Speaking at the recent government session in Tashkent President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed that he puts the issues of good governance, freedom of media and rule of law at a central point of the reform process which is underway in the country.
“We are not yesterday’s leaders. No one has the right to work today as yesterday. Non-transparency, opacity, corruption, nepotism will not help the work and cannot be tolerated”, President Mirziyoyev warned Uzbek officials.
He stressed that the reform process under the new Development Strategy of Uzbekistan is irreversible and the democracy, rule of law, openness and people’s interests are the topmost priorities.
President also highlighted the importance of Mass Media in the reform process. As it was noted that several years back the government officials were not accessible to journalists and ordinary people, but today everything has changed and the officials also must reform themselves.
“The government officials, heads of state bodies are now in the era of dialogue with people. Today mass media is raising many questions. This is also a requirement of the present time. If we do not pay special attention to these questions together with the media, there will be no result of reforms”, the President said.
According to Mirziyoyev if any government official, any governor at regional and local levels doesn’t serve and respect people such an official will be immediately removed. “As a leader of the country, I will take necessary measures, no matter how difficult it would be. Because we all must meet the demands of our people. We must meet people directly”, he warned officials.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected as President of Uzbekistan in December 2016. One of the first steps he has taken was to adopt in February 2017 the new national Development Strategy of Uzbekistan. The Strategy puts as top priorities the issues of good governance, rule of law, freedom of Mass Media, independence of judges among other tasks.
For the past 3 years under the new policy of President Mirziyoyev Uzbekistan has entered into the truly democratic reforms, the country has opened to the world, society is becoming more and more dynamic with vibrant tv-channels, newspapers and social media – something that cannot be imagined before he came to power.
“It is not the people who should serve the government bodies but it is government bodies that must serve people” – it is the main principle of the current reforms in Uzbekistan under the President Mirziyoyev.