An official meeting occasioned to the Day of Motherland Defenders has taken place at Tashkent’s Turkiston Palace.

An official meeting occasioned to the Day of Motherland Defenders has taken place at Tashkent’s Turkiston Palace.

The Turkiston Palace in the heart of Tashkent was in festive attire on January 13. It gathered senators and legislators, government members, soldiers and sergeants, officers, generals, veterans of the Armed Forces, parents of servicemen and representatives of the general public. 

The festive event timed to the celebration of the Day of Motherland Defenders was declared open by the hokim (mayor) of the city of Tashkent R.Usmanov.

Following the State Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Minister of Defense K.Berdiev read out the festive greeting address by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan – the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Islam Karimov for the defenders of the native land occasioned to the 23nd anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In accordance with the Decree of the head of our state, the Ministry of Defense was founded on 6 September 1991. In line with the resolution of the leader of our nation signed January 14, 1992, all the military units deployed on the territory of the country were taken under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Uzbekistan. That day laid the foundation for our national armed forces.

That historic date – 14 January – is widely marked in our country as the Day of Motherland Defenders.
For the past years, our Armed Forces have been perfected both in organizational and structural terms. The agility and combat capacities of subdivisions has been boosted, so has the physical and spiritual-moral training of servicemen. Military units and subdivisions have been provided modern weaponry and combat machinery. 

 
The conscription once a year, the expansion of the number of contract military personnel, the introduction of mobilization-reserve military service have facilitated the cardinal transformation in the appearance of the armed forces and the spiritual-moral environment in the military. The service has become a genuine school of physical and moral tenacity that shapes the firm willpower and character as well as high human qualities in the youth. 

 
Consistent efforts have been in progress aimed at staffing the national military with highly professional cadres, bolstering the training levels, knowledge and skills of the servicemen. Military exercises and classes are conducted with the use of advanced scientific and technological achievements. Higher military education institutions train officer corps able to thoroughly assess any threats and make operational decisions, and those wielding modern knowledge and high moral-ethical qualities.

Competition-based conscription is an important factor in staffing the armed forces with young men with superb physical training and intellectual abilities. Owing to this, soldiers grasp profoundly the curricula on combat training and application of cutting-edge machinery and technologies.

The citizens who have served conscription period and earned recommendation of the commanding staff of the military unit enjoy privileges when applying to higher education institutions with an addition of 27 percent of the maximum number of scores available in passing admission tests to universities. This creates great opportunities in applying to higher education institutions, in attaining profession and a worthy place in life.

The contest held traditionally in the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan has named the best higher military education institution, sergeant training school and the department for defense affairs. Winners were prized with diplomas and gifts.

The festive event ended with a gala concert.

The meeting was attended by Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis N.Ismoilov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.Mirziyoev.