Reforms implemented in Uzbekistan, changes taking place in the political, economic, socio-humanitarian life are welcomed not only by the country’s citizens, but also by experts from foreign countries and international community.

Reforms implemented in Uzbekistan, changes taking place in the political, economic, socio-humanitarian life are welcomed not only by the country’s citizens, but also by experts from foreign countries and international community.

William D. Patterson, President of the United States company Silverleafe International that launched investment projects in Jizzakh a year ago, is also one of those who supports such positive changes in Uzbekistan.

UzA correspondent has interviewed the investor on the occasion of the Constitution and the National Anthem Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

– State symbols are very important to bring about patriotism in your love of a country. We have very strong symbols in the United States that bring about that type of patriotism that we learn from our childhood.

Constitutions, as the collections of laws, are very important for any modern society. This collection not only what regulates our rights, but also regulates how we treat each other. The respect for those laws, the enforcement of those laws, and the fairness of those laws is always important to the progression of any society. So, the sanctity of law, meaning that the respect any application of that law is important as we advance as any nation. And Uzbekistan has many changes right now. The one thing that you keep very focused on is the sanctity of law, which is driven by your Constitution. And from time to time, whether it is the United States or Uzbekistan or some other country, changes need to happen in those laws, and that is through the legislative process. The judges should be the ones that interpret these laws in the plot of fairness. The court system is very important along with the Constitution in the balance of powers. 

Our anthem is “God Bless America”, because of the history of our country where our anthem was written about the blessings that have been given to our country, as well as the sacrifices made to create our country. Our country has a long history of democracy and freedom; and whenever I hear our anthem or look at our flag, it brings about emotions of patriotism of affection for my country. Those emotions are brought about because I do love my country and our symbols actually give us the ability to have hope and perseverance of freedom in the future.

I see that emotion in Uzbekistan, when I go to your schools, I look in the eyes of your children. I see hope, I see excitement, and I see a lot of opportunity; the opportunity the young people can’t even begin to see right now. So, the pride in a country, whether it is laws, whether it is the flag, whether it is the anthem, all of the symbols of your country should be taught, and they will bring about patriotism. In this way, your future generations will have this perspective of love of country and this will be helpful to your nation.

Symbols of patriotism make your perspective bigger than just the individual. It is about everyone; it is about your culture. If you go back and look, every flag has some type of relationship with the culture, with the heritage and with the future. So, this is not just the President in the past that created the symbol. It also the hope and the vision in the future, and that is critical. If you go back and look at Uzbekistan’s flag, it was created in 1991. When you look at where you are today and where you are going to be in another ten years, another decade from now, for your children and your grandchildren, it is very important to incorporate this perspective into everyday life.

It is absolutely critical to teach the youth of any country, and here in Uzbekistan, you have a very demographically young country, so it is very important to instill patriotism in these symbols and the love of a country into your youth.

I want to congratulate people of Uzbekistan for your outstanding cultural heritage and exceptional performance of their efforts and right now continuing the change on the positive aspects of their economy, society, and becoming the leader in Central Asia. Uzbekistan has the capability and vision of leadership and the economic means to continue to progress the modernization of Uzbekistan. So, I have great hopes for your country and I congratulate all the people of Uzbekistan. I wish the best of luck.