norms and standards. Holding elections in accordance with principles of openness, transparency and justice is guaranteed in the Constitution, laws “On elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and “On guarantees of electoral rights of citizens” and other legal acts.

According to amendments made to the electoral law, elections were held in the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the local Councils of People’s Deputies on 27 December 2009, when 150 deputies were elected to the lower house of parliament, including 15 deputies from the Environmental Movement of Uzbekistan.

As President said in his speech at the joint meeting of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate, the held elections showed a high sociopolitical culture of the people, the growing level of political and civic awareness, and broad support of the steady progress towards the deepening of reform and modernization of the country.

Today, the whole world is watching Uzbekistan with great interest. In the global financial crisis, which strongly influenced even the developed countries, steadily developing economy of Uzbekistan proved the correctness and vitality of the chosen path of development.

The book by President Islam Karimov “World economic and financial crisis. Ways and measures to overcome it in Uzbekistan” was translated into dozens of languages and is studied around the world.

Structural changes, active investment policy, industrial modernization and diversification program, accelerated development of industrial infrastructure and transport communications implemented in Uzbekistan contribute to sustained and balanced growth of the economy.

In the first half of 2010, the country’s GDP growth made up 8 percent.

Products labeled “Made in Uzbekistan” are gaining popularity on the global market. Thanks to support of exporters and opening of new markets, export volumes grew by 14.3 percent. The domestic goods and services are exported to 139 countries.

In the first half of this year, over 518 billion soums were allocated by domestic commercial banks for modernization, technical and technological renovation of enterprises and implementation of investment projects. The volume of used foreign investments amounted to almost 1.7 billion dollars.

In the framework of the localization program, 181 types of new products were mastered. As a result of measures to stimulate production of export-oriented products, export of localized production increased almost 1.8 times.

Issues of development and stimulating small businesses and private entrepreneurs, as well as service sector remain under constant attention. As a result, the share of small business in GDP during the first half of 2010 amounted 41.1 percent.

Since the beginning of this year, 108 projects of technical modernization of production were implemented and 529 production facilities were commissioned.

Work on deepening agricultural reforms, strengthening the material base of the farms, and improvement of their efficiency is also yielding results. Production of various agricultural products is increasing. This year, the farmers harvested more than 7 million tons of grain. Cotton growers also expect high results.

The roads connect cities and people. Where there are roads and communication – there’s development and prosperity. The state pays great attention to development of road transport infrastructure.

In the first half of this year, 190.6 billion soums were spent for construction and reconstruction of roads of international and national significance, including construction of sections of the Uzbek national highway and acquisition of road-building machinery. Construction works are carried out at the 59 objects of infrastructure and services, located on the Uzbek national highway.

At the junction and stations of Toshguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan railway line, construction of industrial and technical buildings and homes is nearing completion.

On the eve of the holiday, a new cargo terminal that meets the highest requirements was put into operation at the international airport of Navoi city.

The policy implemented in the country is aimed at increasing employment, stimulating work and increasing incomes, thus serving the interests of the people. While in many countries unemployment is growing, in Uzbekistan more than 509,000 new jobs were created in the first half of 2010. Salaries and income levels are also constantly increasing.

At the international conference on “Effectiveness of Anti-crisis measures program and priorities for post-crisis development (experience of Uzbekistan)”, held in April in Tashkent, economic growth in Uzbekistan was praised once again. The conclusions and recommendations of the forum noted high efficiency of measures aimed at countering the influence of the global economic crisis. At the same time, the participants highlighted the importance and relevance of priorities for post-crisis period outlined by President Islam Karimov, and the Anti-crisis program.

In early May, the 43rd annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank was held in Tashkent. The fact that the capital of Uzbekistan, the first in the CIS and the Caucasus region, hosted such a prestigious forum indicates growing international image of the country. All participants noted high level of organization and high efficiency of the forum.

Both the ADB Governors meeting and the IMF mission that visited the country in late June, praised the successes of Uzbekistan. According to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, continued effective anti-crisis measures aimed at modernization and infrastructure development, as well as growth of exports will lead to more than 8 percent GDP growth in Uzbekistan this year.

In June, Tashkent hosted the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The forum approved the Regulations on the procedure for admitting new members of the SCO and the Rules of SCO procedures. Adoption of these documents at the Tashkent summit demonstrated high efficiency of the presidency of Uzbekistan in the organization.

In April, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited Uzbekistan. During his visit to Tashkent, a joint declaration on cooperation between the SCO Secretariat and the UN was signed. This was another historical achievement of the foreign policy of Uzbekistan in 2010.

As President points out, when people’s living conditions change, their attitude towards tomorrow also changes and their confidence in the future strengthens. Unprecedented measures to radically transform the look of villages on the basis of requirements of modern architecture and industry, housing, social and community facilities, communications are being carried out in the country.

During the first half of 2010, new residential housing was commissioned, gas and water pipes were laid. 847 new houses were built in 42 residential areas in rural districts.

Construction now continues of 6,800 houses in 233 places in 159 rural districts of Uzbekistan. For this purpose, Qisloq Qurilish Bank (Rural Construction Bank) allocated preferential credits amounting to 122.2 billion soums.

To better meet the needs in modern building materials, in the six months of 2010, 116 new enterprises for production of roofing materials, drywall, finishing dry mixes, and prefabricated structures were opened.

There is a deep meaning and significance in the fact the President declared 2010 as the Year of Harmoniously Developed Generation. As the head of state noted, “our children should be stronger, smarter, wiser, and certainly happier than us”. Educating harmoniously developed generation is defined one of the priorities of the state policy.

Under the “Healthy mother – healthy child” program, large-scale work is being carried out. Diagnostic, screening and perinatal centers equipped with modern medical facilities provide care for mothers and children.

Great changes have taken place in the education, too. Graduates of high schools and colleges now work in industry, agriculture, governance, social sector. In the first half of this year, 282.800 new jobs were created for young people.

In line with the 2010 State Program, wide-scale work to improve state education standards, curricula and textbooks, introduce new information and pedagogical techniques in the learning process, develop children’s sports is implemented. Sports complexes and stadiums, water sports palaces, rhythmic gymnastics halls are built in cities and villages.

In the years of independence, great attention has been paid to enrichment of the spiritual world and improving the culture level of the youth, as well as development of all arts, particularly music. Creation of new children’s music and art schools is the practical result of the work done in this direction. State award named after poetess Zulfia, contests like “Nihol”, “Yagonasan, Muqaddas Vatan”, “Yangi Avlod”, “Kelajak Ovozi” and others serve to encourage young talents.

The prosperity of the country and its achievements – all of this has been achieved mainly due to peace and stability, inter-ethnic harmony and mutual respect reigning in the country.

The celebrations of the greatest holiday were streamed live via the internet in more than 50 countries.

SK

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