70!
Today is one of the most important days in Uzbekistan. Seventy years ago, in 1938, on this day a child was born in Uzbekistan, who later, begginning from 1989, would change the history of the country. Change…literally. Today is the seventy years birthday of the president of Uzbekistan Islam Abduganievich Karimov. Islam Karimov has been in the head of the Uzbek governement for 19 years and many things have changed in the country under his rule. The country became independent and underwent through the hard transition period. Today, Uzbekistan is a politically and economically strong country. It plays a crucial role not only in Central Asian region, but also in wider political and economic arena too. Of course, as in other post-Soviet countries, not all the changes in the country were positive. The country still has problems with implementing human rights. Child labor, prison tortures and repression of oppostion are major human rights violations. Freedom of speech is only on papers, but in reality the free voices are being constantly suppressed. The new Law on Media, which was adopted last year, puts even more harsher rules on media. I really hope that during his new term, which will last for seven years, Islam Karimov will pay more attention to these problems, as he promised in his last inauguration speech that he would serve for the happiness of the Uzbek nation.
on January 30th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
do u realy think that after almost 20 years of reign he will change his ideals and goals and start serving UZBn and its people???
hope, dear Mansurhon, u r realist and realize that your dreams can’t become true in the nearest future.
but i hope too that ONE day it’ll happen…with Karimov or without him…
on January 31st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I have a dream that one day my children will live in a society where people will not be judged by the “money they have” or “their close relations to a ruling circle”, but by the content of their caracter.
on February 4th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Well, the vicinity of 70 is indeed an beautiful age! Saddam, for instance, was hanged at 70, Ceaucesu was overthrown and then executed at 71, Milosevic died of heart failure at 66, …
Korotshe, there is hope for Uzbekistan! Allah biz menen.
on February 7th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
“Today, Uzbekistan is a politically and economically strong country. It plays a crucial role not only in Central Asian region, but also in wider political and economic arena too.” I think you’ve been watching too much Uzbek TV Mansurhon. Its only role in C Asia seems to be a negative one, blocking transport and investment initiatives and any hope of regional integration. Politically it is weak, an international pariah state, that relies on enormous repression to keep Karimov in power, and economically, well, its a joke isn’t it? 20 years of Karimov have been a disaster for Uzbekistan.