The important political process being carried out in Uzbekistan –the Presidential Election – is in the focus of the attention of foreign experts and international observers. We asked for the opinion of Ms. Lin Goethals, Director at the European Institute for Asian Studies, who visited polling station No. 88 in the city of Fergana as an international observer, about the elections.

– I am very interested in Uzbekistan, – Mrs. Lin Goethals said. – I am visiting your country for the second time. I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful nature of Fergana region, the kind-hearted people, and the wonderful traditions. We are pleased with the preparations for the Presidential Election, the activity of the townspeople, and the festive mood at the polling stations. The people are voting for the candidate they choose. Wherever you go, places are equipped, and comfortable conditions for voters are created. I was surprised to see how the elders went to vote and led the little children by hand. This is very important when children grow up seeing political processes with their own eyes. And this is an appropriate method of teaching the younger generation to implement democratic principles. Large-scale preparations for the elections have been carried out in your country, and significant changes are observed in political life.

The European Institute for Asian Studies, headquartered in Brussels, is one of the leading think tanks in Europe. The activities of the Institute are aimed at studying the relationship, as well as developing cooperation between the countries of the European Union and Asia.

  M. Sulaymonov, photos by M. Qodirov, UzA