“Polling stations were operating very competently in accordance with international standards. Every voter had an opportunity to freely consult with the relevant information about candidates, their election programs and legislation. Members of relevant election commissions on the ground are literate, well-prepared and deeply know all legislative acts,” she said.
The French expert has paid a particular attention to activity of the local media, which long before the elections objectively and independently provided population with all necessary information. During the actual elections, information about their beginning, the process and preliminary results were given very quickly. The elections could be seen online on a special website “election.uz” in three languages - Uzbek, Russian and English.
“In my opinion, political literacy of the population of Uzbekistan is very important. Youth activism is particularly encouraging, who consciously feel responsibility for the future of the country and, thus, contribute to its great future,” Sylvie d’Izarn said. “Today’s parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan are an illustrative example of the fact that even developed countries can learn from Uzbekistan in terms of democratic elections”.
Jacques Bara, professor of the Pantheon-Assas Paris II:
“For the second time I took part in elections in Uzbekistan and would like to highlight a marked growth of the political literacy of Uzbekistan’s population. This became apparent, particularly, in a voter activity, involvement of youth as well as in equal participation of men and women in the elections.
I visited several polling stations in Tashkent City, taking part in ballot counting and summing up. I can highlight the fact that in all cases all necessary practical and organizational conditions were created for voters. People voted freely. I had not witnessed any pressure or interference to the electoral process,” Professor Jacques Bara said.
Chinese “People’s Daily” published comments by prominent Chinese political scientists on the outcomes of parliamentary elections held in Uzbekistan.
Director of the Institute for Remote Regional Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Xing Guanch noted that the elections were held on a multiparty and alternative basis. This shows that Uzbekistan has created a democratic constitutional state and its election system fully corresponds to international standards.
He pointed to the growing authority of Uzbekistan in international economic relations. Despite the global financial crisis, the country’s economy is developing steadily, which confirms the correctness of Uzbekistan’s way of national development.
Secretary General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Research Center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Sun Zhuanzhi noted that Uzbekistan created the needed environment for citizens to participate in the elections. They exercise their electoral rights, the legal framework to ensure people’s freedom of expression, exercising and protection of their legitimate interests.
Bernama Malaysian News Agency posted on its website a series of articles on the preparation and the course of the elections to the Lower Chamber of Oliy Majlis and local representative authorities.
The articles on “Democracy in Uzbekistan on Proper Track” and “The Elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan a Good Experience for an Observer” commented the view by Malaysian Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Committee Wan Ahmad, who notes that in spite of Malaysia’s advanced communication system, this ensures participation in elections only 73-75 per cent of voters, while Uzbekistan, due to the legal culture of its population, overcomes 87 per cent of voter attendance.
Mr. Radhakrishnan, a lawyer, in his article entitled “Make Elections a Matter of Whole Family as in Uzbekistan” in The New Straits Times noted positive experience of Uzbekistan’s electoral commissions, which ensure participation of 17 million voters, along with providing separate rooms for care of children whose parents have come to a vote, and the tradition of responsibility of the older generation to younger, demonstrating the importance of fulfilling civic duty by participating in elections.
Media of Arab countries continue the topic of the parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan. In particular, the website of the “Asiya al-Wust” (AER) Agency (www.aisaalwista.com) contains an article “Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan were held with voters’ active participation”.
The article focuses on the words by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov about transparency of the current elections in the country. The head of state’s remarks that “holding elections to the Legislative Chamber and local Kengashes based on a multiparty and alternative basis is indicative of the forming of a democratic constitutional state and in full compliance with our electoral system to international standards” were particularly attended to.
In its turn, the piece referred to Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan Mirzo-Ulughbek Abdusalomov who reported that 87.8 per cent of voters participated in the elections.
The article also notes that over 270 observers from 36 countries and four missions of international organizations - the OSCE/ODIHR, the Executive Committee of CIS, SCO and OIC carried out monitoring of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan Today
