(Photo by Ferghana.Ru Gallery: Islam Karimov)

Uzbek media launched a nationwide advertising campaign promoting the latest book by President Islam Karimov. Titled "Progress of the country and better living standards of the people as the ultimate objectives of all democratic innovations and economic reforms", the brochure is a compilation of Karimov's speeches, decrees, and resolutions. It also includes the text of the Social Sphere Year state program.

Uzbek Central TV reports that the almanac promoted as "another book by Islam Karimov" "offers a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the accomplishments of the last several years complete with conclusions." The brochure "sets the tasks for accomplishment of whatever objectives in the social sphere have been planned for 2007 and for the near future" and "emphasizes the necessity of efficient use of all factors and potentials, including the ones as yet untapped."

Dwelling on the objectives and ways and means of pursuing them, Karimov (or the actual author of the text) uses his favorite trick, shuffling conclusions and the tasks stemming from them. Promoted by the media, these conjectures will no doubt become canons or at least a program for the population to run.

First, "the Uzbeks need absolute understanding of the tasks they are facing and their essence. Everyone from the head of state to every individual citizen must regard accomplishment of the mission as his or her prime duty. There may be no disinterested observers. Every citizen of the country should be an active participant."

Responsibility is the second essential in "development of prosperous life and free civil society." "Every person living here must be fully aware of his or her responsibility." In other words, "the objectives in question require conscientious performance of their duties from all leaders and civil servants, peasants and farmers, businessmen and employees, representatives of the humanitarian sphere and the military - from everyone who cares about the future of the country."

Third, "establishment of decent living standards matching those in advanced countries undeniably requires predominance of the traits like unity of the nation, kindness, understanding, tolerance, magnanimity, resolution, and courage."

Karimov's fourth conjecture is particularly interesting because it brings to mind a piece by another renowned writer - Josef Stalin. "All accomplishments over the years of independence no matter in what sphere (be it economy, politics, culture) belong to us and nobody can take them away from us. It will be wrong in the meantime to stop and succumb to euphoria, basking in triumph." Uzbek TV translated "euphoria" as "maktanchoklik" which literally stands for "boasting". Ferghana.Ru has not been able to check it against the original text of course but past experience shows that Karimov's every word is always treated with care, so the quote must have been correct.

Uzbek Central TV network ended the story on the brochure with the pathos typical of Uzbek media and praised the president for "taking care of the people in a manner unmatched in any other country."

Karimov (or rather the brochure) proceeds to admit that errors are not impossible even in the "ever correct" Uzbekistan. Praising the accomplishments, the author calls for "an unbiased analysis" of the past errors and foul-ups and recognition of the opportunities lost with appropriate measures taken to prevent anything like that from happening again. The readers are advised to be watchful meaning that they should be able "to tell the good from the bad, friend from foe... so as to have a clear understanding of the existing threats and be able to withstand pressure applied by inimical forces."

The fifth conclusion is as follows, "We must cherish our national values, colossal culture, precious legacy of our great forefathers, faith and convictions that imbue us with strength and energy."

Ferghana.Ru is not running any parallels between Karimov and Stalin from the standpoint of the scope of political changes, personality, or gravity of crimes. It only points out that vocabulary of the first writer of Uzbekistan does not differ from that used by his Soviet predecessors more than 70 years ago.

Cliches typical of Communist propaganda of the past are quite frequent in Karimov's books, statements, and decrees.