Interethnic harmony and tolerance are the wealth of the country

For many centuries, tolerance flourished on the Great Silk Road, the heart of which was the territory of modern Uzbekistan, which served as a link between East and West. Since ancient times, representatives of different faiths have lived here peacefully. To this day, representatives of more than 130 nations and nationalities live and work successfully for the benefit of the Motherland in our country in conditions of full equality and mutual understanding. 

Regardless of nationality, all citizens of Uzbekistan enjoy equal rights and actively participate in the social, economic, political and cultural life of society. Naturally, such a high-quality condition has been achieved at the cost of considerable efforts. The consolidation in the Constitution of the provision "In the Republic of Uzbekistan all citizens have the same rights and freedoms, are equal before the law regardless of gender, race, nationality, language, religion, beliefs, social origin, social status" has created a political and legal basis for such achievements. 
It is also important that our State has shown a firm will to ensure respect for the language, traditions, customs and culture of various nations and nationalities, create the necessary conditions for their development, prohibit activities aimed at infringing on the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens, propagandizing social, national, racial and religious enmity.
The greatest asset of recent years is peace and stability, interethnic and civil harmony in our common home. Representatives of many nations and nationalities live in friendship and harmony in Uzbekistan. The Government has created all conditions for the preservation and development of national traditions and cultures of the peoples living here. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev pays great attention to the issues of strengthening interethnic harmony and religious tolerance in society. At the initiative of the Head of state, work in this direction has been brought to a qualitatively new level in recent years. The promotion of peace and stability in the state has become the most important factor of sustainable development and successful implementation of transformations in the political, socio-economic and humanitarian spheres, the growth of the country's authority in the international arena. 
A significant step in this direction was the Concept of the State policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of interethnic relations, as well as the "roadmap" for its implementation. These documents were approved by the relevant Presidential decree of November 15, 2019 and are aimed at preserving and developing the language, culture, customs and traditions of representatives of different nationalities and peoples living in our country. The concept is a unified system of views that define the goals, principles and basic mechanisms for the implementation of the state policy of the republic in the field of interethnic relations. 
It should also be noted that the New Uzbekistan ensures the constitutional right of every person to freedom of thought, speech and belief, to search, receive and disseminate information, which in turn has been recognized by the international community. After the election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the post of head of state, special attention was paid to the development of a strong civil society. The process of fundamental reforms carried out in the country has covered all spheres of the socio-political life of society. 
At the suggestion of the Leader of the republic, in order to ensure state policy to strengthen the atmosphere of interethnic harmony and religious tolerance in society, it was decided to hold the annual Peoples' Friendship Day in the country on July 30. This initiative was put forward taking into account the fact that, in accordance with the resolution of the UN General Assembly, this date is widely celebrated annually throughout the world as the International Day of Friendship. 
The main purpose of the celebration of the date is to strengthen and further develop solidarity, tolerance, interethnic harmony and friendship between peoples, nations, states, different layers and structures of society as a whole. Friendship, which our people have always cherished, is the good traditions of their ancestors and common goals that ensure peace. 
Today, the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan coordinates the activities of 156 national cultural centers representing nations and nationalities living in Uzbekistan and 38 friendship societies with foreign countries.  
Their work promotes peaceful coexistence of citizens, educating young people in the spirit of patriotism, love for the Motherland, respect and development of national traditions, protection of the rights of national, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities in the state.
In the V direction of the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026, tasks are outlined to further improve the system of state support for the NCC, implement the concept of state policy in the field of interethnic relations, create favorable conditions for young people of different nationalities, form awareness of their sense of civic duty, strengthen patriotism, increase the culture of interethnic communication based on tolerance. The document is also aimed at strengthening relations with compatriots living abroad, implementing a number of other relevant measures. 
Uzbekistan is the only republic in Central Asia that borders all the countries of the region. Any internal changes in the political and economic life of the state somehow affect the neighbors. And the first step towards the rapprochement of the Central Asian countries was made by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. 
In his speech at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September 2017 in New York, the leader of Uzbekistan paid great attention to the issues of interethnic harmony and tolerance and drew the attention of the world community to democratic processes in our society, large-scale reforms to protect human rights and work with youth, tasks to preserve religious tolerance, regional cooperation, as well as environmental protection. He placed special emphasis on the need to develop mutually beneficial ties between neighbors and consolidate the region, putting forward a proposal for the adoption of the resolution "Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region." It is noteworthy that this document was not only unanimously supported by all UN member states, but also adopted with the co-authorship of over 50 countries. This testifies to the high recognition by the international community of the relevance and timeliness of our President's initiative.
And another Resolution proposed by the leader of the republic, "Enlightenment and religious tolerance," emphasizes the important role of promoting enlightenment, harmony, human rights, tolerance and friendship, recognizes the importance of cooperation, mutual respect and mutual understanding in the name of strengthening security and peace on the planet.
The issues of preserving peace in the region were again voiced in the speech of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly:
"In recent years, Central Asia has been on the path of strengthening good neighborliness, stability, cooperation and development. Thanks to our joint efforts, Uzbekistan and all neighboring countries have managed to solve many problems related to state borders, transport corridors and water use. Mutual trade between the countries of the region has grown two and a half times, and the number of joint ventures has increased fivefold. Our region is becoming a center of economic development, a transport and communication bridge connecting East and West, North and South. And the interest in it is increasing. The openness of Central Asia to the whole world is becoming the most important condition for ensuring the security and sustainable development of the region." 
I would also like to note that we have become one of the first Central Asian countries to join the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Civil-political, economic, socio-cultural agreements and other human rights treaties have been signed (in general, Uzbekistan has joined more than 80 such agreements). 
The Republic closely cooperates with the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities. This institution plays an important role in maintaining peace and stability, ensuring the protection of human rights and interests. 
Prestigious international organizations, leaders of foreign countries and heads of well-known companies have recognized Uzbekistan's unique position in Central Asia, especially its ability to find emergency solutions in situations arising in the issue of achieving stability. The interethnic harmony and tolerance prevailing in our country are recognized at the world level, and the state's experience in the field of interethnic relations has been highly appreciated at prestigious international conferences.
It should be noted that the population of Uzbekistan puts not their personal well-being in the first place, but concern for the health and well-being of their family, relatives, loved ones and neighbors. This is the highest spiritual value. Our people have never put themselves above others, have shown due respect to all nations and representatives of other faiths. This feature of the mentality of the Uzbek people has been formed for many centuries, when representatives of different original cultures and civilizations lived on the ancient and fertile land of Uzbekistan, which contributed to the formation of a special mentality characterized by kindness, peacefulness, openness, breadth and generosity of soul.
After all, peace and tranquility, civil harmony, religious tolerance are a distinctive feature of modern Uzbekistan!

Rustambek Kurbanov.
Chairman of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan.