Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Helena Fraser, OSCE Project Coordinator in our country, John McGregor, together with representatives of ministries and departments of the republic visited the Oltinkul village in Pakhtakor district of Jizzakh region, erected as part of the “Beautified Village” program, Dunyo reported with reference to the press service of the Committee on interethnic relations and friendly relations with foreign countries under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This village was built in a few months on the site of an abandoned wasteland. The implementation of this unique urban development project was under the personal control of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In less than a year, 460 new cottages, consumer services and a textile factory with 500 jobs were built here.

Today, 939 families live in the village, of which 301 families with a total of 1,225 people are representatives of Gypsy ethnicity who live in Oltinkul side by side with Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tatars and representatives of other nationalities. This new village has become another striking example of Uzbekistan’s commitment to protect the rights and freedoms of people of all nations and nationalities living on its territory, as well as ongoing reforms aimed at improving the welfare, level and quality of life of the population.

Representatives of international organizations and government agencies showed a video about the process of building a village. It also included footage of how the new settlers of Oltinkul lived before that. So, two years ago in this area there were only old, collapsing huts, a minimum of conditions for a normal life, there was no proper infrastructure.

Sharing her impressions, the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Helena Fraser, noted that the UN is always worried about the most vulnerable sectors of the population.

- Low-income people are our business priority. I am very glad to see that in order to improve the lives of such people, the government is implementing the “Beautified Village” program and carrying out large-scale creative work. It is especially gratifying to see the changes in the life of Roma who live together with representatives of other nations as equal among equals. I am sure that in other regions of the country the same living conditions will be created for representatives of small nationalities, ”she emphasized.

In this context, it is worth noting that Oltinkul is not the first village built for vulnerable segments of the population in Uzbekistan. Two years ago, the village of Tong Yulduzi was rebuilt from scratch in the Chinaz district, where Tajiks mainly live. Similar projects initiated by the head of state were successfully implemented in Karakalpakstan, Andijan region, in the villages of Manas in the Jizzakh region and the city of Gagarin in the Mirzachul region, and other remote corners of Uzbekistan. These days, another 400 such houses are being constructed in the neighboring mahalla gathering Almazar for socially vulnerable segments of the population, people with disabilities, poor and lost breadwinners.

The guests were also impressed by the textile factory in Oltinkul. Here, mainly the residents of the massif work, who now, thanks to work, will be able to cover a soft loan for housing. The guests also got acquainted with samples of finished products manufactured at the factory. They praised the working conditions and product quality.

OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan John McGregor noted that what he saw in Oltinkul is one of the examples of large-scale transformations being carried out in the republic.

- It is gratifying that much attention is paid to the interests of small nations and nationalities in the republic. It is important that these people feel this attention, due to which their faith in themselves, their future grows, and gives hope for a bright future for their children and grandchildren. It is also noteworthy that the local residents are provided not only with housing, but also with work. About 500 girls and women work at the factory we saw, which is very close to European standards. Attention, decent housing and the ability to work are the main factors of a person’s confidence in the future. What I saw here is commendable, he said.

It is worth noting that in December 2019 in Geneva at a meeting of the 100th session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the delegation of Uzbekistan, led by the director of the National Center for Human Rights A. Saidov, presented a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. It includes data on fundamental changes in the field of protection and promotion of human rights carried out in Uzbekistan over the past three years. Already then, the construction of the village of Oltinkul was in full swing, where today gypsies live in comfortable houses along with representatives of other nations.

The guests expressed a common opinion on the importance and necessity of continuing such creative work, which absolutely reflects the priorities of the state policy of the country’s leadership, as well as tolerance and agreement prevailing in Uzbek society.