1. A.ABDULLAEV, Director of the Public Fund for Support and Development of Print Media and Information Agencies of Uzbekistan

2.  Openness and transparency of national policy reforms, internal and external policy of the state are the basis, if I may say, a link, a foundation of ongoing large scale democratic reforms.  As you know, the President of our country has repeatedly stressed that reform process in Uzbekistan is characterized by the fact that all the reforms, whether political, social, economic, humanitarian, or in juridical sphere, are carried out consistently and gradually, in close relationship and coordination with reforms in other areas. That is economic reforms are supported and supplemented by changes in legal, political and other spheres.

3.  As a part of this concept over the past few years a large-scale work on democratization of information sphere had been carried out in Uzbekistan, ensuring freedom of expression and freedom of choice - the most important indicators of any democratic society. In particular, within the framework of the Concept the Law on Openness of the Activities of State Authorities and Administration was adopted, aimed at ensuring constitutional right of citizens to information, informing the public of the activities of state bodies, their decisions affecting the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens, increasing their responsibility for quality of decisions made.

6.  First. Adoption of the law has given a powerful impetus to the processes of access to information Second. Adoption of the law has significantly improved the quality of the work of information services rendered by organizations.  Third. On the basis of the provisions of the law systematic measures has been taken to promptly and fully inform citizens of the activities of government agencies through department websites, by organization of press conferences, briefings, interaction with mass media, «open» meetings and others.

7. Legal regulation of the relations connected with access of citizens and organizations to information about the activities of government agencies is based on the provisions of the Constitution of Uzbekistan, providing that:  firstly, «everyone has a right to freedom of thought, speech and opinion. Everyone has a right to seek, receive and disseminate any information, except the information directed against the existing constitutional system and other restrictions stipulated by the law» (art. 29);  secondly, «all state bodies, public associations and officials of the Republic of Uzbekistan should allow any citizen access to documents, decisions and other materials affecting their rights and interests» (art. 30);  thirdly, «everyone has a right either individually or together with others, to submit applications, proposals and complaints to competent state bodies, institutions and public representatives. Such applications, proposals and complaints shall be considered in the procedure and within terms established by the law» (art. 35).  In the law «On Openness of the Activities of State Authorities and Administration» and other legal acts the following main principles of openness of the activities of government agencies had been determined: accessibility, timeliness and accuracy of the information provided; openness and transparency of government agencies; observance of rights and legitimate interests of citizens to be protected against attacks on their honor and dignity, interference in their private lives and the rights of citizens and legal entities to protect their business reputation in provision of information, etc.

8.  Today, based on the provisions of the law on openness almost in all ministries and departments information services has been newly organized (or the existing has been reorganized). They are more or less successfully perform the following key tasks:  participation in formation and implementation of information policy, determined by the management of the agency;  ensuring publication in national media of regulatory acts in the sphere of activity of the agency. Today, domestic media regularly publishes newly adopted regulations, information and analytical materials on the activities of ministries and departments, execution of various programs and projects, etc.;  coverage in national and foreign media of topical aspects of the activities of the agency, the issues of realization of a unified state policy in the relevant fmield;  creation of the Internet web resources of the agency, ensuring their effective functioning;  making analysis and informing the management of the agency of the state of public opinion and the position of national and international media on the activities of the agency. Today, the work on monitoring of information field has been established in ministries and agencies.

9.  Today, almost all bodies of state authorities and administration have created their own websites, which in accordance with the requirements of the law form available to individuals and legal entities information resources of government agencies. These resources are identified as a source of public information, and the information posted on the website has an equivalent effect to the information published in mass media. Access to them is open and free for all categories of users. Constant updating of information and filling with content of websites of government agencies is regularly reviewed by the Government, public monitoring of their round-the-clock access in the Internet has been organized.

10.  preparation and publication by executive authorities of public reports on their activities. Practice shows that distribution of such reports (at the end of a quarter, year) increases the level of awareness of the activities of state authorities and administration; such reports are the criteria to determine the ranking of the state body, where the main indicator is the transparency of its activities;  publication of brochures, leaflets and other public information materials about the work of the bodies of state authorities and administration;  attraction of media attention to the work of executive authorities, i.e. assistance to media in constructive coverage of the activities of executive authorities, assistance in preparation of analytical materials;  ranking executive authorities by criterion of openness. Experience in making such ratings has been recognized by experts as highly successful form of incentive to ensure transparency of public authorities;  conducting awareness-raising activities among the population. In this case presentation of information about the objectives, benefits, and necessity for public participation and monitoring of the activities of executive authorities should be systematic, carried out with the involvement of mass media and public organizations.