President Felicitates Nation On the New Year 2008

January 02, 2008

The New Year 2008 has arrived. We have lived through the year 2007 – the one, which among other years, has been full of various events of political, social and economic significance for Uzbekistan – the sovereign state that confidently traverses along the path of building the democratic and law-governed state, prosperous society.

On December 31, 2007, in keeping with finely established tradition, the head of state – the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has addressed the nation with a message of felicitation.

“Accept my sincerest and the most heartfelt congratulations on the forthcoming year 2008,” – the message by President read from the start.

“Summarizing the outcomes of the outgoing year we have all grounds to say that the year has been mostly successful for us and has left an indelible trace in the life of the country and society. Thanks to selfless creative work of our people a big step was made in providing for the dynamic development of the country, its economy, the rise of standards and well being of people’s life, advancement along the way of democratic renewal, consolidation of Uzbekistan’s authority in the world community”, - the message has further read while dwelling on the outcomes of the past year.

As a vivid confirmation of the aforesaid the presidential congratulatory address has drawn the attention of the nation to the figures and achievements secured for over the past year 2007.

“Above all, such indicators as the increase of gross domestic product in 2007 by 9,5 percent, the growth rates in industry – 12,1, agriculture – 6,1 percent, the growth of exports to more than 1,4 fold, the gold-currency reserves – over 50 percent, real salary, pensions, stipends and allowances – by 40 percent speak about this. In this, the inflation or the growth of prices in the past year did not exceed 6,8 percent”.

“The measures taken in our country in terms of announcing 2007 as the Year of social protection are especially worth noting,” – the message continued, “the comprehensive, considerable support in the best traditions of humanism rendered firstly to the needy people and families, lone pensioners and the disabled, charity houses at the expense of state and sponsorship funds has once again confirmed an ever strengthening atmosphere of kindness and mutual respect, mercy and magnanimity in our life. This is yet another testimony to what positive changes are taking place in the consciousness, worldview and attitude of people and our society as a whole”.

“I would like to underscore that today every person, who lives on this blessed soil of Uzbekistan regardless of his nationality, language and faith, has a full right to say: there is also my own worthy contribution on all of the achieved results, on the development and flourishing of my country,” – the message has also read.

Dwelling upon the recently held elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Uzbek Leader has addressed the nation by saying that “those elections held in line with principles of democracy, publicity and openness, without any doubt, have yet more consolidated our people, having vividly demonstrated its increased political and legal awareness, the hopes and aspirations of every citizen of Uzbekistan, its belief to the future of the country, and have truly become a historical event in the public life”.

“Availing myself of this opportunity, I believe it my duty to bow low to our people, to express from the bottom of my heart the immense gratitude to all, who have laid a high trust with me. I have no other goal and no other life but to faithfully and loyally serve You, my people,” – the President wrote in his message.

Dwelling on the main priorities set for 2008 the message has read, “our main goal – by way of intensifying and raising the efficiency of reforms, broadly attracting the investments and latest technologies to the republic, creating the necessary conditions and preferences for the development firstly of the driving force for us – the small businesses, farming and private entrepreneurship, to provide for the high growth rates of economy and rise of the people’s well-being, strengthening the stability in the country”.

“Proceeding from the set goal to increase the volume of salaries in 2007-2009 by not less than two-fold, the gradual increase of wages, pensions, stipends and allowances shall become our most important objective in the new year”, according to the message.

As has been reported, on December 7, 2007 – during the festive meeting dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent – President Islam Karimov proposed to announce 2008 the “Year of Youth” in the country. Thus, in his congratulatory message to the nation the President has once again underscored the importance of the new year in terms of forthcoming grand measures to be taken in Uzbekistan vis-à-vis the said occasion.

“The resolution of objectives enormous both on their scale and importance that we aim to accomplish is inseparably linked with that to what extent in practice we lean upon the forthcoming youth, which is expected to replace us, what broad opportunities we are opening up for it,” – the President wrote.

“With such a particular goal – that our youth becomes a truly decisive force of today and tomorrow, occupies a solid and worthy place in the life of our society, we have announced 2008 the Year of Youth, which gains the broadest and warm support of the country’s entire population”.

Concluding his festive message President Islam Karimov has once again congratulated the people of Uzbekistan on the New Year and wished them a strong health, success, well being and abundance to their households.

“May peace and tranquility reign on our soil, may the pure sky prevail above our Homeland,” – the message read.