The following is an excerpt from report by Uzbek state-owned Television First Channel on 31 August:

Dear compatriots! Dear guests!

Today, our multiethnic people are celebrating our motherland’s 17th anniversary with great enthusiasm and gladness.

I am extremely happy to sincerely congratulate you and all our people, whom you represent, on Independence Day - the greatest and the most favourite holiday for us.

[Applauds]

Dear friends!

Today, impartially assessing our path of development over the past years [of independence], it is certainly natural that we all feel proud of our great achievements and results, which are being recognized world-wide in our path of building a new life, by completely giving up the old ideological regime and ideas.

All large-scale work carried out after gaining our independence; our goals aimed at building a free, democratic and prosperous state and civil society; truly historical changes and life itself that have completely changed our country’s appearance and meaning of our life clearly prove that our national development strategy adopted 17 years ago was, indeed, the only true path.

Coping with a lot of challenges and overcoming difficulties, hardships along this very difficult and complicated path, we now see the results of our work in all fields of our life and in all regions of the country. These results have primarily been achieved thanks to our hard-working people’s strong will, steadfastness and selflessness.

Our achievements over the past five-seven years of our independent development path can particularly testify to this.

Our economic growth rate was 48 per cent in the past five years alone and over 8 per cent annually on average. The population’s real income doubled, GDP increased by 2.5 times per capita. These figures show that Uzbekistan is steadily developing.

Average salary increased by 1.5 times in 2007, and rises in salaries in 2008, God willing, will not be less than in 2007.

I think it would not be an exaggeration if we say that such positive changes, which others would like to have, are the practical evidence of policy aimed at implementing well thought-out, purposeful and consistent reforms, as well as developing our spiritual life.

[Passage omitted: the country pays special attention to young people]

Dear compatriots,

Today, summing up all great work carried out in our country, I think every one of us understands very well and realizes that at the same time, we need to work hard in order to achieve our great goals and to reach living standards that are second to none. We have every reason to achieve our great goals and to live with strong belief in the future.

First, hard challenges and difficulties have hardened our country, the people over the past period. Our country gained significant experience in overcoming all barriers and obstacles. We can say that we have built a strong foundation for our future.

Our ability and potential are markedly different from those we had in the first years of independence. Today our standing, importance, power have increased and new horizons and opportunities are opening up for our motherland.

Second, another important factor, which is increasing our belief in the future is that our goals and plans are clear and definite. Relying on our rich opportunities and abilities, these plans are primarily aimed at intensifying and gradually continuing the reforms that have already started and justified themselves, as well as achieving great goals, such as modernizing the country and steadily developing our economy, using leading international experience and achievements.

Third, an important condition and guarantee of ensuring our bright future is further developing all fields of our life, be it the spheres of policy or economy, social life or judicial and legal system, as well as boosting the population’s political and social activities, developing multiparty political system, liberalizing our society, increasing the prestige and influence of public and non-governmental organizations, in a word, ensuring transition from a strong state to a strong civil society. This issue is remaining to be the most important and topical task today.

Fourth, the main criterion for achieving great goals facing us is our people’s strong faith and belief, their gradually developing way of thinking, the fact that their attitude towards life, labour, property is changing, and the fact that they deeply realize their civic duty and connection to the fate of the fatherland, love, devotion to the country and people.

[Passage omitted: the country’s young generation is being educated in the spirit of national and universal values]

Fifth, today we consider as another important factor to live in harmony with the world community while implementing all our good hopes and aspirations, as well as vital plans; to further develop friendship and mutually beneficial relations with all our near and far neighbours; and to gain deserved prestige and trust in the international arena. We will not spare our efforts to expand all-round practical relations with our foreign partners who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us and expressed trust in our nation’s potential and future. In this regard, we consider as our priority task to develop relations that meet mutual interests, to serve for maintaining peace and stability in our region and the world as a whole; to contribute to the peaceful settlement of all conflicts; and, at the same time, to become more active.

Seizing the opportunity, let me express sincere wishes, on behalf of our people - on your behalf - to ambassadors of foreign countries who are attending today’s festivities, our esteemed guests, as well as all our foreign friends and partners, who are sharing our joy.

My dear and esteemed compatriots!

Seventeen years ago, we made a firm decision to build a free and prosperous life, without being dependent on anyone in the world. Therefore, we opted for the path of independence. We are determinedly going along this path, and we will never deviate from this path.

Today, standing in this rostrum I bow to our diligent and hospitable people, creators and builders of all achievements, who are steadily heading towards this high goal.

In this bright evening, embracing all of you, let me once again congratulate you on Independence Day and express all my sincere wishes. I wish all of you sound health, happiness, luck and prosperity to your families. May there be peace in our homeland, may our people be safe and may our sky be clear! May our independence be eternal!