President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated his fellow countrymen on the Day of Friendship of Peoples. This holiday has been celebrated in the country since 2021.
The congratulatory message said that one of the priority goals of the reforms in the country is to strengthen the atmosphere of interethnic harmony and tolerance in society.
“The tolerance that has taken hold in our society is widely recognized in the international arena. Today, representatives of more than 130 ethnicities, 16 faiths live in peace and friendship in the country. There are 157 national cultural centers and 38 friendship societies,” the text of the message says.
He noted that today the world was unstable: “Trust is being lost between states in the international arena. In such a difficult situation, life itself requires raising the work to a new level to strengthen the atmosphere of mutual respect, kindness and mercy, harmony and unity in the country, to protect young people from destructive ideas and trends alien to us”.
He added that Uzbekistan had accumulated extensive experience in managing a multinational and multicultural society, “which is of great interest in the world.”
“We will continue to focus on enhancing the role of non-governmental organizations, developing civil society institutions by strengthening guarantees of their rights, ensuring freedom of conscience for every citizen regardless of nationality, language, religion and social status. We will consistently continue the policy aimed at strengthening friendship and harmony between representatives of different nations and faiths living in the country”.
He voiced his confidence that the friendship festivals that would be held throughout the week throughout Uzbekistan will serve to strengthen the cohesion and unity of the people of the country, as well as peace and tranquility, interethnic harmony and religious tolerance throughout the region.
The message concluded with the wish: "May peace and tranquility always reign in our country, may the life of the multiethnical people of Uzbekistan be prosperous and happy!"
