10/01/11 - President congratulates nation with New Year

Дата публикации: Jan 15, 2012 10:52:27 AM

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov congratulated the people of the country with the New Year, expressing his sincere respect and kindest wishes.

Seeing off the year 2010, we remember certain pages of the past, including good and difficult moments, our concerns, realize the value of our life and thank for everything given to us, the head of the state said.

“In our swiftly changing time, when in the world and in our region instability, confrontations and conflicts continue, every person living on this land deeper realizes what invaluable richness peace and calmness in our homes are, and how important it is to protect and strengthen the peace and mutual respect among people, international and inter-religious consent reigning in our country.

“I think all of us perfectly understand that everything that comes to our homes, everything achieved by our country over the past year – all of this is given, in the first place, thanks to self-sacrificing and tireless work of everyone on his or her workplace: in agriculture, in industry, in the social sector, in short, everywhere our people work,” the President stressed.

“I am convinced that despite large, sometimes huge difficulties and tests that we had to face, the year 2010 was for our country successful and fruitful in many aspects,” Islam Karimov continued.

One of the evidences of this is the fact that the country’s economy grew by 8.5% last year, when the global financial and economic crisis was still affecting the world, and the state budget was implemented with a 0.3% surplus to the GDP.

“Most importantly, the 23.5% increase of the real incomes of the population in the past year became the evidence of the growing welfare of our people; salaries, pensions, stipends and social allowances increased by 32%,” the President noted.

In 2010, which was proclaimed the Year of Harmoniously Developed Generation, huge work has been carried out to create all required conditions for upbringing our children, increasing their intellectual, spiritual and moral potential, to achieve the noble goal of raising independently thinking, thoughtful generation of young people, able to take on the responsibility for the country’s future, the President said.

“Summing up the results of the past year, on this wonderful holiday evening, I consider it my duty to express to all of you, my dear compatriots, regardless of your nationality, language and belief, the words of sincere gratitude for your honest and conscientious work, for everything you do for the well-being of our people, for the flourishing of our common home which bears a glorious name of Uzbekistan,” Islam Karimov said.

He further expressed confidence that the year 2011, proclaimed the Year of Small Business and Private Entrepreneurship, will become a new important stage in the further progress of the state and society.

“In the new year, it is planned to make everything possible to ensure stable growth rates of our economy, which should not be lower than in the past year, for its modernization, technical and technological renovation, to continue the step-by-step policy to increase the living level and welfare of the country’s population,” the head of the state continued.

“It is enough to say that in 2011 almost 60% of the state budget expenditures will be directed at development of the social sphere, funds used for development of healthcare, education and culture will significantly increase, while the salaries, pensions, allowances and stipends will increase by minimum 25%.”

At the same time, we understand that the most important and maybe the only condition to implement the tasks set for 2011 and longer perspective is the determined continuation of our policy of reforms to renew and modernize the country and to build a prosperous democratic state and civil society, the President emphasized.

“Only then can we reach these goals, if we are able to mobilize all of our resources, our possibilities, the huge potential of the country created over all these years, and most importantly if these tasks become the meaning and the purpose of life of each of us, living on this blessed land.

“I believe all of this, as the past years have shown, is quite realizable, we can do all of this,” Islam Karimov said.

“May the new year bring peace and prosperity, happiness and much joy in every home, in every family! May peace and calmness reign in our homes and on our blessed land, and the clear sky above our Motherland!” the country’s leader concluded.

Uza