Uzbek president proposes 2002 as Year of the Elderly

Uzbek Radio
December 6

Speaking at a ceremony on 7 December to mark Uzbek Constitution Day, which falls on 8 December, President Islam Karimov proposed that 2002 should be the Year of the Elderly in Uzbekistan.

"Dear friends, dear brothers, taking into account the centuries-old values of our people, in order to ensure that all aged people in our country enjoy deserved respect, I propose to declare the coming 2002 the Year of the Elderly," Karimov said.

"Our dear old folk have their own special place in our society today. At present there are 3,087,000 such respected people in Uzbekistan, and they are paid 28bn soms in pensions every month. It is especially exemplary that in addition to state support, various public organizations also give material and spiritual help to our elderly people and that sort of action is expanding," the president added.