The president stressed that "Russia is a priority partner for Uzbekistan." "Since the first days of our independence, we have seen Russia as an equal and at the same time powerful partner," he added. The president expressed his approval of the actions of Russian politicians, who "are wise enough to harmonize these two concepts: not to abuse power, but advocate more equal relations and mutual respect."

"There should be democratic principles in our relations and this being the case, there will be nothing to prevent us from developing and strengthening our relations," Karimov said.

"We are aware and respect the Russia's positions and interests in Central Asia. We have always recognized them and will continue recognizing them," he said. The president noted that "these interests should be based on the fact that we are no longer a former union republic. Old stereotypes should not affect politics."

Karimov commented on the adoption of new state symbols in Russia. In particular, he said that "this was essentially Russia's internal affair." Every nation "chooses its state symbols itself," the president said.

The president noted that Tashkent is keeping a close watch on the developments in Russia. "We are not indifferent to what path Russian is going to take in the 21st century, what goals it sets itself and what kind of society it is going to build. Many things depend on this," he said.

Karimov said he believes that "one cannot build a new society with old symbols," and said that the symbols adopted by Russia symbolize the tzarist autocracy and a totalitarian system.

The Uzbek president said he would like Russia's people to enter the 21st century "with pride for their great country and their nation which has gone through many troubles". He said he was convinced that "such a nation will remain great and will push to achieve the goals it sets itself in the 21st century."

Top

According to Mylnikov, a total number of militants is 4,000, including 350 Chechens. "Most of them are stationed in Afghanistan," Gen Mylnikov said. In his opinion, they will operate in Central Asia. "We have information about their involvement in armed conflicts in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan," he continued.

Many militants remained in those countries for the winter, Mylnikov said, and "when the weather gets warmer and it is possible to use mountain passes, they plan to resume combat operations in these countries."

Top

referendum will be held in Uzbekistan to determine whether it is necessary to create a professional parliament in the republic, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said during an interval in the work of the parliament in Tashkent on Thursday [14 December].

The president said there are plans to create a two-chamber parliament in the republic. He noted that four years remain until the next parliamentary elections, and "before this time we should hold a referendum on changes to the parliamentary system and make the corresponding changes to the constitution".

The creation of a two-chamber parliament will make the legislative work more effective, the president said. "Deputies should not see their work in parliament as secondary or parallel. It should be the main work of the lower chamber," he said. In the upper chamber, all the regions of the republic should be represented, he said.

The experience of developed states will be used to create a professional parliament, the president said. "We do not call the work of the current parliament into question," Karimov said. "It is functioning and will finish working at the moment established by law," the president said.

Top

he Uzbek parliament passed the draft budget 2001 at a session on Thursday, Uzbek TV reported.

"Over 9 per cent of the budget's expenditure part will be allocated for reforms in the healthcare system, and about 30 per cent for the implementation of a programme of training specialists, providing Regions with drinking water and gas," the TV said.

The parliament also approved the draft law on the budget system, the draft law on courts, the draft law on introducing amendments and addenda to the criminal, economic and civil proceedings codes, the draft new law on the prosecutor's office and the draft law on the public debate of draft laws, the TV said.

Top

peaking in parliament on Thursday, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan did not want to be involved in military conflicts and would not allow hostilities on its borders. He said, however, that the country had to realize the existing threats, which, he said, came from those "envying Uzbekistan's progress towards its bright future". He also spoke about the need to step up patriotic education in the country. The following is excerpt from Uzbek radio report:

President Karimov: "Dear friends. Esteemed brothers. Above all, we should express our thanks to the Almighty that we are here and have met each other again.

"Who are we? With what results are we meeting the 21st century? In order to answer these questions we should know our strengths and power, what will we rely on, stepping into a new century, what should be the main basis of our power, strength and good deeds before entering the 21st century. Not only the people in this hall, but all our people should think about this. It has a great meaning.

"Our underground and other riches is one thing, the power of our armed forces is another thing. However, if you ask me what is our greatest strength now, I would say that it is people's inner world, people's confidence. This is the idea which unites us. We have understood who we are, and we are able to set and reach our goals. Along with the world's developing countries we have laid foundations of a civil society.

"We have clearly set our goals. They are clear to each person living in this country, irrespective of his ethnic origin and religion. Our actions are clear and, be it a party, a movement or other, these goals unite all of them. Who will be against this? No-one has the right to be against this. Because we are now not in the middle ages, we are on the threshold of the 21st century, a century of civilization, a century of common to all mankind riches and values. This is all in our hearts. All the people in the world live with this. I repeat it once again, it is not only us who think about this, millions of people in the world think about this.

"A question arises here, who might prevent us to achieve our goals? What obstacles and diseases might stop us and trouble us? We should say this openly. We have spoken a lot about this, in this hall, in our speeches, articles, and our people understand it well.

"The path that we have chosen is the construction of a democratic state, laying foundations of a civil society, and living together with the world's developed countries, achieving common to mankind goals and implement them into our lives. Mankind is moving forward and there is no way back. This will not happen.

"What will impede us? External and internal threats. We can talk about this issue a lot, but I would like to repeat that those forces abroad which envy us, which envy Uzbekistan's progress towards its bright future, they are impeding our free life. And we once again should realize these threats, the possibility of such threats. We should teach our children at schools beginning from the first year, we should explain all this to our children. We should speak not only about external threats, but about internal threats as well.

"As a president, I would like to say from this tribune, we do not want to wage war with anyone, we do not want any clashes on our borders and we will not allow this. We should find a common language with our nearest and other neighbours, our partners, proceeding from our national goals, the interests of our state, and, above all, our people's purposes and interests.

"The whole world is paying attention to the construction of colleges and specialized schools. I think that we have just started this work. Give us another five or six, or maximum seven years. If the children studying at these colleges and specialized schools become highly qualified specialists, then I will need nothing more, and then you can see me off on retirement. Am I right, or do you not support me.

"When we speak about the 21st century, we should mean that we should be capable of doing anything, above all, we should have our own strength and power."

Top

zbek President Islam Karimov has said a referendum will be held in the republic to decide whether to create a professional, two-chamber parliament. Speaking to journalists during an interval in the parliament sitting on 14 December, President Karimov also said that the changes in the judicial system envisaged in the draft law on courts would turn courts into a means of protecting the public instead of being merely punitive institutions. Commenting on the 2001 budget, Islam Karimov said the planned deficit of 2.5 per cent of GDP should not lead to inflation, but stressed that it should not be allowed to go any higher. Wages and pensions will be increased in 2001, Karimov said, though he could not say by how much. The following are excerpts from the report by Uzbek radio on 14 December:

It is customary for the president to give an interview to representatives of local and foreign media at every session of the Supreme Assembly. This time during the interview most questions and answers were connected with the work of parliament. They related to professional parliamentarianism and the need to switch to a two-chamber parliament like those of developed countries. If this happens then certain amendments will naturally be introduced to the current legislative system. Speaking about other measures to be taken in this sector our president said the following:

President Karimov: "I think that we should hold a referendum anyway, even if our voters in the provinces are in favour of this change. That is, in favour of introducing amendments to the constitutional system - [changes tack] And if we want to be a law-governed state in line with the law we should officially hold a referendum even if there is no doubt [that voters will support the changes] and should ask our voters if they are happy with this or not. If they are, then they are aware of the date for holding the next elections. That is the year 2004. We still have four years ahead. And I think after that, on the basis of the referendum, amendments will be introduced into the constitution and the laws needed for this will be approved. That is, everything will be done on a legal footing."

The president was also asked about the agenda in order to find out his direct opinion about this. In particular, to find out the significance of the results expected from the approval of the draft law on the courts, which is aimed at reforming the republic's court and judicial systems? The president expressed the following opinion on this issue.

President Karimov: "I think that courts should enter the lives of people living in this country not only as a punitive institution but, on the contrary, the institution of the courts should enter people's lives first of all as a protector. If we reach this then I will not need anything. I think that we can achieve many things.

"One more thing, of course, is that we are officially learning from the developed countries, for instance, from the European countries and the US judicial system. We are studying many issues thoroughly. For instance, issues connected with the appointment and subordination of courts and the vertical hierarchy of courts, that is ways of addressing them, and contact between judicial institutions. I think that if we compare our system of courts with theirs, we have got nowhere.

The most important issue on the agenda of the session is the state budget for the year 2001. This document concerns the life of every citizen. Thus every macroeconomic indicator in the document is calculated only by the trend towards people's welfare and social protection. Journalists put to the president questions connected with this as well. The president gave the following answer.

President Karimov: "When drawing up its budget, any state first of all sets out the strategic issues. For instance, the Ministry of Finance should work on this and above all it should review all macroeconomic] indicators. These macroeconomic] indicators, that is, strategic indicators, should be relevant to each other and be linked with each other in order to be able to firmly maintain our economy. While considering these issues [one should take into account] the deficit, the extent of lack of correspondence between revenue and expenditure. These figures mean that if the budget deficit is too high, for instance, if it exceeds 3 per cent of GDP, then this may lead to big retrogressions.

"We think that [next year's] budget deficit, which is set at about 2.5 per cent, will not lead to inflation, that is to high prices in our market. But if exceeds this level then it will have a considerable negative impact. The issue of increasing social expenditure is a priority for us, that is, people's social conditions. Say, people's pensions and wages today and their ability to meet the demands of life, all this proceeds from policy. From this point of view our indicators set [in the budget for 2001] are first of all aimed at tackling these social issues, that is to increase people's wages and pensions. I cannot say now how much they will be increased but there will be a substantial increase. Journalists may tell our people about this with confidence, but we need only one thing.

"I have just told you about revenue and expenditure and how to avoid a deficit. The more money comes in to the treasury, the more taxes we collect, then the more opportunity we will have to render more aid to the social sector without crossing the deficit threshold.

Top