Address by H.E. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov at the festive ceremony dedicated to the 14th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Assalomu-Alaykum, dear fellow countrymen!

Above all, allow me to congratulate you dears from the bottom of my heart on the 14th anniversary of our Constitution and express to you and in your person to our entire nation my sincere respect and reverence.

Dear friends!

As we speak about the significance and importance of our Constitution, above all, we should emphasize one truth.

That is to say, whatever results and benefits we have gained lately in the sphere of legislation and our practical policies on building the legal state in our country and attaching the human interest, his rights and freedoms the supreme and priority value, ? all of them are closely linked with requirements and principles enshrined in our Constitution.

This day when we speak about the consistent path of building a peaceful and prosperous life and the main legislative grounds of this path we vividly imagine the two objectives that serve as akin the firm support.

First ? to critically analyze the comprehensively justified experience of the highly developed democratic states, accept and inculcate that, and based on this ? to build our life.

Second ? to live abiding by our ancient and rich history, our values, our sacred religion that was long preserved by our forefathers and that we profess today, our customs, rites and traditions, and not losing our self in whatever situations we may find ourselves and tests may befall on us and not forgetting the fact that of whose and what outstanding persons the generation we are, - and to bring up our children in this way to a greater life.

It would be the very truth if we say that the implementation of an important and strategic task as unifying these two directions ? the modern democratic principles and our national peculiarities and values in a mutually harmonious way, introducing them into all spheres of our life with a determination and consistency ? are the main factors and condition defining the course we have chosen.

It is no secret that the society we are building, the processes of renovation ever entering into our life, the fate and future of reforms depend, above all, on the support of these changes by our people, activeness of our people in places in this respect, enhancement of their worldview and consciousness.

We must never forget this simple truth.

Certainly, the consciousness of a man does not change overnight. Time and experience are needed to alter and broaden his worldview. Regardless of any outside agitation and propaganda, even an act of force, the person in the example of his own life and experience must see and become convinced of what the proposed and implemented changes offer him, what benefits they provide.

Therefore indeed, in elaborating the national development model of Uzbekistan we have chosen not a revolutionary leapfrogging way but, on the contrary, the evolutionary way, that is to say the path of gradual development, while as much as possible not harming anyone with a privation.

After gaining independence and taking our destiny into our own hands we have set forth a great objective of building a state with a great future and the society second to none. Probably, this might have seemed to some people as high-flown or mythical words. However, today our successes achieved along the path of this goal are being recognized all over the world.

The well-known politicians, experts and commentators abroad, while now objectively and fairly assessing our achievements, express their opinion that: ?If Uzbekistan sticks to these defined principles without deviation, certainly, its future will be great?.

We have all witnessed such a great acknowledgement in the congratulatory letters addressed by the heads of prestigious international organizations during the festivities recently held on the occasion of the 2700th anniversary of the city of Karshi and 1000th anniversary of the Khorezm Mamun Academy, repeatedly expressed by renowned foreign scientists, statesmen and public figures who visited our country.

Certainly, when such views and conclusions are heard the heart of each and every person living in our country is filled with joy and pride.

But it is not difficult given the rapidly and expeditiously changing times to realize and understand how vital is the necessity today not to lag behind but to be ahead of the reality, to avert any unkind actions and problems, to timely adopt laws defining the foundation of our progress and democratic renovation and introduce to them amendments and addenda demanded by life in order to achieve our ultimate objective. In this regard, it would not be a mistake if I say that the draft law ?On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country? which was recently put to the nationwide discussion has been nourished with such views and objectives.

As we speak about the practical need, main factors and reasons for preparing this draft law: First, it should be underscored the need that by consistently moving forward along the way of the step-by-step development which has proved itself in practice and upon completion of one stage of reforms to take them up to a new phase so that to further deepen and continue the ongoing reforms in our country. Second, it should be emphasized that by taking into consideration the fact that during the years of independence the practical experience and prestige of political parties has grown and considerably matured the time itself now requires us to establish the legislative guidelines to increase the effectiveness of their activity and turn them into a decisive political force in our life. Third, we should take into account that today the political maturity and social activeness of our people are ever growing and should not forget the need to conduct policies based on this.

In this context, all of the proposed articles in the draft law will indeed serve such noble goals as to strengthen the roots of our national statehood, democratize and liberalize our society, ensure the guarantee of stable progress and based on this to consistently increase the pace of growth of our economy and the level of life of our people.

As we have chosen the path of building a democratic state and civil society, it is natural to pose such questions before us as to what extent the basic principles of democracy, meaningfully, the complete reign of people?s will in our society and the issues of rights and freedoms of person reflect in our life and to what else do we need to pay attention so that to fully meet these requirements.

While not rejecting other important directions and tasks, the issue of raising the effectiveness of the works under way, above all, on enhancing the activeness of our population, its political and legal consciousness must constantly be on the agenda.

The life itself confirms that the path of increasing the people?s activeness in its turn directly linked with stirring up the activeness of political parties, which reflect the social-political views and various interests in the society. The power of any political party in our society is measured by the influence of programs proposed and being implemented in social, political, economic, cultural and spiritual spheres, as much as the number of their supporters.

Hence, as to what extent the parties are to enliven and broaden their social-political activity among the population so the political consciousness and activeness of our population and voters will grow and their influence on reforms and changes ever will rise.

As it is known, at the moment there are five political parties functioning in our country. They have struggled on the parliamentary and local elections by declaring their political agenda and won the relevant seats in the Oliy Majlis and regional councils, and now carry out their activities through establishing their factions in the Legislative Chamber and groups of deputies in local councils.

Without any doubt, the reforms being implemented in this sphere since 2000 have been rendering their positive influence in continuing the democratic processes in our country, in the way of building a legal democratic state and civil society.

At the same time, also we have to fairly acknowledge the fact that the results we have achieved in this direction now do not entirely meet our aforementioned goals.

It was mentioned in our many speeches before about the need to resolve such an important issues, the fact that the activity of our political parties are still far from the real problems of life.

To resolve such situations this draft law opens up new opportunities in the way to ever expand the rights and powers of political parties, strengthen their influence on the activity of legislative and state governance bodies, as well as domestic and foreign policies conducted in our country.

With such an aim it is envisaged to adopt the legislative mechanisms to clearly define the status of factions in the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis and groups of political parties in local councils as well as increase the powers and prestige of people?s deputies at all levels.

To put it simply, the representatives of which political party will comprise a majority in the Legislative Chamber and local councils, established on the outcomes of elections, and the representatives of which party will make up a minority, and which party deems it preferable to have opposition position towards the policy of the government being formed, - all of them have been legally defined in the proposed draft law.

I think it would be the very truth if we say that as a result of elections the active participation of political parties, empowered to form their factions in the Legislative Chamber and groups of deputies in local councils, in electing, appointing and dismissing of the head of government and heads of provinces, and through this, directly influencing on the activities of executive power, - these are a vivid confirmation of dramatic increase of the role and practical impact of political parties in our life. We all know that today one of the most important issues is to establish an effective system of public control over administrative and executive powers. This draft law is worth attention since it establishes the legal basis for the control by political parties and public over authorities ranging from the central government to local power ? the entire executive system.

To be short, as soon as this draft law is adopted there will be established the practical procedures of officials in the center and in local places, and if you will, the bodies of power being accountable before the broad public.

The implementation of law will allow to clearly define within the framework of legal norms the increase of authorities of legislative power ? the Oliy Majlis and local councils and among them the executive power, and in particular, the independence of government, and at the same time, the introduction of amendments to and shortening of powers and tasks of the President. Thus, we will ensure the ever reinforcement of checks and balances among branches of state power in our country. In other words, it means the implementation of a requirement, which corresponds to any developed democratic system.

One may offer yet more views and opinions on the significance and essence, influence and outcomes of this draft law and proposals on introducing some amendments to our Constitution, which are on the agenda today, as well as the fact that these documents will become a new step in taking the democratic level of our life up to a higher stage. Certainly, it would be entirely correct if we say that discussing and adopting this draft law is one thing, but the most important, our main objective today is to implement it, deliver to the minds of people about how our nation will benefit from all of these changes and what does it require from each of us.

This soil, this unique country is ours, and it is a sacred duty of all of us to raise the status and prestige of our Homeland to a deserved level. If we act hand in hand with such an idea, resolutely and firmly continue to carry out the ongoing reforms and processes of renovation, - without any doubt, we shall achieve our goals, we shall certainly build a free and prosperous society in our Uzbekistan worth of envy of others.

Dear fellow countrymen! A year ago in this beautiful hall with you, my dears, we announced 2006 as the ?Year of charity and medical workers? in our country. The main purpose of this was to consistently continue the work we have started in previous years on strengthening the atmosphere of mercy and kindness, and mutual accord in our society, protecting the motherhood and childhood, establishing the healthy way of life, raising the prestige of a profession of doctor and taking this work up to a newer and greater level. We all know that to implement these objectives a particular government program of the ?Year of charity and medical workers? was elaborated and throughout the year its implementation was taken under control. The realization of this program demonstrates the fact that such noble act nourished with a spirit of humanism, mercy and kindness and covered our entire country has left no one aside in our nation.

Indeed, we can see in many examples the fact that such features pertaining to our people as rendering the gratuitous sponsorship aid, offering every support to the neediest and parentless, assisting the deprived and less fortunate layers rose up to a level of national value in our life.

Such proverbs with profound meanings and long preserved by our nation as the ?Open hands bring open roads? or ?Who grants one ? gets bestowed with a thousand? vividly confirm the aforesaid.

It is especially very important that during this year within the framework of the program of ?Year of charity and medical workers? the opportunity was created to provide people with new jobs, and in particular, open up the new prospects for the home-based labor in rural areas, introduce the workbooks for the persons engaged in in-house cattle-breeding with an opportunity of establishing the pension fund savings.

A series of measures within the program have been taken to give a pecuniary and moral support to the needy families.

In particular, it would not be a mistake if we mention the fact that with the assistance of government and non-government organizations, as well as sponsors the large and low-income families were granted a livestock worth of over UZS 10 billion represents another vivid example of kindness and generosity in our country. Since it is not difficult to comprehend that such measures allow people to engage in work, and above all, provide their families with meat and milk products, and moreover, earn an extra income.

The fact that 3 million 570 thousand square meters of living space of the 2,000 aged lonely people and 66,000 low-income families has been repaired at the expense of funds raised through the nationwide khashars (?voluntary public works?), where millions of our countrymen have participated, are among such good deeds.

At the same time, one should underscore as an important work in this regard the rendering of social services to nearly 23,000 lone elderly and disabled people, as well as allocation by sponsors of a material aid to all ?Generosity?, ?Charity?, ?Mercy? Houses and special boarding schools throughout our country worth UZS 3,5 billion.

Also, this year 725,000 primary school pupils from the less-fortunate families received dress outfit totaling over UZS 16 billion.

521,000 children received textbooks and school accessories estimated at almost UZS 15 billion as a gift within the continued efforts to supply our children, who have just started to attend the school, with needed textbooks and school accessories free of charge.

With an aim to improve the health of disabled children upon the initiative of the Ministry of Health and ?For healthy generation? Fund and with the involvement of international partners, the children with inborn disabilities have undergone a complex surgical treatment. Another important issue within the framework of the program, which is also worth attention, is a series of practical steps taken to raise physically sound and prosperous young generation. For over the past period the fact that in all 161 sports complexes for the youth were put into operation with 18 of them newly built, 108 school sporting and recreation facilities and 35 sports centers refurbished confirms the aforesaid.

Besides, it should be noted that last summer 237,000 children spent their summer holidays at the republican health recreation facilities to improve their health.

The fact that the International Fund ?Ecosan? with participation of foreign sponsors has mobilized the ?Health trains? to the Aral Sea region with a charity aid worth UZS 1,2 billion makes a part of such practical deeds.

Throughout the year the trips to the places of interest in our capital and in such ancient cities as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz were organized for almost 30,000 war and labor veterans, esteemed elderly fathers and mothers, disabled veterans from all areas and provinces in our country.

The Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis has adopted a draft law ?On charity? at the first reading to guarantee a legal basis for charity activity and ensure a broad recognition from a social point of view.

This draft law envisages that the state power and governing bodies are to define the existing forms of support of the charity activity, the procedures of establishing the charity organizations in the territory of Uzbekistan, their status and directions of activities.

Dear friends, fellow countrymen!

In this regard, I would like to share with you something in my heart. We all know well and we have to say it openly that not everyone in this world is able to render a disinterested aid, to do a charity work, and place the interests of others atop of his own. Many thanks to God, there are many people in our country who glorify and continue to practice such everlasting values peculiar to our nation.

One involuntarily gets excited when hears about such honorable and generous deeds accomplished by such persons, when sees how the call, namely ?Everyone must do a good deed, a good deed must be done everyday? echoes in the hearts of thousands of our fellow countrymen.

I wish I had an opportunity to embrace each and every of such people and express on my and our people?s behalf a profound gratitude to all of them.

However, this day availing myself of this opportunity I believe it is worth mentioning with a profound respect and reverence the names of some representatives of such our fellow countrymen.

The oksokol (?elder, the local community leader?) Rikhsivoy Oripov from the ?Yangi shahar? makhalla (?neighborhood community?) in Shaikhontokhur District, Tashkent, mobilized the people to improve the territory of the makhalla and sponsored the construction of a sporting ground for the children.

During this year the head of the farming entity Gairat Pulatov from Ghuzar District in Kashkadarya Province rendered a charity aid to 50 families and at the same time purchased four cows for the less-fortunate families.

Ibragim Raupov who has devoted his entire life to upbringing the young generation, despite his honorable age is still working in the sphere of national education in Samarkand Province. Upon his initiative the charity fund worth over UZS 15 million has been allocated to kindergartens, schools and public healthcare establishments in the province.

Another generous person - the pensioner from Sergeli District in Tashkent Suyarkul Turobboyev by spending UZS 1,7 million of his own funds has bettered the abandoned area, planted more than 4,000 saplings and established a picturesque park.

Honorable veteran of labor Umurzok Kholmirzaev who lives in Kurghontepa Village of the Andijan Province is making a deserved contribution with his own funds and work to improve the local school and establish the garden around it.

Another elder from the Shaikhantakhur District in Tashkent Jakhongir Usmanov has spent UZS 8 million to construct a children\'s sporting ground.

I want to particularly mention about Salom ota Shoymatov, the head of the farming entity in Khatirchi District of the Navoi Province. This prosperous and esteemed 75-year old elderly who has served hard his country spent in all UZS 27,5 million to support the less-fortunate families and the works on asphalting the local community road, bettering the cemetery neighborhood, and renovating the village school.

The chairman of the residential council of the ?Khumoyun? makhalla neighborhood community in Mirzo Ulughbek District in Tashkent Zikrilla Ermatov by spending UZS 12,6 million of his own funds planted more than thousand saplings and created the 6,000 square-meter park, as well as contributed to the improvement of the local makhalla teahouse.

And the head of the farming entity in Mingbulok District of the Namangan Province has developed 75 hectares of new land and provided jobs for 36 people. He has rendered a charity aid worth UZS 5 million out of the profit gained from the accomplished.

This list can long be continued.

We all know well that noble deeds accomplished for the benefit of the nation shall never go in vain. Both the Creator and our people shall be pleased with such deeds.

Not without a purpose does the verse in the Holy Koran say: ?Every good will be repaid with a good?.

I think you will agree with me if I say that it should be both our duty and obligation to cherish and honor such magnanimous, generous and noble fellow countrymen of ours.

In this respect, as a token of our recognition of and appreciation for our fellow countrymen who set forth an example with their noble deeds and having taken their age into consideration we have decided to organize for them a holy hajj (?pilgrimage?), which is not only a dream but an obligation for every Muslim. The government will cover all of their travel expenses. I believe that this decision will become an incentive to others, too.

Dear friends! It is necessary to note that in the ?Year of charity and medical workers? much work was accomplished to enhance the quality of medical care, reinforce its material technical base, honor the work of medical workers as well as raise their prestige.

Especially, the allocation from the state budget of UZS 7,6 billion, that is one and a half times more than the previous year, for the purposes of reinforcing the material technical base of medical care institutions, providing them with latest equipments and necessary furniture, and spending UZS 7 billion using the charity funds for the full refurbishment and reconstruction vividly demonstrates the scale of accomplished works.

It is necessary to mention that 60-bed clinic unit at the Phthisiology and pulmonology research institute, Republican specialized center of optical microsurgery, surgery and cardiology was fully reconstructed and, where the modern methods of treating were introduced.

In this regard, it is worth attention the accomplished works in our remote areas. Establishment of the Republican specialized urology center in Khorezm Province, capital reconstruction of the Nukus branches of Republican surgery center and ?Salomatlik? institute, Jizzakh Province cardiology dispensary and local children?s clinic, Kashkadarya Province tuberculosis dispensary, children?s hospital in Surkhandarya Province and the launch of many new hospitals in remote cities and districts as well as more than 250 countryside medical stations are among such works.

At the same time, the medical facilities in Bekabod city of Tashkent Province, Baghdod and Toshloq districts of Ferghana Province as well as 310 countryside medical stations were provided with necessary equipment.

Certainly, the capital restoration of the sanatorium of ?Qizilqumcement? joint-stock company in Navoi and its maintenance with latest equipments with modern requirements will contribute to better serving the patients. One can cite many such examples from other areas and regions in the country, as well.

We need to particularly mention that with an aim to expand the system of medical education and train the qualified specialists for the development of the sphere the professional medical colleges were commissioned this year for 360 students in Marghilan and 540 students in Gulistan.

You are all aware of what a great work is being accomplished in our country lately to protect the motherhood and childhood.

Especially, we are made certainly glad by the fact that the grave problems which we have faced 10-15 years ago with regard to monitoring the health of mother and child during the prenatal and delivery period, thoroughly examining the fertility age women, reinforcing the material ?technical base of the maternity hospitals and ?Mother and child? health recreation centers are finding today their solutions. The achievements and results we have attained in this sphere are also being rightfully recognized by the prestigious international organizations.

In particular, the fact that the United Nations Children?s Fund ? the UNICEF Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and CIS Countries Maria Calivis visited our country in November and has underscored that the experience worth studying has been gathered in this sphere in Uzbekistan is a confirmation of the aforesaid.

There is no doubt that the work we have accomplished to boost the prestige of medical workers in the society, who now bear the entire burden of the medical sphere, and improve the system of promoting their work are also of a important significance.

An improved new tariff scale of wages for the medical workers has been adopted along with establishment of the new and effective system of promoting the work of medical personnel.

As a result, if we take the level of general salary indexation into consideration, their average salary has increased almost twice.

In this regard, the newly established foundation now fully operates at every medical institution on material promotion and development.

The fact that the funds which were appropriated from the budget account for nearly UZS 23 billion to establish this foundation and through this more than 100,000 medical and pharmaceutical workers are being paid additional salaries and remunerations manifests to what extent the new method of supporting and encouraging the work of medical personnel bears its effectiveness.

Especially, we must particularly emphasize the practical work aimed at providing the medical institutions operating in dangerous and hazardous conditions as well as the quarantine and heinous infection diseases laboratories with the latest equipments and devices, and improving the labor conditions of medical workers at such facilities.

Adoption by the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Law on ?Medical workers day?, the broad celebration of this date on November 12th for the first time in our country and establishment upon the special resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the breastplate ?Excellent worker of healthcare?, without any doubt, has come as an important step in fairly assessing and honoring the service of medical workers.

Dear fellow countrymen!

All of you understand well that it is a very difficult task in a short speech to thoroughly inform about the works accomplished to develop the healthcare system, safeguard the public health, and taking this sphere onto a new stage. I think many things will clear up if we mention some figures in order to imagine the scale of works accomplished in this regard.

It would be right if I say that the implementation of measures envisaged in the ?Year of charity and medical workers? alone required to spend nearly UZS 284 billion, of which UZS 133 billion is from the budget funding, over UZS 151 billion ? from the agencies, organizations and sponsor funding, is a vivid evidence of what a large-scale work we have carried out throughout a year.

One must underscore that there is a profound contribution of the state and non-government organizations, sponsors, generous and noble persons in our country, as well as international humanitarian organizations in accomplishing these grand works.

Availing myself of this opportunity allow me sincerely thank all of them on my own behalf and on behalf of our nation.

Certainly, one may speak a lot about the results and outcomes of the ?Year of charity and medical workers?. But if we shortly express the main philosophy of this noble idea and movement, which left a deep trace in our life, it should particularly be underscored that the belief that no one is never left beyond attention of our state and society, the atmosphere of humanism, community and accord in our multinational country has ever been strengthened.

Dear fellow countrymen!

I think, now it will be appropriate to thoroughly discuss and share our views on how to name the new year 2007 and in this regard to define what noble goals will be as priority objectives for us.

You are well aware that based on that since 1997 we have been giving a name to the new upcoming year, and above all, we have been mobilizing our strength and capabilities to resolve a particular social issue, which is of a profound importance in our life, and implementing the large-scale works.

Regardless of what name we give to a particular year ? whether it will concern the family or women?s issues, raising the healthy generation, betterment of our makhallas or honoring the elderly, protecting the motherhood and childhood or strengthening the spirit of charity and humanity in our society? there is a common norm which unites all of them. It does reflect in the example of placing a human, his life, dreams and aspirations, cares and concerns into the focus of our attention and our strives aimed at easing the hardships of people.

To be short, it is not difficult to see and observe how all of the years, which have received their names for nearly ten years, by being directly linked with one another on their meaning, essence and significance, logically adding each other have been serving the goal of ensuring the interests of our people.

At the same time, as we continue the tradition of naming the years and imagine the works accomplished in dedication to it I want to draw your attention to one issue.

Each year which was named for over the past period is not limited within the scope of one year on its meaning and essence, goals, actuality and significance in resolving the available problems in our life.

For example, if we deeply perceive and consider the goals pursued by naming the year 2004 as the ?Year of mercy and kindness?, 2005 ? the ?Year of health? and this year as the ?Year of charity and medical workers? it is clear that our accomplished work has a long continuation and there are still many problems which await their solution.

Taking into consideration all of these and, above all, the mood and needs of our people, their dreams and aspirations, with your permission I want to propose to name the new 2007th year ? as the ?Year of social protection? in our country.

Dear friends!

All of you know that the issue of conducting a strong social policy is one of the famous five principles which lays at the core of an independent way of progress recognized throughout the world as the Uzbek model.

I think you are all well aware of the state policy being led in our country since the early days of independence to implement this principle into life, as much as what decisions were taken and what works are being accomplished.

Above all, one should note our works to reduce as much as possible the bitter consequences, which would negatively impact on the life of our people during the transformation into the market economy relations, comprehensively safeguard the interests of those layers of population, who are mostly in need of social protection ? the large and less-fortunate families, lone elderly, orphans, disabled, students and pensioners.

The recently approved state budget for 2007 envisages the considerable increase in financial channeling into this direction, i.e. the social protection of population.

To be short, if overall spending of the state budget for the social sphere and social protection of people in 2006 accounted for 51.1 percent then in 2007 it will account for 54.1 percent. And the volume of expenditures for social allowances bound for the less-fortunate families and those with younger children will account for 7 percent in the 2007 state budget spending.

At the same time, besides the specified budget expenditures, our government annually adopts the special resolutions aimed at ever strengthening the direct social protection and rendering of social services to the lone elderly people, pensioners and disabled.

In this issue it is unnecessary to speak about the special role of makhalla which is an important tool in establishing the political stability and social justice in our society, and which has been long justifying itself in our life.

Certainly, it is not for nothing that this unique system, which alike a bridge links the broad public with state and government is justly gaining a profound respect with our people for its enormous contribution into implementing the policy of social protection in our country.

In a word, the reliable system of social protection with a comprehensively strong legal basis is now formed in our country and it is justifying itself in practice.

But as we emphasize the achieved successes in this very important direction, we need to acknowledge that there are still outstanding issues as well as many problems which must be addressed.

In this regard, in the first place our life itself demands to work on further improving the legal bases and legislative norms of our policies.

In this, we are speaking about the need to clearly define these bases and norms in line with requirements of times, reconsider the available legislative basis and introduce the relevant addenda and amendments to the existing legal and normative documents, as well as putting forward to our agenda the issue of enhancing the effectiveness of the current system of social protection.

Most importantly, we must not treat the neediest families and all other people the same way, but we must do our best in attempting to closely study the hardships, pains, and troubles peculiar to each and every layer and meet these needs.

In this respect, it is important to implement the relevant measures on not only strengthening the norms, which are currently in force, but also as much as possible raising the volume of aid rendered by our state and society.

One of the outstanding objectives before us, above all, to pay a special attention in ensuring a comprehensively sound birth of the younger generation, to continue the movement we have started with a special emphasis under the motto of the ?Healthy mother - healthy child? and attach to it entirely a new stimulus, as well as approach this problem with a contemporary look and allot enough funding.

Since, clearly speaking, in fact many of our life problems that bother us start from our carelessness to this very issue.

At the same time, it is of very significant importance to critically review the social condition, material and technical basis of all ?Houses of Mercy? and special boarding schools and based on this to take necessary measures, ever strengthen the attention to orphans and children left without guidance, and in short, to truly implement the motto ?You are not alone? to the life of our society.

Certainly, extending the support to the needy lone elderly and disabled and rendering the necessary assistance and moral support occupy a main place on the agenda.

We should also review the issue of rightly assessing and stimulating the work of nurses, tutors and medical personnel working directly at ?Houses of Mercy?, ?Generosity? and ?Mercy and kindness?, as well as the specialists and workers involved in this area, who have devoted themselves to ease the burden of the needy and deprived persons, and serve them.

At the same time, to ensure the vital interests of our youth, which constitutes the nearly half of our country?s population, - whether they will be an obtaining by them the modern education and upbringing, acquiring the necessary profession and skills, getting jobs, creating an opportunity for them to realize their talents and potential, supporting the young families, and assisting in their family welfare, - all of these issues will remain for us as the most important and priority objective.

Naturally, in the ?Year of social protection? we will certainly continue our positive work we have started in previous years to create conditions to our revered veterans and pensioners to live a healthy and sensible life, who have served much our country and continue with their life lessons to serve as an example.

Obviously, the issue of social protection should not be the task of only the government, government institutions, social security or other charity organizations. If to consider that the meaning of the word ?social? belongs to a multitude, the public, then this very important issue should turn to an obligation of our society and all of us.

It is this view and approach which must determine the principle idea and essence of the state program to be elaborated by our government on the ?Year of social protection?.

I believe that the state and non-government organizations, bodies of khokimiyats (?regional administration?), makhallas, women?s and youth organizations and our broad public with their practical recommendations and views will actively participate in drafting the program.

Since, I think that all of us well understand that the naming of the year 2007 as the ?Year of social protection? will serve the cause of flourishing and prospering of our life and consolidate the sense of mutual worth and respect, mercy and kindness, as well as our greatest wealth of peace in our society by strengthening the meaning and essence, as well as ultimate results of our objectives along this path. There is no doubt for that.

Distinguished fellow countrymen, my dears!

Availing myself of this opportunity, allow me once again express to all of you and in your person to our entire nation my profound respect and reverence.

May God bestow the strength to and assist our nation in our work we have started 15 years ago on the way to renew our society and take our life up to a level second to none.

Let us all be bestowed a moment to share the results and fruits of our noble work.