On visit in our country, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Knut Vollebaek met with Nasriddin Muhammadiev, director of Uzbekistan’s Interethnic Cultural Center, on April 12.

It was underscored at the talks that securing interethnic harmony has been a subject of special consideration in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Islam Karimov. The country’s Constitution guarantees equal rights and freedoms for every citizen irrespective of ethnic origin, religion and language. Diverse ethnic groups residing currently in Uzbekistan have been equally enthusiastic and energetic in common efforts aimed at socio-economic development of the nation, enhancement of democratic processes underway in society. The country’s all ethnic groups are represented in legislative, executive and judicial branches of power.

It has been stressed at today’s meeting that interethnic and interreligious tolerance is a characteristic trait of our national development, and that interethnic harmony and stability constitutes one of the government policy and social development priorities in Uzbekistan. According to the event participants, the 140 plus ethnic cultural centers functioning currently in Uzbekistan have been instrumental in catering to the citizens’ mounting ethnic-spiritual needs, in consolidating the interethnic relations, reinforcing the environment of peace, friendship and solidarity reigning in our country.

“Tremendous emphasis is being placed in Uzbekistan on securing interethnic harmony,” the OSCE High Commissioner has put it.

“We feel rather glad that representatives of all ethnic groups in this country are entitled equal rights and opportunities. Noteworthy are the efforts in Uzbekistan directed at creating a facilitating environment for the preservation and perpetuation of the language, culture, arts, customs and traditions of various ethnic and sub-ethnic groups. It is particularly impressive that education is provided in seven languages, along with a ten-language press printed in this country.”

Knut Vollebaek also held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Education, the Institute for Strategic and Inter-Regional Studies, and Uzbekistan National Center for Human Rights.

x x x Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a meeting with the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Knut Vollebaek on 11 April 2012.

During the exchange of views the parties noted that at present more than 140 national cultural centers in Uzbekistan have been instrumental in catering to the citizens’ mounting ethnic-spiritual needs, contributing to harmonization of interethnic relations, strengthening of peace, friendship and solidarity in the country.

Interethnic and inter-religious accord is a basis for building a democratic, rights-based state with developed system of sustainable, stable nongovernmental organizations, independent mass media and other social institutions, representing interests of different groups and wide social strata.

The parties examined the international and regional aspects of discussed issues.

OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan György Szabó also took part at the meeting. (Source: Press-service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UzA)