The ICC’s new, permanent premises are located at Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK, The Hague, the Netherlands © Simon Bosch Photography. The ICC has moved to its permanent premises Today, 14 December 2015, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has finalised its move into its new, permanent premises, located at Oude Waalsdorperweg 10, 2597 AK, The Hague, the Netherlands. The ICC required a functional purpose-built premises to effectively fulfil its mandate in the fight against impunity for perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. ”As a permanent institution, the ICC now has a permanent home. It offers essential features for the court to work more efficiently, provide protection for witnesses and victims, and ensure fair and transparent proceedings. As such, the new, purpose-built premises will greatly assist us in our mandate of providing justice to victims and helping to establish accountability for – and thus helping to prevent – the most serious international crimes”, said ICC President Judge Silvia Férnandez. The design of the building reflects the transparency of the institution and its innovativeness. It combines striking architecture with stringent security measures, while showcasing best practices in sustainability and respect for nature, within the natural dune landscape between The Hague and the North Sea. As part of The Hague’s International Zone, it is near Peace Palace, Europol, ICTY, OPCW and other international organisations. The host state, the Netherlands, made the site available free of charge. The building complex consists of six towers that are connected on the ground and first floors and offer over 1,200 workplaces. The largest tower, the Court Tower, accommodates three courtrooms and the media centre. The public area on the ground floor will welcome visitors to the public galleries of the Courtrooms as well as a visitor centre and café. Since its opening on 1 July 2002, the ICC was temporarily located in two buildings on the other side of The Hague. In December 2007, the Assembly of States Parties decided that the ICC should be provided with newly built permanent premises. In 2010, following an international competition, the Danish firm schmidt hammer lassen was selected to design the new premises and in October 2012 Courtys, a consortium of the VolkerWessels subsidiaries Visser & Smit Bouw and Boele & van Eesteren, was chosen for the realisation. Construction work started on 16 April 2013. The project has been funded by States Parties, and its total cost, including the move, is around 204 million euros.

Ambassador Piragibe Tarragô with the convention document – Picture by hcch.net The Federative Republic of Brazil as represented in The Hague by its ambassador to The Netherlands, HE Sr. Piragibe Dos Santos Tarragô deposited on December 2th its instrument of accession to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (so-called “Apostille Convention”). Following the usual procedural steps, the Convention shall enter into force for Brazil on 14 August 2016, making it the 111th Contracting State to the Convention.

By H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the Solemn Meeting dedicated to the 23rd Anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Today there is no need to speak about the enormous and key role, which the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted on December 8, 1992 plays in our life. The Main Law of the country declared a complete rejection of command and administrative, distributive and totalitarian system built on the communist ideology, and defined the most important principles, objectives, tasks and norms of the state and society new for us. Indeed, Uzbekistan, which was in the former Soviet Union one of the most backward republics with low economic potential and living standards of the population and raw materials’ source which supplied mainly cotton, within historically short period of time became a modern state with a steady developing multisectoral economy. And this is an objective reality raising admiration among many leading international analysts and experts. Our Constitution stands as a legal and legislative foundation of building an independent and sovereign democratic state, asserting a priority of private ownership in the multisectoral market economy and ensuring guarantees of its protection, as well as forming a civil society in the country where the human interests, rights and freedoms are becoming the highest value. The Constitution and legislation based on it, as well as the Concept of further deepening democratic reforms and forming civil society in the country of 2010, the Constitutional amendments of 2011 and 2014 were the basis of the deeply thought-out and long-term program of reforms, democratization and liberalization of our society, radical structural transformations and modernization of the country recognized in the world as the «Uzbek model» of development, which without any exaggeration served as a powerful foundation of establishing a modern, dynamically and steadily developing state. Despite the enormous trials, problems and hardships observed today throughout the world, the ongoing global financial and economic crisis, sharp decline of demand for ready-made commodities and raw material resources, the stable and steady growth rates of economy are being ensured in our country. I will make some examples. Among few countries in the world in Uzbekistan during the years of independent development the economy grew almost 6 times and the real incomes per capita grew more than 9 times. During the last 11 years, including the current 2015, the GDP growth rates steadily remain at the level of more than 8 percent, the balance of macroeconomic indices, stable surplus of State budget and balance of payments, growth of exports and official reserves are provided, and public external debt does not exceed 18,5 percent of GDP. This year about 16 billion dollars in equivalent are invested in our economy, and this makes up about 23,3 percent of the total volume of main funds. During the last 5 years in total about 67 billion dollars were channeled to the economy and more than 21 percent of them are the foreign investments. As a result, the look of our country, towns and villages is unrecognizably changing; the industry is developing with advanced rates and its structure is being radically renewed; the hi-tech modern enterprises are being set up; the production is being modernized and diversified; the competitiveness of our economy is growing. Today we have the right to be proud of the latest, largest and unique industrial sites being newly commissioned in Uzbekistan. In this respect, I would like to specially emphasize that the Ustyurt Gas and Chemical Complex worth over 4 billion dollars at the Surgil deposit is being built; the production of powertrains is set up jointly with GM company; the new complex to produce trucks and buses is established with participation of MAN company in Samarkand region; the buses are produced with Japanese Isuzu company; the production of Damas and Orlando cars is developed at the Khorezm Automobile Production Association Ltd. Along with this, there are also the construction of the cement plant to produce 760 thousand tons of Portland cement or 350 thousand tons of white cement in Jizzakh region; the electrification of railways and launching of high-speed passenger connection «Tashkent-Samarkand» and «Tashkent-Karshi» with procurement of the Talgo-250 high-speed passenger trains and other our successes and achievements, which undoubtedly, fill our hearts with pride and satisfaction. Thanks to commissioning the new and modernizing the functioning facilities, advanced development of small business and private entrepreneurship about 5 million new jobs were created during the last 5 years alone and this became a big practical step in addressing this important issue for us. While speaking about decisive factors of the broad-scale reforms carried out in the country, above all, one should underscore the radical changes in the mentality and way of thinking of our people, their attitude to the events taking place around them, growing feeling of involvement in them, increasing political activeness and enhancing civic stand. In this regard, the timely adoption 18 years ago of the National program for cadres training and the National program of development of school education, introduction of an absolutely new system to the sphere of education and upbringing free of dogmas and stereotypes of the past and raising a keen interest in the whole world, became a truly historical event. As a result, we have achieved the following: today the new generation with an independent thinking and meeting the modern requirements is being formed; the youth able to assume the responsibility for the future and fate of our Motherland enters the arena. We have all grounds to assert that 2016 and the following years will become yet more important stage in further deepening and raising efficiency of the ongoing reforms. We are speaking about implementation of the deep and quality structural transformations in the economy; advanced development of private ownership and entrepreneurship and comprehensive protection of their interests; establishing new corporate organizations, when foreign partners become an essential shareholder; reduction of the share of state in the country’s economy; as well as broader attraction of foreign investments and creation of the necessary conditions and preferences for these purposes. The principal novelty and mandatory accomplishment of all of these tasks make up the main essence of the new stage of reforms and renewal of the country. It should be noted that our main task in this direction is to take the reforms that we started to their logical end, complete rejection of the old and obsolete methods of management. We should say that today we attribute a special attention to these issues. As a matter of confirmation we can mention the International Investment Forum held on November 5-6 in Tashkent. This forum has clearly demonstrated the growing confidence of foreign investors in reforms implemented in Uzbekistan. More than 560 representatives of the high-profile firms and companies from 33 developed countries and heads of the leading international financial institutions took part in the forum. On its outcomes, the substantial package of investment agreements with total amount of more than 12 billion dollars was signed. I wish we do not forget one very truth. The process of reforms and democratization of all spheres of life of our country is a not a one-time or instant task. This is an uninterruptedly continuous process which puts as its final objective the implementation of all principles and norms of the Constitution. This is the process which serves for further flourishing of our country, consolidating its freedom and independence. Today we are building a democratic state and civil society which is not inferior to anyone. Taking this into consideration, I believe it is expedient to discuss with you how the principle of supremacy of law and observance of legality is put into practice. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most important principles of our Constitution, and one of the five principles of the «Uzbek model» of development and building a new society. It is an open secret that only in the conditions of law-governed state the democratic order is achieved and sustained, the democratic institutions and values develop, the human rights and freedoms are ensured in practice, and most importantly, his legal and social protection is provided. In the long run, we are speaking not only about unconditional ensuring the implementation of the adopted laws and legislative norms. While adopting the legislative acts we should not confine ourselves only to defining their general principles and mechanisms. First of all, this must ensure our advancement towards the goals and tasks which we set before ourselves. It should be noted that in many cases we «leave until later» further detailing the laws which stipulate the general principles and mechanisms of legal regulation. All of this leads to the situation when many issues in the sphere of political and economic development, deepening market reforms are not provided with necessary and elementary normative and legal acts. In this respect, the most important task of Oliy Majlis, government and other subjects of legislative initiative is to raise the level of law drafting to such a level of detail so that they really regulate the broad sphere of concrete relations, so that each subject of these legal relations knows what place it occupies in them, and so that it is guided by the requirements of law in its activity. And what is especially important, it is necessary to increase the responsibility of all structures and, above all, the officials for timely informing the executors about the newly adopted laws and ensuring efficient control over their implementation. Along with this, the concrete types of punishment and measures of legal reaction must be envisaged for each concrete fact of non-implementation of law. The adoption and implementation of a special legislative act, which clearly regulates the procedure of communicating the adopted normative and legal acts to executors, and what is especially important, ensures the broad awareness of population about the objectives and content of the passed laws, would promote observance of law and order in the country. Yet another most important task is to establish an effective system of prognosis and planning the lawmaking activity. This would allow us not to lose our main guidelines and not lose touch with real life, clearly define what laws we have to adopt to ensure not only tackling the concrete tasks in the sphere of state governance and economic development, but also consistent achievement of our main goal, i.e. creation of a law-governed and democratic state. Certainly, resolving this task requires both increasing the efficacy and quality of lawmaking, and radical improvement of principles and organization of control over implementation of the passed laws. Today much is being done in this direction, but the time itself, and new constitutional conditions demand the organization and accomplishment of this work on the legal and legislative basis which is comprehensively elaborated in details. In many respects, the soonest adoption of laws «On parliamentary control» and «On public control» must facilitate addressing this task. The Constitution precisely defines that our main goal is to build not only democratic and law-governed state, but also a just society. I believe I will express a common opinion that this proceeds from a clear understanding of a simple truth which has settled in our life – our people can endure any hardships, but will not tolerate injustice. Our Constitution, unlike the old Soviet Constitution, fixed the priority of human rights, interests and freedoms over the state interests, defined as its essence the creation of decent living conditions for people, and declared the principles of social justice as a foundation of all directions of our legislation. The great thinkers of the ancient world used to note: «What is lawful that is fair». By these words they asserted that it is law that stands as a source and criterion of justice. And vice versa, if law is not implemented, when one thing is written in law, but everything is different in real life, people lose any faith in justice and democratic norms stipulated in our Constitution and laws. This is obvious for everyone. Let us have a look at our state of affairs in this sphere, I mean the sphere of ensuring legality and supremacy of law. To what extent this principle has become the foundation and cornerstone of our life, public and state construction? First of all, has it become a basis and essence of activity of the Ministry of Interior and its territorial divisions, public prosecution, judicial, law-enforcement and supervisory bodies? In order to find answers to these questions and objectively analyze the real state of affairs, it is worth comparing the situation in Uzbekistan and other countries in this sphere, and then much will become clear. For this purpose, it would be expedient to study the materials of the research on Law and Order Index undertaken in 2015 by the American Institute of Public Opinion – the Gallup Institute, which enjoys a big international respect. This year the well-known organization interviewed more than 142 thousand adults in 141 countries of the world. The participants were asked three questions. The first question: «Do you have confidence in the local police in the city or area you live?» The second question: «Do you feel safe walking along at night in the city or area you live?» And the third question: «Do you or other members of your family have had money or property stolen within the last 12 months?» On the basis of these questions, there was a task to assess the people’s sense of personal security and social mood in the countries, where the polling was carried out. I would like to note with a special satisfaction that as a result of this polling Uzbekistan took the second place in the rating among 141 countries. Without any doubt, all of us are filled with pride by the fact that we have achieved a very high level in such an important issue as preserving peace and tranquility in the country and that our consistent work in this direction acquired a broad recognition in the world. It is extremely important to us to strengthen the atmosphere of peace and well-being in our society, and most importantly, our people’s sense of satisfaction with life and their confidence in future. It should be underscored that this question will always be in the focus of our attention in the days to come. It is an open secret that unfortunately, and we should admit this, in our daily life we still often face such facts as non-observance and gross violation in practice of the norms and provisions of legislation, principle of fairness, as well as negligent attitude of the officers of law-enforcement and supervisory bodies to their duties, which leads to illegal actions. This is the reality and we cannot ignore it. I think it will be appropriate to make some examples. The selective analysis shows that from about 500 complaints on the actions of officials of law-enforcement and controlling bodies which were filed by the citizens during the nine months of this year each fifth complaint has referred to unlawful actions of the officers of interior bodies. From the total number of applications received by the bodies of justice through «hotlines» 96 percent was satisfied and 4 percent of applications were denied. What do these data speak about? This speaks for the fact that the people, who filed complaints, had all grounds to be unsatisfied with the decisions of certain state bodies. What do people write in their complaints? The analysis shows that they complain about the unlawful decisions taken by law-enforcement bodies, rude treatment on the part of their officials, incomplete, poor quality and late consideration of people’s applications by them. The citizens point to the facts of gross violations of procedural legislation by investigating bodies in conducting investigative actions. The entrepreneurs continue noting that, despite adoption of a whole number of legislative acts aimed at preventing arbitrary inspections, such facts and other violations still happen. All these and other examples testify that we still have to do much so that the officers of law-enforcement bodies clearly comprehend: their principal task is, first of all, to protect the rights and interests of citizens, ensure supremacy of law and unconditional observance of requirements stipulated in the legislative acts and norms. Noting such facts, one involuntarily asks the question: to what extent and how effectively the office of the Prosecutor General accomplishes the functions entrusted to it by the Constitution «on supervising the strict and uniform observance of laws in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan» (Article 118). According to the available information, during 9 months of 2015 the Prosecutor General’s Office received 426 complaints of citizens regarding the officers of public prosecutor’s office. On the results of consideration of these complaints, the disciplinary proceedings were instituted against 45 officers, 22 officers were relieved from their positions and 33 officers were dismissed from the public prosecution bodies. It goes without saying that these figures and such a state of affairs cannot satisfy us. In this respect, it is necessary for the Senate of Oliy Majlis in a short period of time to consider the issues related to enhancing control and legality of the activity of a public prosecution office itself. It cannot also be considered as normal the state of affairs when up to date we don’t have the law which would regulate the activity of interior and law-enforcement bodies. It is necessary to clarify and introduce amendments to their status, forms and methods of their work, and in the first instance, in terms of ensuring supremacy of law, reliable protection of rights and freedoms of citizens. One should agree with the fact that during the past years we have accomplished the enormous work both on its scale and depth in the sphere of reforming the judicial and legal system. For over the last years we have adopted the laws «On normative and legal acts» in new wording, «On operational investigation and search activities», «On introducing amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan with respect to further reforming judicial and legal system», and number of other acts of legislation. In accordance with these acts of legislation, we have accomplished the measures to reinforce the judicial review over observance of procedural rights of citizens at the pretrial phase of criminal process. The sphere of application of such a democratic institution as Habeas Corps was extended. The measures adopted to improve the structure, organizational bases of activity of general jurisdiction courts, enhance their cadres potential and strengthen social protection of courts’ personnel were very important. The new parliament has already passed a number of important laws aimed at further democratization and liberalization of the judicial and legal sphere. In accordance with the amendments to the national legislation, the electronic circulation of documents was introduced at the civil justice court proceedings. This is an important factor to raise efficiency and immediacy of consideration of hundreds of thousands of cases filed annually at the civil justice and commercial courts. The systemic measures are being accomplished to further develop civil society institutions, including the citizens’ self-governance bodies, non-state non-profit organizations, free and independent mass media. According to the amendments introduced to the Article 32 of the Main Law, the constitutional status was granted to the institute of public control over the activity of state bodies as the most important element of democracy. The laws «On social partnership», «On openness of activity of bodies of state power and governance» and number of other acts of legislation adopted in the framework of this constitutional amendment marked a qualitatively new stage of development of civil society, enhancement of the role of civil institutions and mass media in tackling the vital tasks of social and economic development of the country, raising the level and quality of living standards of population, protection of social and labor rights of citizens. The certain laws and decrees of President adopted during the last years are very important in terms of strengthening the legislative foundation, which gives the broad opportunity for structural transformations, advanced development of private ownership and private entrepreneurship, and establishing the favorable business climate for these purposes. These documents have reinforced the guarantees of free development of private ownership, protection of private entrepreneurs from arbitrary interference of state bodies, including the law-enforcement and supervisory bodies, into their economic activity. The provisions of these laws and Presidential decrees were the continuation of the process of liberalization of administrative and criminal legislation which regulates entrepreneurial activity. I would like to specially emphasize the importance of the Law «On introduction of amendments and additions to the certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan aimed at further strengthening of reliable protection of private ownership, entities of entrepreneurship, and lifting barriers for their accelerated development». In accordance with this law, the amendments and additions were introduced to over 40 normative and legal acts related to practically all aspects of activity of entrepreneurship entities. Undoubtedly, extending and raising efficiency of such measures, which open up the new opportunities for private owners, representatives of small business and entrepreneurs, are among our most urgent tasks. All of us should admit that one of the most important conditions of full-fledged ensuring legality and supremacy of law in the society are upbringing, forming in people the respect to law, knowledge about laws, high legal awareness and legal culture. We should clearly understand that if we put forward as our main goal gaining a commendable place among democratic and developed states, then we don’t have a right to forget one exclusively important truth. Our choice of a democratic path of development demands, above all, changing consciousness and way of thinking of our people, rejection of remnants and stereotypes of the old totalitarian system not only in words, but also in practice and in our daily life. Certainly, this is not an easy work which can be done overnight, – it requires time to accomplish it, and every man, who dreams to build a new life in our country, must strive wholeheartedly for this. In the first instance, this objective must find its firm place in his consciousness and mentality. For these purposes we ought to raise the legal education and upbringing in the country to a new level, and radically upgrade its quality. The implementation of the vast tasks that we have ahead, further deepening and taking the broad-scale reforms to their logical end have never ever been an easy job for us, and today this is a big trial. Nevertheless, I am firmly convinced that the chance of building a free democratic state and prosperous society, which does not depend on anyone, is given once in many centuries. And to miss such a historical chance would be a betrayal of not only current, but also the future generations. On behalf of our people, I want to assure: we will never ever allow this and we will definitely reach our noble goals. Dear compatriots! All of us are well aware that one year ago at this magnificent hall we consulted with you, my dears, and announced 2015 as the «Year of Attention and Care for the Elder Generation». The main purpose of our decision was to pay esteem and respect to the representatives of elder generation, who made a commendable contribution to achieve the present prosperous life, raise the spirit and encourage our dear veterans, enhance the efficiency of our work on creating additional conveniences for them. We had set such very important tasks before ourselves. Today, taking this opportunity, I believe it is necessary to inform you, my dears, briefly report about the outcomes of our work aimed at such a noble cause. In this regard, above all, I believe that adoption of the State program for further strengthening and developing the system of social protection of lone elderly, pensioners and disabled persons, as well as our work in this sphere planned for 5-6 years ahead are especially noteworthy. Within the framework of the State program a lot of work was carried out to raise the level and quality of medical and social services accorded to the veterans, arrange a systemic improvement of their health, further strengthen the material and technical basis of medical and social service facilities specializing in this field. In particular, the social events under the motto “No one shall be left without care and attention” were held in all regions of the country with an aim of improving medical services provided to the aged people, pensioners and disabled persons. Over 215 thousand esteemed elderly people were thoroughly examined during these events and necessary assistance was provided to improve their health. Naturally, in this regard the improvement of material and technical basis of healthcare system and raising the quality of medical services to the level of modern requirements is of special significance. Speaking about this, I wish we never forget that a popular saying, which goes «Prosperity never abandons a home with elderly» contains enormous meaning and essence, and each word, each advice and each blessing of our esteemed fathers and mothers is a big wealth itself. Indeed, our people well know that these venerated people are enormous wealth and asset for us and they always value and cherish them. Certainly, we can speak a lot, give many figures and examples about the work we have carried out in the framework of the State program of the «Year of Attention and Care for the Elder Generation». However, to be brief, I believe the fact that 2 trillion 246 billion soums and 225 million dollars were spent to implement the program at the expense of all sources vividly testifies about the scale and extent of work we have carried out in this regard. It is obvious that attention to our esteemed elderly people and works in this direction will not be limited by this year alone but will rather consistently continue in new phase and new form. Since, it is a duty and obligation for each of us to comprehensively value the representatives of the elder generation, who gave birth and raised us and have greatly contributed to present bright days through their hard work. Apparently, this is a vivid confirmation of unique qualities peculiar to the Uzbek people and it will be a bright example in bringing up our children and youth in the spirit of humaneness. In this regard, if it were left to me, in order to pay respect and tribute to the elderly people, I would rather give each upcoming year this very name. Taking this opportunity, please allow me on my own behalf and on behalf of our people to express sincere gratitude to public and non-governmental organizations, which have actively participated in such a noble activity, distinguished ambassadors of foreign countries and representatives of foreign and international institutions, who are present in this hall today, as well as all kind people, who spared no effort, strength and opportunities along this path. Now, according to the tradition that we have in our country, my dears, we should consult together with you on how to name the upcoming new year of 2016. It is well-known, as long as there is a life in this world, there is also a family. As long as there is a family, there is also an invaluable blessing that we name a child. Each and every conscious man lives thinking about happiness and perfection of his dearest and beloved child, lives with bright dreams and aspirations, and wishes his offspring to be comprehensively healthy and harmoniously mature. The dream of a healthy child and healthy generation has always been a long-standing aspiration which is inherited from our forefathers and imbibed into our flesh and blood. If we look at the way of life and way of thinking of our ancestors, we see that they paid a great attention to a person’s genealogy, purity of his seven generations and health of a kin. A healthy child is a fruit of a healthy and friendly family, and only a healthy mother can give birth to a healthy child. I believe there is no need to explain or interpret this truth which is time-honored through the centuries. With an aim of deeper asserting such an important pivotal value in our society, raising our work in terms of upbringing healthy and harmonious generation to a new level, I propose to announce the new year 2016 as the Year of Healthy Mother and Child. All of us well aware that each human being is born in this world primarily by God’s blessing, thanks to hardships endured by mother during nine months of pregnancy while safeguarding her child next to her heart. Therefore, in the symbol of our dear women, who are the great miracle of the Creator, we see the sacred people who ensure the eternity of life. Since the times when life emerged in this world, the humanity always bows low before the symbol of a revered mother. The words from sacred hadith «The paradise is under the feet of mothers» are another striking evidence of such a great love and esteem. Showing respect and esteem to women in Oriental way is an exemplary heritage left to us by our forefathers, and we will always live being devoted to such traditions. After gaining independence, we have set as the most important and priority task for us to nurture the healthy and harmonious generation, and in the first instance, the issue of protection of family, motherhood and childhood. Certainly, we are well aware what enormous works we have accomplished in terms of bettering the necessary normative and legal basis in this sphere, improving the gene pool of the nation, as well as increasing the level and quality of life of the population. Speaking about the continuation of our broad-scale works in this direction, I deem it necessary to bring just one example. At present, jointly with our South Korean partners we have launched the construction of the multi-field modern children’s hospital worth 130 million 600 thousand dollars. This complex is unique in the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States. No doubt, commissioning soon of this unique medical facility, which has the fourth – highest category, will become a big step along the path of nurturing a healthy generation. In drafting the State program devoted to the Year of healthy mother and child, first of all, the issue of improvement of the normative and legal basis on protection of family, motherhood and childhood in our country should be in the focus of our attention. We should consistently continue our work related to creating the necessary social, communal and medical conditions, especially, for the population and primarily women who live in remote areas and territories with harsh climate. It also refers to construction of houses based on model projects and creation of social infrastructure in rural areas, supplying population with potable water and natural gas, and improvement of the level of services. Along with this, we should pay a special attention to the issues of further enhancing the logistical-technical basis and cadres potential of medical facilities, in particular, perinatal centers functioning at the local levels; raising the work efficiency of family polyclinics and rural medical stations; increasing the number of perinatal nurses, as well as upgrading qualification of obstetrician-gynecologists and children’s doctors. I believe there is no need to speak much about the necessity to put on our agenda the tasks such as broader popularizing the physical culture and sport among our children to nurture a healthy generation, and building with such a goal the new sport facilities and reinforcing their logistical and technical basis. Keeping in mind that a healthy and strong family is the foundation of a healthy future, we must regard as the most important task to strengthen the responsibility in terms of medical examination of would-be brides and grooms, and with this purpose supply the related polyclinics with modern medical and diagnostic equipment and improve the quality of services there. In this respect, I would like to draw your attention to an extremely important issue. You are well aware that nurturing both physically and spiritually healthy girls – would-be mothers, providing mandatory post-secondary school education at lyceums and colleges, mastering modern knowledge and occupying professions by them are now raised to the level of state policy in our country. I deem it my duty to speak time and again about the following. Those who decide to marry a girl before her graduation from college without acquiring a profession must know that I believe it is a lack of foresight and shortsightedness. Let a girl, first of all, master a profession, let a girl have her own opinion and let a girl comprehend life. Only after this, she will find a deserving place in life, she will turn to an active member of our society, and tomorrow her future family will be strong, as well. It will be the very truth if I say that this is my biggest dream and wish. From this point of view, in the aforementioned program we should consider the issue of employment of college graduates, and first of all, our girls as the most urgent task. In the focus of our attention there should also be the expansion of our activity in terms of allocating the preferential credits for our youth, who wish to organize their small private business, providing the mortgage credits for young families to purchase and build accommodation, giving consumer credits to buy durable goods. Along with this, we must pay a serious attention to such issues as raising the medical culture among population, further strengthening activity in the sphere of sanitary and hygiene, care about pregnant women, nourishing young mothers and children at decent level, and looking after their food ratio, its quality and calories. Frankly speaking, unfortunately, many our households don’t pay enough attention to these very important issues. Indeed, care for a child should start from care for a future mother. Since the psychological and physiological state of a pregnant woman, her entire feelings and mood transmit to a child through mother’s being. To conclude this idea, I would like to say that to take care about a child first of all we must take care about a mother. Along with women, it is man, as a head of family, who is responsible for this. Speaking about this, we should pay a special attention to one issue which at first sight seems to be a minor one but it is very important in life. We should always keep in mind that maintaining a healthy moral atmosphere in our families, in particular, preserving mutual respect, spirit of love and mercy in relations between husband and wife, parents and children, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, in neighborhood community stand as the most important condition to further consolidate peace, tranquility and accord in our country. For these purposes it would be very expedient that all of us unite our efforts. In particular, we should solidify the interaction of local khokimiyats (mayor’s or governor’s office) with makhalla (local neighborhood community), organizations of women, elderly and youth, as well as broadly involve the people, who enjoy respect in society and esteemed kayvoni (authoritative personalities) into this work. As we enter the new year of 2016 with such noble and kind wishes, we do have all conditions and capacity to channel the strength and potential of our state and society, our entire being, power and energy along this endeavor. Most importantly, the pivotal idea «If mother and child are healthy, then family is happy, if family is happy, then society will be strong» must penetrate deeply into the hearts of each and every fellow countryman. And making a deserving contribution to this great endeavor must turn to a sacred task for all of us. I am confident that we will surely be able to realize objectives and tasks defined for the «Year of Healthy Mother and Child» given labor, wit and wisdom, resoluteness and courage of our experienced people. Inshallah, the new year will surely be better but in no way less abundant than the outgoing 2015. Picture by Eurasia.net