Uzbekistan at 28: Country celebrates freedom
President Shavkat Mirzioyev underscored the fact that the democratic processes in Uzbekistan became irreversible and inevitable
On 1st September, as it has been doing for the last 27 years, Uzbekistan celebrated its independence day. This year the country marked its 28th anniversary of the country’s Independence.
Speaking at a solemn ceremony in Tashkent the President of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed that over the past period the country made through challenging but glorious path of independent development.
Currently Uzbekistan has entered a new stage of its national development main principles of which enshrined in the National Development Strategy for 2017-2021. Its priority motto: “From National Reconstruction – to National Progress”.
The President emphasized that Uzbekistan is conducting active foreign focusing, first of all, on establishing good-neighborly relations and mutually beneficial ties with Central Asian states. Conditions were created for thousands of people to freely cross borders and move across the region. Uzbekistan is also actively participating in the activities on ensuring regional security, in particular in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Further deepening democratic reforms, ensuring full protection of human rights and interests remain among key priorities of the Uzbek Government. Furthermore Uzbekistan is asserting itself as a country capable of protecting the rights and interests of its citizens irrespective of their whereabouts.
The most important factor is that “democratic processes in Uzbekistan became irreversible and inevitable”, the President stressed in his address.
“We are elevating the dialogue with people to the level of state policy, the climate of openness and freedom is ever strengthening in our society. People are learning how to work with authorities by being pro-active and addressing not only their personal problems but the challenges of significance for many people”, he further highlighted.
The Uzbek leader also mentioned the upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan which will be held in December 2019. According to him “the elections will become another important step in elevating Uzbekistan to the rank of developed democratic states of the world”.
Uzbekistan will further adhere to the principle of “enlightenment against ignorance”. According to Mirziyoyev, “this idea has crucial importance not only in terms of religious upbringing, but in all spheres of our life. If we address any issue on the basis of enlightenment, give it a good deal of thought, show respect to people, take their opinion into account, relying on the criterion of the law and justice alone, people will be pleased with us”.
Reforms in the areas of science and technology, education, healthcare, culture and sports will further be expanded. For the last three years alone 35 new institutes of higher learning have been established in the country with their total number reaching 112.
Interestingly, India too has a contribution in the Central Asian country’s development. Apart from collaboration in trade and business, science, technology and education also forms one of the main pillars of bilateral relations. Science and education lies at the core of a country’s development and path to both peace and prosperity. In this regard, of the 35 new institutes of higher learning established in Uzbekistan over the past three years, 13 are the branches of high-ranking foreign universities including several Indian universities – Amity University and Sharda University.
