Meeting of the delegation of Uzbekistan in Tokyo. 1
On upcoming Uzbek-Israeli political consultations. 1
Uzbekistan attaches particular importance to its spiritual heritage. 1
National stand of Uzbekistan awards “MITT-2016” prize. 5
International cooperation
Meeting of the delegation of Uzbekistan in Tokyo
On March 23-25, 2016, the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, participating in the 11th Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers within the Dialogue “Central Asia plus Japan” in Tokyo, held bilateral meetings and talks with the Deputy Secretary General of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan Hiroshige Seko, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoji Muto and Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Kihei Maekawa.
During the meetings the parties discussed the process of implementation of reached agreements and signed documents within the official visit of Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to Uzbekistan in October 2015.
The sides had a substantial talk about prospects of development of Uzbek-Japanese relations in the specific areas of cooperation.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
On upcoming Uzbek-Israeli political consultations
On March 30, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan will hold the following round of Uzbek-Israeli political consultations. The delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel arriving to Tashkent will be headed by the Deputy Director General Affairs Jeremy Issacharoff.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Society
Uzbekistan attaches particular importance to its spiritual heritage
Uzbekistan has been attaching importance to spirituality issues as a factor of success of national revival and progress.
The term itself has been widely used in official documents, scientific literature and press. We talk about spiritual wealth, spiritual foundations of independence, but, unfortunately, about the lack of spirituality too. What is behind the popular term?
Here is what Alisher Navoi implied in this concept in his work titled ‘The Language of Birds’: spirituality is an expression of genuine human qualities in a person, when he is superior of the animal passions, when he abandons greed and arrogance, his ego, and his inner world is connected with the divine, he comprehends the Truth. In the West, the term ‘spirituality’ is still used primarily in the religious context.
Spirituality is inherent to humans only. It is not a divine or something supernatural, but a social phenomenon. It does not exist in nature, though, like any perfect system, it is based on harmony and beauty. Thus, humans differ from animals, and the society differs from nature by spirituality. It represents the essence of humans as a social and cultural being, as an organic unity of truly human features like truthfulness, purity of soul, conscience, patriotism, love for the beautiful, rejection of evil and injustice. This suggests that we talk about the positive features of the human soul that have a positive value.
Spiritual development is seen as a major concern of the state and society in Uzbekistan. This is a precious fruit that has ripened in the people in unity with freedom. Its sprouts grow with the mother’s milk, an example of the father, and the covenants of ancestors. Coupled with the native language, it brings people together, it is nourished and fed by the beauty of the native land, and turns into a powerful force if it is based on a deep knowledge of the history of nation.
People need spirituality. They are in constant search of spiritual power just like a traveler in the desert looking for a life-giving spring. Its meaning was built on the native land, family, mother, father, children, neighbors, people, faith, memory, beauty. It comes when people feel a part of the nation, when they live and work thinking of it. Spirituality is a real treasure, which saves a person at the time of tragedy, and strengthens his will. It can be exemplified by glorious names of our great ancestors – Beruni, Ibn Sino, Ulugbek, Navoi and many other people of the highest spirituality, and of a difficult life. As repeatedly stated by the President of Uzbekistan, spirituality is a power of a personality, people, society and the state.
The revival of national cultural identity, which is not divorced from the ideals of world humanistic culture and universal values, has been a special focus.
The Uzbek people regard universal values as democratic, political and cultural values and moral qualities of a personality. As for the national values, the absolute majority of Uzbeks associate them primarily with national traditions and customs. This is how, for example, the locals treat the most ancient, truly national and free from ideological trends the holiday of Navruz.
Among national values that prevail in Uzbek society are moral qualities such as respect for elderly people, hospitality, diligence, and modesty.
The sociological surveys have showed primarily family and children as the dominant values that determine the vital positions of citizens, with the increasingly growing role of the institution of the family. The majority of Uzbeks regard the creation of a family, provision of a decent future for children and family happiness as pivotal life goals. The hierarchy is followed by social and civic activity, desire for financial stability, independence, and a decent job that would meet the material and spiritual needs.
Education is the bright facet of people’s spirituality. It reveals the best opportunities for the younger generation, ensures the continuous improvement of professional skills. The experience and wisdom of older generations are conceptualized and passed on to the young. Talented and striving for knowledge young people are what education and spirituality start with.
Of late, people have been tending to spend more time for advancing their education and professional skills in line with the changing socio-economic conditions. Many invest their income in self-education and advancement of professional skills. The others are willing to handle a new, more marketable profession. Many see the high level of professionalism, desire and ability to acquire new skills, and labor mobility as the ways to achieve financial well-being.
Patriotism is another facet of spirituality. It is a reliable compass to orient to the way of reforms. Love for the homeland, native nature, the urge for a deeper understanding of the history, culture and traditions of the native land, and pride for the country’s achievements make up a consolidating pillar of our multi-ethnic society.
Formed in the family
In the State program “Year of a healthy mother and child” among the priority tasks is called the formation of high spiritual and moral atmosphere in society and the family, strengthening of mutual respect and charity. However, life itself poses new challenges to strengthen the family, preparing young people for family life, the formation of the young men and women of high spirituality, reliable protection of the young generation of ideas that are alien to our way of life and mentality.
Every woman in daily life, work exhibited by feeling about her care, comprehensive support. Uzbekistan pays special attention to ensure that their rights and interests, strengthen the socio-political, socio-economic activity, the implementation of intellectual and spiritual potential, creation of conditions for participation in the modernization and renewal of all spheres of life.
Spiritualiy begins with the family
The national program the ‘Year of Healthy Mother and Child’ evisages the formation of high spiritual and moral atmosphere in society and family, strengthening of mutual respect and mercy among priority tasks. Meanwhile, life poses new challenges to strengthen the family, prepare young people for family life, cultivate high spirituality in young men and women, reliably protect the young generation from the ideas that are alien to our way of life and mentality.
Every woman feels care and overall support in daily life and work. Uzbekistan has been attaching importance to ensuring women’s rights and interests, strengthening their socio-political and socio-economic activity, implementation of their intellectual and spiritual potential, creation of conditions for their participation in the modernization and renewal of all spheres of life.
The Constitution, decrees, resolutions and government programs legally secure the process of strengthening women’s status in family and society, improvement of mother and child health.
The establishment of the Women’s Committee in early days of Uzbekistan’s independence has laid a strong foundation for the current large-scale work on full provision of women’s rights and freedoms.
Successful implementation of naitonal programs has been an important contribution to the significant reduction of mother and child mortality, early marriage, divorce, delinquency. Authoritative international institutions have been ranking Uzbekistan among the world’s leaders in creating conditions for women, protecting families, motherhood and childhood. This suggests that, rooted in the the family, spirituality is successfully evolving.
In the spirit of national values
The head of state in his book “High spirituality – an invincible force,” stressed that the mahalla plays an important role in enhancing the value of spirituality people. As a unique form of people’s democracy, it is important in the formation of consciousness and thinking of the younger generation on a modern basis.
Mahalla – a hotbed of national values. In recent years, dramatically expanded the scope of powers and tasks of mahalla. It should be noted implemented in conjunction with state and public organizations steps to the education of young people in the spirit of national values, strengthen their hearts and minds of feelings of love and devotion to the Motherland.
In the spirit of national values
As emphasized by the head of state in his book ‘High spirituality as an invincible force’, mahalla plays an important role in enhancing people’s spirituality. As a unique form of people’s democracy, it is essential in the formation of contemporary consciousness and thinking of the younger generation.
Mahalla is a hearth of national values. The scope of powers and missions of local communities has dramatically expanded in recent years. It is appropriate to mention the ongoing synergy of state and public organizations on upbringing young people in the spirit of national values, cultivation of love and devotion to the homeland in their hearts and minds.
A post of advisor on religious enlightenment, spiritual and moral education was introduced in all communities. It is occupied by the most influential and active women with practical experience, who are able to exert a wholesome effect on the population, primarily on young people, in advocacy of healthy lifestyles, preservation and development of the best national and religious traditions and ceremonies, their spiritual and moral education.
Communities also run commissions on spirituality and enlightenment, which perform a range of basic tasks like, for example, organization of national holidays, promotion of respect for the centuries-old traditions, the best national values, preservation of interethnic and interreligious harmony, prevention of religious extremism. The commissions are essential in interpretation of the idea of strengthening national independence, introduction of new forms of outreach, assisting parent universities. They contribute to ensuring the freedom of conscience, enhancing legal literacy and culture of the population, as well as preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
The Mahalla Foundation, its field affiliates and citizens’ assemblies hold various cultural and educational events in labor and educational institutions, thus ensuring a stable moral and spiritual atmosphere, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Review contests help to catalyze the activity of citizens’ assemblies in local communities. ‘The Top Family’ review contest is a vivid example.
An interaction mechanism ‘family – mahalla – educational institution’ has been playing an essential role in the spiritual and moral education and effective training of the younger generation.
The mechanism implies a permanent interaction between parents, a local community and educational institutions (secondary schools, academic lyceums and vocational colleges) in the prevention, early detection and settlement of the issues that affect the upbringing and education of children.
A synergy of parents, community and educational institutions has been also effective in terms of monitoring the quality of teaching in the educational institutions, the level of student involvement in the learning process, the atmosphere in the family, including timely response to life situations that affect the overall development of children. High responsibility of parents, communities and educational institutions for the future of the youth has been also reflected in various forms of organization of their leisure with an eye to their interests.
Parent universities were established in all citizens’ self-government bodies in order to make the outreach more effective. Consisting of the venerable elders, they ensure a healthy way of life in families of the community, expand the legal, ethical, moral, psychological and physiological outlook of parents in upbringing of the young generation.
Protection from negative impact
The issue of reliable protection consciousness of young people from the negative impact of ‘mass culture’, all sorts of ideological and information attacks has been highly relevant in the age of globalization. It imposes a great responsibility on intellectuals of all the fields that are related to the upbringing and education of the younger generation.
There are many popular and distinctive methods and forms of upbringing a harmoniously developed young generation. Theoretical and practical methods of raising the effectivement of advocacy of the national idea and spiritual education are seen as most effective. The Republican Center of Spirituality (RCS) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Higher and Secondary Special Education, Public Education, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, Mahalla Charity Foundation, Public Youth Movement Kamolot and other partner organizations have been pursuing a system-based policy in this direction.
Spiritual, educational, sociological and legal advocacy groups under the RCS are represented by researchers, legal experts, psychologists, educators and economists. They carry out projects like ‘Spiritual Image’, ‘Advocates of Spirituality in Internet’, etc. They play an important role in the study of the moral environment in organizations, during sociological surveys, their permanent monitoring, development of proposals and recommendations for ensuring the stable spiritual and educational environment.
The RCS has remarkably improved the logistical capacity of its regional and municipal branches in recent years. They were provided with computers, political, scientific, educational, legal literature and fiction, print editions, posters, visual aids.
The RCS regularly publishes posters, books and brochures aimed at promoting spiritual and moral education of youth, protecting them from alien ideas, dangerous influence of ‘mass culture’, all sorts of harmful information.
A nongovernmental educational institution under the Republican Center of Spirituality is engaged in advancing skills, professional knowledge and experience of spirituality advocates. The classes are held with the use of up-to-date information and communication technologies, mentors organize sightseeing tours, trips to theaters, museums, galleries of art.
Lectures for senior students of secondary schools, vocational colleges and academic lyceums introduce them to the essence of ongoing reforms and the national youth policy. There are meetings and panel discussions on ‘Healthy and harmonious generation as a decisive force in our country’, ‘Modernity and inter-religious dialogue’, ‘Religious extremism and its consequences’, and others.
Scientists, psychologists, experienced teachers, lawyers and doctors raise awareness about the responsibility of parents for upbringing the mentally and morally healthy children.
RCS experts, partnered by workers of the Mahalla Charity Foundation have been assisting the commissions on the spiritual and educational issues under citizens’ assemblies. They provide practical and methodological assistance in the cultivation of kindness, compassion and respect for elders in young men and women, teach them how to respond to challenges. They promote the establishment of interest and sports clubs, correct and rational arrangement of young people’s leisure, conduct of spiritual and educational activities.
Enhancement of spirituality brings people to happiness and harmony. Therefore, the state and the public strive for providing the young people with good education, protecting them from immorality, bad taste and indifference.
… Spiritual needs are diverse in form, complicated and contradictory in content, they appear at the level of individuals and the entire nation. The more individuals with active life position and growing spiritual needs in the society, the higher the social progress rates.
The policy of harmonization of rational and emotional origins in the current conditions, the conformity of the public policy with the requirements of the morality, pursued by Uzbekistan, are key prerequisites for the creation of a prosperous future of Uzbekistan through raising the spiritual needs of citizens.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Tourism
National stand of Uzbekistan awards “MITT-2016” prize
The national stand of Uzbekistan represented at the 23rd International exhibition “MITT in 2016”, which is the main tourism event in Moscow, won the main prize in the nomination “Best presentation of tourist destination”.
The award was handed to the Deputy Chairman of “Uzbektourism” Temirhodjaev A. P. by “MITT-2016” Director Elizaveta Nazaryeva.
The nomination “Best presentation of tourist destination” is awarded to the exhibition stand that represents the travel destination in most clear way.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
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