Islam Karimov: It is the era of the Internet.

TASHKENT, June 29, 2011 (TCA) -- President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov congratulated the local journalists on their professional holiday, celebrated in the country on June 27 and promised a number of changes, including reducing the tax burden, as REGNUM reported "Today, looking at the path and estimating what was made during a historically short period, we can be proud of our country, people who overcome with dignity the hardest years of the national independence, relying primarily on their own resources, capabilities and potential; follow the path of building a democratic state, large-scale reforms of the civil society and integration into the global community with confidence," - said a festive message of Karimov, issued by the local media. However, Karimov said: "Critically evaluating our work on the development of the media, I think there is no need to prove that for all of us today the most important thing is to draw the appropriate conclusions, put on the agenda the current issues dictated by the time and provide them with a solution." Karimov pointed to the need to reform and modernize the media. "One of the most urgent tasks today are to increase the media's role in ensuring the freedom of information, establishment of public control over the activities of the government and management, the transformation of the press in a free platform where people can openly express their thoughts and ideas, attitudes and relation to current events," - he said According to the president, life itself requires the need to expedite the adoption of new laws relating to transparency and openness in the activities of public authorities, for Broadcasting Development, the economic foundations of the media and guaranteeing their state support. "This is about the provision of new state benefits and preferences for further development of the media, publishing houses, printing companies and organizations for the dissemination of the press. I would like to announce that from next year it is planned to significantly reduce their tax burden," promised Karimov In his view, these benefits will undoubtedly create a financial background to ensure not only in words but in fact the independence of the media, which, together with rising income, material well-being of workers in this sphere will have a major positive impact on development of other industries. In this regard, the head of Uzbekistan proposed to "use the experience of developed countries and to take firm control of its implementation." Along with this, he stated the fact that "it was the era of the Internet, the dynamic development of Internet TV, Internet radio, e-mail, online videos and many other new information technologies, and that today the scope of their influence and audience members significantly expands" and called all journalists, "especially the young," to a comprehensive mastering new information and communication technologies "I have always attached a great respect for the work of journalists, their effects on people, society as a whole. We are all aware of the strength and importance of journalistic expression, whose influence and effectiveness depends primarily on your talent and skills, social position, personal qualities and professional abilities, responsible approach. Millions of readers, viewers, listeners have always expected such inspiring words from you. I would like to stress once again that you, journalists, artists of their profession, you words can lead people to the noble goals of living in the interests of the people who think about the present and future of the country, I think its most solid and reliable support," - said President of Uzbekistan.

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