Dear compatriots!

First of all, let me express my sincere congratulations to all of you on the new year 2007.

Today we are seeing off the outgoing year 2006 and it is natural for us to recall what we lived through during this year - troubled days, events that were significant and unforgettable in our country\'s life.

I think it would not be a mistake to say that the outgoing year was of special significance to deepening the reforms being implemented in all spheres of our life, renewing society, maintaining a stable growth rate in the economy and increasing our people\'s prosperity.

Our economy\'s stable growth rate was 7.2%, exports of consumer goods increased by about 30%, gold and foreign currency reserves 33%, the state budget 27%. Because of these, the real wages of workers, pensions, student grants and welfare payments increased by 36%, and the inflation rate - the growth of prices - was less than 7%. It would be true to say that this fact clearly demonstrates what great results were achieved this year.

Moreover, over 280 billion soums in state budget and sponsor funding was spent, first and foremost, on helping the needy strata of the population as part of the Year of Charity and Medical Workers [programme]. We need to realize well that last year\'s accomplishments in developing the economy and increasing the prosperity of the population are closely connected with building a democratic state and civil society, laconically speaking, with modernizing the country, deepening political and economic reforms and reducing state control.

Our successful progress, we directly connect with realization of concrete measures on wide-scale expansion of legislation and practical base and opportunities for development of private property, small business, farmers in rural area, which should become support of society and decisive force to progress of the country.

Speaking about remarkable features and the essence of our life, it would not be a mistake to say that the facts that first and foremost, our countrymen now have a completely new inner world and mentality, and they are becoming more and more socially and politically active, clearly demonstrate how much our life is changing.

I believe that every person living on this prosperous Uzbek land, regardless of his or her nationality, language, faith and views, appreciate very much and understand well that the most precious wealth of our current and future life is the peace, tranquillity and stability that Allah gave us, and the respect for each other that is being strengthened within our society and friendship.

Dear friends!

Today, on this joyful night all of us have gathered around a festive table, and naturally we think and dream of the new year hoping that it will bring peace, good and well-being to our families and our people, and make wishes.

I think it would be correct to say that the following tasks should remain a priority for next year in order to have these dreams come true: first and foremost, taking into account the complicated situation in the world and in our region we must pool all our efforts to defend our people from any threat and to preserve peace and stability within our families and the motherland and maintain the inviolability of our borders. I believe that you, my dear compatriots, will agree with what I am saying.

Currently, stepping up reforms in all spheres of life, raising public awareness of the resolutions being adopted and giving greater opportunities to influence their implementation as well as further increasing supervision by the public are of great significance to achieving the objectives that we set ourselves.

In new year, we surely will continue gradual work on development of social-economic spheres and improvement life of people, started in 2006 and previous years, in particular further increase of wages, pensions, stipends and allowances, at the same time it will be not less than in passing year.

In our focus will remain protection of maternity and childhood, bring up healthy generation, render care and support to our dear veterans.

I am sure, we all understand that such high, noble and concrete aims laid to the basis of announcement of 2007 as the Year of Social Protection as material and moral support to needy people and families, satisfy interests and needs our population, finally strengthen society, in which we live, goodness and generosity, humanism and mutual understanding.

Undoubtedly, those, created by tireless work of our people in passed years will allow us to realize all planned in new year, make life of our people more worthy and meaningful.

Dear compatriots!

Once more I congratulate you with coming new year, wish you all strong health, happiness and good luck!

May 2007 be kind and successful year!

May peace and tranquillity in our country.

May prosperity and abundance in your houses!

Happy New Year, dear friends!

Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan