ANKARA, August 4. /Dunyo IA/. On the eve of the 35^th anniversary of the State Independence of Uzbekistan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye Serdar Çam, extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes through Dunyo IA:

-  First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the brotherly and friendly people of Uzbekistan on the 35^th anniversary of Independence. May the Almighty grant Uzbekistan health, peace, prosperity, power and well-being, as well as allow the nation to celebrate many more such glorious anniversaries.

Undoubtedly, turning to history, it should be noted that Uzbekistan is a state with deep roots extending into centuries of history. The last 35 years represent a continuation of a great history and civilization spanning centuries. Particularly over the past decade, we have observed and witnessed first-hand the large-scale reforms and significant progress achieved in fields such as science, technology, industry, economy, tourism and many other areas.

In this regard, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations, first and foremost, to the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as to all leaders and specialists who have contributed to these achievements. These successes are a source of pride for the entire Turkic world.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has indeed traversed a tremendous path of development. Of particular importance is the large-scale work being carried out in the country to preserve, develop, and popularize our shared cultural heritage, which represents the pinnacle of our civilization. These efforts demonstrate once again that Uzbekistan is an important center not only for the Turkic world, but also for the entire Islamic world.

About nine years ago, during the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Ankara, I served as the President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). At that time, President of Türkiye expressed his desire to dispatch me to Uzbekistan so that TİKA could participate in the development of the New Uzbekistan through its projects. President of Uzbekistan personally received me and outlined his vision, goals and expectations regarding the future of the country. During my tenure at TİKA, and today as the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, we have strived to the best of our abilities to contribute to the realization of these ideas of the President.

Today, we see that the large-scale goals and tasks set by Mr. President nearly a decade ago have largely materialized. We clearly witness how a true leader achieves set objectives - through concrete indicators, statistical data and real results.

Today, the world is undergoing a period of profound change and renewal. Material development alone is not sufficient to make a person happy. Spiritual peace and moral stability are equally important. For the people of Anatolia, the most crucial sources of these values are the knowledge, enlightenment, wisdom, and spiritual heritage embodied in the ancient cities of our homeland - Uzbekistan.

It is precisely towards embodying these values in the economy, technology, and modern urban planning that immense work has been carried out over the past decade. Therefore, as a citizen of Türkiye and a representative of our ministry, I sincerely wish for these noble endeavours to expand further and continue consistently.