Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - A press conference was held in the conference hall of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan on the International Day of Tolerance and strengthening interethnic harmony and religious tolerance in our country. The meeting was attended by a large number of delegates from various faiths living in Uzbekistan, representatives of the republican media, Dunyo reports.

The event was organized by the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Committee on Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Culture, Public Education, the Republican Center for Spirituality and Education, the Union of Youth of the Republic and Union of Writers of Uzbekistan.

Opening the press conference, the chairman of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries, Rustam Kurbanov, said that worldwide, by decision of the UN General Assembly, starting in 1997, November 16 is annually celebrated as the International Day of Tolerance.

- Celebrating this date in Uzbekistan has also become a good tradition. Strengthening the spirit of interethnic harmony and mutual understanding in society, ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all citizens of our country, regardless of their nationality, is one of the priorities of state policy in the Republic of Uzbekistan. In order to carry out these tasks, the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries, together with a number of ministries and departments of the republic, conducts an international week of tolerance in our country on 11-16 November, he said.

The heads of a number of responsible ministries and departments of Uzbekistan also addressed the press conference.

It was noted that in the fifth section of the Strategy of Action in five priority areas of the development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021, it was emphasized that peace and tranquility prevailing in our country, friendship and unity of the people, mutual respect and international harmony are invaluable wealth and the main achievement of independence. An important step in this direction was the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated May 19, 2017 “On measures to further improve interethnic relations and friendly relations with foreign countries”.

At a press conference it was reported that within the framework of the Week of Tolerance, a number of cultural, humanitarian, spiritual, educational and scientific-practical events will be held in Uzbekistan. Such as the awarding ceremony of the festival “Uzbekistan is our common home”, an exhibition of works by young artists of national cultural centers, a civil forum of national cultural centers and friendship societies, cultural evenings dedicated to this topic will be held in all secondary schools and academic lyceums of the country.

It was noted that the forum, which will be held at the University of the Uzbek language and literature named after A. Navoi on 12 November, will be timed to coincide with the activities of national-cultural centers and friendship societies, their achievements, challenges and solutions to problems at work, the importance of the principle of "people's diplomacy" in establishing friendly relations with foreign countries and compatriots living abroad, improving legislative standards in the activities of national cultural centers and friendship societies.

In addition, a gala concert will be held at the Turkiston Palace of Arts with the participation of art masters and art groups of national cultural centers.

In conclusion, the head of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan emphasized that the above activities will help to involve the population, especially youth, in the development of society, preserve the language, culture, traditions and customs of different nationalities living in the republic, and increase their contribution to the development of the country, further strengthening their feelings of patriotism, interethnic harmony and interfaith tolerance.