Tuesday, 21 July 2009
A two-day international round table on the "Political and economic reforms in modern Uzbekistan: state and prospects" started in Tashkent on 20 July.
The dialogue has been organized by the Institute for Civil Society Studies, Center of Political Studies, Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan, OSCE Projects Coordinator in Uzbekistan, US National Democratic Institute and the European Institute of International Relations.
National experts and more than 30 foreign experts from the Great Britain, Germany, India, Iran, China, Kuwait, Pakistan, Russia, USA, Turkey, Ukraine, Japan, Central Asian countries gathered in Tashkent to discuss the course of political reforms in Uzbekistan, basic directions of modernization and democratic renewal of society, and issues of formation of the developed free market economy, realization of state social programs and Anti-Crisis Program, intended for 2009-2012.
Participants of the first plenary session of the forum "Political reforms: problems and basic directions of modernization and democratic renewal of society" in their statements and reports on bright examples opened prominent features and achievements of Uzbekistan in political sphere, democratization of national electoral system, essence and basic positions of social programs implemented in Uzbekistan.
Participants of the event emphasized especially the importance and vitality of the Uzbek model of cardinal reforming and the country modernization, five base principles which underlie the country's development.
Experts had common opinion that the scale reforms, carried out in Uzbekistan, gain more and more wide recognition in the international arena. The main thing is that results of the reforms begun since the first days of independence are finding practical embodiment in daily life of citizens, shown in positive change of their thinking.
Experts noted that such values as human being, his rights, freedoms and legitimate interests always were and are in the centre of democratic reforms in Uzbekistan, implemented concept of transition from the strong state to the strong civil society.
In the general opinion of experts, Uzbekistan has electoral system meeting the highest democratic requirements. The country has formed essentially new institutions and electoral mechanisms. The electoral legislation provides practical realization of a predominating constitutional principle - the principle of democracy.
Uzbekistan has also all necessary organizational-legal, material conditions for free, active participation of citizens, political parties in election processes, reliable guarantees of full realization of their electoral rights. Experts believe, on certain parameters the electoral legislation and election practice of Uzbekistan is better than the similar processes in many democratic countries of the world.
