Text of report by Uzbek TV on 11th September

The general-secretary of the pro-presidential Fidokorlar
National Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Erkin Norbotayev, has
said that his party is "ideologically superior" over the other
four parties taking part in the forthcoming elections.
Norbotayev said it was necessary to start a process of "free
thinking" in the country and that this party was capable of
creating such an atmosphere. Norbotayev said a Fidorkor or a
self-sacrificer is someone who can put forward an idea of
"national development - contributing to it and intensifying it"
He said this was his party's fundamental concept. The
following is the text of a
 
[Presenter, sitting in a studio opposite the
general-secretary of Fidokorlar National Democratic Party of
Uzbekistan, FNDP, Erkin Norbotayev] Hello, dear viewers, you
are watching another issue of our "Davr-interview" programme.
Our studio guest is the general-secretary of Fidokorlar
National Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Erkin Norbotayev.

[On-screen details about Norbotayev, read out by
announcer] Erkin Norbotayev, doctor of law, born 1959, in 1980
he graduated from the law department of the Tashkent State
University, in 1997-1998 worked as the head of a department and
then a deputy director at the Academy of the Internal Affairs
Ministry. At present, he is a deputy director for science at
the Institute of Strategy and Inter-regional relations Study.
Married, has four children.

[Presenter] Erkin-aka [aka-brother, a respective address],
elections have been announced. In general, the Fidokorlar
National Democratic party is the youngest party. What does it
expect from the elections, and how is it preparing for them?

[Norbotayev] Well, we can say that along with entering the
political arena, FNDP has started to prepare for the elections.
Because every action we took was targeted - aimed at wining the
elections. I think, if we speak about our present status and
assess everything we have done, we can, probably, win, but I
must say that every political party should have authority to
achieve political, economic and other goals set in its
programme. All political parties, I think, campaign to win such
an authority in the elections. We will also campaign for that.

[Q] Thank you, I would like to ask you now, whether you
are satisfied with what you have achieved lately? Or do you
still have many shortcomings?

[A] I am very often asked about this. One should know that
our major principle is that members of FNDP are never satisfied
with what has been achieved, we do not have the right to be
satisfied with the results so far and become less active.
Today, we are working actively and we always think about the
things we have to do tomorrow.

[Q] I think, it is not going to be easy to wage a
political campaign with parties formed some seven, eight or
five years ago because they had the time and opportunity to
develop. How do you see the political campaign? How does
Fidokorlar see it?

[A] Today, probably, one can question the very existance
of political campaigning, because FNDP cannot see a partner in
the political campaign. We have spoken a great deal about it,
including my interviews to `Fidokor' and `Hurriyat' newspapers.
But other parties have not expressed their opinion on this
issue and this shows that they are not involved in a political
campaign.

[Q] During the pre-election campaign we introduce almost
all parties and tell about their pre-election platforms. We can
also organize debates with representatives from some parties
taking part. But some party representatives say that Fidokorlar
are not represented at the Supreme Assembly as yet, that is why
they think that FNDP has not come to be a party as yet. How can
you argue against this opinion?

[A, Norbotayev laughing] Perhaps, only those party members
who fear a political struggle can say this. Regardless of being
represented or not in the parliament, FNDP exists, is
officially registered as a legal entity and working actively.
So, I think, it is illogical to say so.

[Q] What are the features which make Fidokorlar absolutely
different from other parties?

[A] Absolutely different? Well, I must say, all the
parties, probably, have one and the same major goal -
contributing to the development of the motherland. But it is up
to each one of them to decide on the way and methods they want
to use. In the first instance, we might differ in our degree of
activeness. Secondly, telling the truth. We also look at the
current situation critically. We also set a problem and offer a
solution.

[Q] Looking at the work of your party, I note that you
work quickly. You, as you mentioned, try to work quickly, but
one can also make mistakes when working fast. Every effort and
every action is also connected with politics and the economy.
So, are you not afraid of doing [something] wrong instead of
the planned good?

[A] In such a case, one should not act at all. This, in my
opinion, is also what makes us different from the other parties
. Perhaps, they are afraid of making a mistake and this makes
their work difficult. But the motherland demands selflessness
from us. We will never move ahead if we do not act. Perhaps,
some mistakes are made when trying to achieve something. But
acknowledging mistakes, correcting them and continuing the work
are a feature of a self-sacrificing people. Another point is
that the idea of self-sacrificing is broadly popularized at
present because it is the demand of the times - that we need
selfless people. We are also ideologically superior over the
other parties because other parties put forward the idea of
independence, which was gained eight years ago. Today,it is
necessary to strengthen independence. Who can do that? A
well-developed person. What is necessary to bring up such a
developed person? It is necessary to start a process of free
thinking. Only a perfect person can have a free word, a perfect
person is usually a selfless person. So, a self-sacrificer is
someone who puts forward an idea of national development -
contributing to it and intensifying it. So, this is our
fundamental concept.

[Q] Now, to the main point - the election platform of
Fidokorlar. You mentioned at the beginning of the programme,
that you will try to win

[Norbotayev, interrupting the presenter] Yes, we will win,
I must say, because people are supporting us. This is a party
coming from the people, uniting self-sacrificers from the
people. The main proportion of our electorate are young people
and entrepreneurs. Now, selfless people enter the arena because
they are not afraid inside. They are gradually recognizing
themselves and want to contribute their own money to serve the
party, although they are not party members but just supporters.
I, therefore, think that now the idea of self-sacrificing sown
by us is giving results.
As to our platform, it has nothing new. It is everything
said previously but the point is implementing it. The platform
includes four pledges. The first and most important one is
ensuring the superiority of the law because it is impossible to
regulate relations with just one person, @@a head of an
establishment.

[Presenter, interrupting] The law is good but it should be
working.

[Norbotayev] At the same time, I must say that we have
raised the issue of further improving the very process of
law-making. The existence of some forms of administrative
command methods have also resulted from the fact that laws are
not working. This is the first point. The second is the issue
of the economy. We promise to ensure the inviolability of
private property. Here the point is to restore the feeling of
an owner. The third issue is protecting those who needing
protection. At present, there are many problems and we assume
responsibility for further improving the legal basis for the
solution of such problems. Finally, the spiritual aspect which
is based on the truth. We think we can create an atmosphere of
free thinking and overcoming internal fear on the basis of the
truth. Along with the truth there should be the superiority of
the law. If there is a law, respective agencies will not take
measures against those who tell the truth and the latter will
never be afraid of doing so. A process of free thinking can
follow with the emergence of a perfect person - who is a
self-sacrificer, who are contributing to and implementing the
idea of national progress.

[Q] You put forward a brave idea - winning at the
forthcoming elections. This statement on winning can seem
unnatural to other parties who may argue that "chickens are
only counted in Autumn".

[A] I must note one thing. I am saying we will win.
Victory - in a broad sense of the word. They may think so, but
we have our own evaluations. For a party born some seven or
eight months ago, any record is already a victory. And that
minor records can also grow into a major one. Everyone will,
therefore, have their own places determined in Autumn.

[Q] Thank you for the interesting conversation proceeding
from which I can say, may your confidence and that of all
Fidokorlar [continue] in the coming days. I wish you success.

Source: Uzbek Television second channel, Tashkent, in Uzbek
1730 gmt 11 Sep 99
BBC Mon CAU 140999/** AJBA/MV