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                                              LATEST NEWS : December 2010                     ARCHIVES

Traditional children’s holidays called President’s New Year Trees opened across all cities and districts of Uzbekistan. The first celebrations were held at the Turkiston palace in Tashkent. The event, organized by the Sen Yolgiz Emassan (You are not Alone) children’s fund and the Public Education Ministry of Uzbekistan, was attended by children from orphanages, special schools and families in need of social and assistance.

Cheerful music was played around a huge New Year tree. Children sang and danced with Santa Claus and Snow Maiden. They read poems, proverbs and tongue twisters about the New Year.
Presidential gifts were given to all children who took part in the celebrations.
 

Theatrical musical show “New Year adventures of Yahshivoy” with participation of children’s art groups, pop stars and circus artists was presented at the event.
President’s New Year Tree events are held in all regions of Uzbekistan.

www.uza.uz

Parliamentary hearings on preparation of Uzbekistan for participation in the 30th Summer Olympic Games and the 14th Paralympic Games of 2012 in London (United Kingdom) were held at the Legislative Chamber Committee for science, education, culture and sport.

Heads of relevant ministries and agencies, sports federations, regional departments for culture and sports, olympic reserve colleges of Uzbekistan took part in the meeting.

The athletes of Uzbekistan won 56 medals and took a place among eight strongest teams at this year’s Asian Games held in China.

In the framework of preparation for the London Olympics a special attention is being paid to development of sports schools, olympic reserve colleges, providing them with necessary teaching materials and attracting professional trainers.

At the same time, involvement of sponsoring organizations and banking and financial institutions in the process has a great importance.

The Ministry for Culture and Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan presented information on preparing for the 30th Summer Olympic Games and 14th Paralympic Games in 2012.

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A group of military servicemen of the Eastern military district will meet the New Year in new comfortable apartments. Protecting the Motherland and bringing use to the people and the country is a dream of every young man. Military service is not only honorable, it is also responsible.   To protect the borders of the country the servicemen need to have good training and strong will.

A great attention in Uzbekistan is paid to providing social protection to the military people and their families. New houses built in the Eastern military district are a logical continuation of the work in this direction.   “The new house has become a great present for the New Year for our family,” officer Elmurod Atadjanov said. “Such attention and care give us new strength and energy.”   www.uza.uz

Boxers of Uzbekistan won two gold and one bronze medals at the traditional international boxing tournament among youth held in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku.

In the weight category of 49 kg, Shahobiddin Zairov defeated Evan Metcalf from Ireland and Yerzhan Zhomard from Kazakhstan and took the top place on the pedestal.

In 64 kg category, Akmal Kasimov of Uzbekistan won over Jushkin Aliyev from Azerbaijan and Zalibek Jimailov from Russia and received the gold medal.

Ulugbek Mubinov won bronze medal in the weight category of 91 kg.

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Celebrations of the New Year started at the Mustaqillik (Independence) Square in the center of Tashkent. The Childhood City created here is full with children and their parents. They enjoy musical and theatrical performances presented by Uzbeknavo and Uzbektheater associations. The 27-meter New Year tree raised in the Childhood City is beautifully illuminated and decorated.

At the compact shops set up around the celebration area once can purchase toys and books, as well as various gifts.   www.uza.uz

The regular session of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan was held on 23 December.

After approval of the agenda, proposed by Kengash of Legislative Chamber, deputies examined a number of bills aimed at further improving and strengthening the legal basis for the development of economic, social, foreign policy, environmental and other spheres of life.

The deputies discussed the draft law “On Amendments to Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the denationalization and privatization, aimed at further developing of the road transport system. The bill provides possibility of denationalization and privatization of paramilitary convoys by presidential resolution.

The draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan,” considered on the second reading, aimed to clearly define the requirements for officials conducting checks of businesses, foundations and timing of their implementation, as well as the rights and responsibilities of the inspection of business entities . To this end, the amendments were made to the existing laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On state control of economic entities,” “On guarantees of freedom of entrepreneurial activity”, and “On licensing of certain activities.”

After line-item discussion of the bill, the deputies passed the bill on the second reading.

As a result of a careful study of law enforcement practice, a group of deputies in the legislative initiative developed and introduced to the chamber the draft law on making amendments and addenda to the law “On radiation safety.” The aim of this paper was to improve the procedure of implementation and coordination in the field of radiation safety in Uzbekistan. Taking into account the suggestions made during the discussion, the representatives of factions of political parties and the parliamentary group of Environmental Movement of Uzbekistan, the law was passed and be sent to the upper house of parliament for approval.

A draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan,” submitted a legislative initiative of the Supreme Court was to improve the credibility and strengthen the independence of the judiciary, ensuring the inviolability of judges. It establishes the responsibility for disrespect to the judge, as well as for committing acts that demonstrate a clear disregard for the court. In this regard, the amendments were made to the Law on Courts, the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on administrative responsibility and the Civil Procedure Code.

Taking into account the views expressed during the discussion, members supported the basic provisions of the bill and approved it on first reading, authorizing the responsible committee to finalize the document for consideration on second reading.

The draft law “On Environmental Control,” aimed at establishing a legal basis for regulating relations in the design and implementation of environmental control to bring the problems of environmental protection in accordance with the laws and presidential decrees. It also defined the role and place of civil society institutions, including self-governance bodies in the system of environmental protection.

In general, the bill aimed at improving the environmental control system, a mechanism for coordination of control activities, establishing the powers of state and government at all levels including specially authorized state body or public administration for environmental control. It also defined the limits of authority of the institutional, industrial and environmental control of the public order and carry out responsibilities and other legal relations in this sphere.

After extensive discussions, the deputies approved the concept of the bill and passed it on first reading.

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The Central Council of the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish” held a meeting to discuss the presidential concept on deepening the democratic reforms and forming a civil society.

The members of the council and party’s faction in Legislative Chamber as well as the regional activists attended the event.

It was noted at the event that the concept proposed by President Karimov contributed to the country’s modernization and building of civil society on a higher level, addressing special responsibility on political parties.

The sides exchanged views on the implementation of concept’s initiatives on further development and strengthening of parliament and increasing the role of political parties in society.

Also, the specific measures to study the concept by the representatives of regional organizations and deputies of local councils were outlined at the meeting.

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The technical and creative professionals of regional youth studios again gathered in Tashkent for journalism workshop.

The event was organized within the state program of the Year of Harmonically Developed Generation in cooperation with the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, Creative Union of Journalists, Fund Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, Center of Youth Initiatives Kelajak Ovozi, and Kamolot movement.

At the seminar, the chairman of the Creative Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan Sh.Gulomov, chairman of the National Association of Electronic Media F.Abduholikov and others noted, that in the process of gradual and systematic reform of the media special attention was paid to strengthening the material base of non-electronic media networks, training and retraining, and advanced training of journalists.

The youth studios were established in 2008 by the National Association of Electronic Mass Media and a number of public organizations. Young talented reporters were attracted to the area and digital communications equipment was installed at the sites.

The themes of the five-day workshop are to discuss further improvement of educational studios, enhance knowledge and professional skills of young people.

www.uza.uz 

 

The extraordinary session of Samarkand Regional Kengash (council) of People’s Deputies was held in 17 December. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov made a speech at the session. When speaking about Samarkand, one thinks about a land with a great history and wonderful nature, a land whose thinkers had made an invaluable contribution to the development of the world civilization, the head of the state said. The President focused his speech on the issues related to the more efficient use of the potential of the region, its resources and unique opportunities. Samarkand region and its hardworking people have always been in the forefront of the development, he noted.

Gross regional product of Samarkand region in the first nine months of 2010 increased by 12%, industrial production grew by 16%, agriculture by 8.5% and construction by a whole 40%. The regional farmers had successfully fulfilled their contracts to produce cotton and grain and other products.

Significant results have been achieved in the capital construction sector in the framework of the Program of reconstruction and development of social infrastructure of Samarkand city for 2009-2012, the President continued.

Today’s look of Samarkand is hugely different from how it looked 5 to 10 years ago. Large investments were attracted for reconstruction of Samarkand airport. The city’s railway station and surrounding areas have also been reconstructed.

The majority of the roads in Samarkand was widened and capitally reconstructed using funds worth UZS 14.7 billion. In all, 42 apartment buildings, 165 trade and service objects, 60 social infrastructure objects and a number of administrative and residential buildings were built and reconstructed.

Among the places that were renewed are the world famous Registan complex, Bibikhanym madrassah and Shokhi Zinda memorial.

The total cost of the construction and improvement works in Samarkand region in the recent years has comprised about UZS 200 billion.

At the same time, the President said there were still many tasks related to rational use of the resources and opportunities the region offers.

One area that lacks attention is attraction of foreign investments in the economy, Islam Karimov noted. The volume of foreign direct investments this year has made up only USD 6 million, down from USD 10 million last year.

The region’s administration pays little attention to the fact that once famous enterprises like Samarkand elevator plant, Eighth March company, Nafis porcelain plant are almost non-functioning, while large plants like Sino, Alpomish and Kinap are working only to 35-40% of their capacity.

The People’s Deputies Council session considered the organizational issue. Uktam Barnoyev was relieved of the duties of the regional hokim (governor). On the President’s proposal, Zoyir Mirzayev, who previously worked as Samarkand city hokim, was appointed new governor of the region.

www.uza.uz 

The Delegation of the Corporation for small and medium business (SBC) of the Republic of Korea participated in a business seminar in Tashkent, organized by the Chamber of Commerce in Uzbekistan.

The seminar was organized within the framework of the agreement between the SBC and Uzbek Chamber of Commerce.

“SBC has been supporting small businesses for over 30 years,” said the general manager of the International Department of the Corporation of small and medium enterprises of the Republic of Korea, Jang Bae Pak.

Uzbek businessmen got acquainted with the SBC, its state and prospects of development of small and medium-sized businesses in the Republic of Korea, as well as the benefits of doing business with Korean companies.

www.uza.uz 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the sessions of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the CIS Heads of States Council in Moscow on 10 December. At the CSTO Collective Security Council, held in Kremlin, Presidents of the member states discussed issues of cooperation within the organization in strengthening security, preventing international terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.

They considered development of relations in creating the collective security system and enhancing information security. The leaders also exchanged views on the events that took place in June in the south of Kyrgyzstan.

The Presidents discussed the documents on quick prevention of common threats to CSTO member states. In particular, they considered the CSTO actions in emergency situations that represent threat to security. They also touched upon issues of prevention of threats to security.

President of Uzbekistan said the main purpose of the CSTO was primarily to protect member states from external threats. Any kind of participation of the organization in various violent actions within the country is unacceptable – this is Uzbekistan’s principal position, Islam Karimov stressed.

Violent actions within the countries may happen according to various internal scenarios or with direct participation and financing of the external forces. The focus should be on identifying the organizers of the events, and only then any decisions should be made.

The events in the south of Kyrgyzstan on 10-14 June 2010 have taught us a lot, the head of the state said. During those tragic days, over 100,000 refugees had to be provided with shelter, medicaments, food and other urgent needs.

At the same time, there was a task to ensure security of Ferghana Valley of Uzbekistan, which is the country’s densely populated and multinational region, as well as manage control of the situation on the border. Otherwise it would be hard to avoid larger bloodshed.

There have been many examples in the history of the Commonwealth of Independent States, too.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have for more than 20 years been unable to agree on the ways of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem.

In Islam Karimov’s opinion, the CSTO as an important regional organization should firstly identify the reasons of the problem and the potential organizers, give an evaluation of the consequences of the actions and make correct conclusions before taking any measures in relation to an emergency situation.

At the session, the CSTO presidents also considered organizational issues related to the activity of the organization.

The CIS Heads of States Council session took place after the CSTO meeting. The presidents of the CIS member countries discussed issues of development of the Commonwealth and improvement of its bodies.

The leaders also exchanged views on the important problems of regional and international character.

www.uza.uz

 

The solemn meeting devoted to the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Uzbekistan was held at the International Forums Palace in Tashkent on 7 December. Hokim (mayor) of Tashkent A.Tukhtayev opened the meeting, which was attended by state and public figures, representatives of science, culture, art, foreign embassies and international organizations.   President Islam Karimov made a speech at the ceremony, titled “Gradual continuation of the course of modernization of the country is a decisive factor of our development”.

The head of the state noted that all achievements of Uzbekistan during the years of independence in building a democratic state, formation of the civil society and implementing reforms are based on the rights and main principles laid out in the Constitution.

Creation of the free and prosperous society, increasing the potential and the power of the country and raising the living levels of the people – all of these are the results of the enactment of the Constitution.

 

We are proud of the great successes achieved thanks to self-sacrificing work of the people, the head of the state said. High economic growth rates, stability and reliability of the banking and financial system, and reforms and renewal of the country cause admiration all over the world. The year 2010 on the initiative of the President was proclaimed the Year of harmoniously developed generation. A special program was adopted and is being implemented to achieve the stated goals.

Huge attention is being paid to protection of the rights and interests of the children and youth, improving the legislation in this area, protect the health of the mothers and children.

In his speech, President Islam Karimov proposed to proclaim the coming year 2011 the Year of small business and private entrepreneurship. The gathered greeted the President’s proposal with applause.

The solemn meeting completed with a holiday concert of masters of arts and young performers.
 

www.uza.uz    

The delegation of Uzbekistan has left for the Chinese city of Guangzhou for the Para-Asian Games, which will be held on 12-19 December.

According to tradition, the athletes laid flowers to the Monument of Independence and Humanism in Tashkent, which is a symbol of freedom, bright future and noble aspirations.

“Defending the honor of our country at the Para-Asian Games is a great responsibility for us,” athlete Behzod Khodjayev said. “Standing at the Independence Square, we promised to fight for the highest places and justify the trust of our people.”

Over 5,000 young people from 45 countries of the continent will participate in the upcoming games in 19 kinds of sports. Uzbekistan will be represented by 26 sportsmen in judo, track and field athletics, archery, powerlifting and shooting.

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President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received credentials from the new ambassadors of the UAE, Bangladesh, Jordan and Japan – Muhammad Harib Birid al Muhayribi, Mohamad Imran, Muvaffaq Muhammad Ahmad Ajlouni and Yosihisa Kuroda – at Oqsaroy residence on 6 December.

The head of the state congratulated the diplomats with their appointment to the honorable and responsible posts and wished them success in their missions in Uzbekistan.

The United Arab Emirates are a reliable economic and investment partner of Uzbekistan in the Persian Gulf. The official visit of President Karimov to the UAE in 2008 raised the bilateral relations to a significantly higher level.

The two countries have been developing cooperation in various areas. Almost 70 joint ventures with UAE capital are operating in Uzbekistan, along with representative offices of more than 20 UAE companies.

Muhammad Harib Birid al Muhayribi said his country was interested in further strengthening partnership ties with Uzbekistan. He assured the President that he would make everything possible to expand bilateral cooperation during his mission.

Uzbekistan and Bangladesh have established strong ties in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. The two states are closely cooperating and supporting each other within the international organizations.

Bangladesh is one of the main importers of the Uzbek cotton. Textile companies of Bangladesh annually purchase 400,000 to 450,000 tons of cotton from Uzbekistan.

The business circles of Bangladesh are demonstrating huge interest to investing in the textile and pharmaceutical industries of Uzbekistan. The two countries also have potential for boosting cooperation in the oil and gas, mining, tourism, service and other sectors.

“Our country stands for development of economic and political relations with Uzbekistan.

Humanitarian cooperation and tourism are among the most prospective areas. During my mission, I am going to attach special efforts to expansion of bilateral cooperation within international organizations,” Mohamad Imran said.

Jordan is another Arab state actively developing relations with Uzbekistan. The Commerce and industry chamber of Uzbekistan and the Jordan businessmen association recently signed a cooperation agreement, which eyes expansion of ties between both large companies and SMEs of the two states.

“Relations between Uzbekistan and Jordan are based on historical ties of our peoples. Our nations have the potential to widen relations in many areas, namely the economic and trade ties. The leaders of our countries have established relations based on trust and respect, which is an important factor in expansion of bilateral cooperation,” Muvaffaq Muhammad Ahmad Ajlouni said.

Yosihisa Kuroda said Japan considered Uzbekistan its important partner in Central Asia. The two states have been successfully cooperating in various areas, and the bilateral relations have been raised to the level of strategic partnership.

Japan has provided wide support to the implementation of reforms in Uzbekistan. The country of the rising sun is one of Uzbekistan’s largest investment partners. A number of large strategic projects are being implemented in Uzbekistan with participation of Japanese investments.
 

www.uza.uz

 

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held its fourth plenary session on 3-4 December, during which it considered 24 issues, including 14 laws, the state budget and the 2011 employment program. The senators started the plenary with discussion of the Concept of deepening democratic reforms and formation of civil society, presented by the President at the parliament’s session on 12 November. The members of the upper house said the concept was an important document in modernization of the country’s political system and signified a new stage of reforming and democratizing Uzbekistan.

The concept outlines ways to democratize the state authority, reform the legal system, develop mass media and ensure freedom of the speech, improve the election legislation, develop the civil society institutes and further deepen economic reforms.

The Senate approved the state budget of Uzbekistan for 2011, developed with consideration of ensuring macroeconomic stability, implementation of the Anti-crisis program for 2009-2012, reaching high GDP growth rates and increasing the living levels of the population.

The tax policy for the next year envisages further reduction of the tax burden on economic entities, stimulating modernization of production, increasing citizens’ incomes and improving tax administration.

The budget provides for increase of the expenses for the social sector and social support of the population from 58.9% in 2010 to 59.5% in 2011, which is 13.1% of the GDP.

The senators passed a number of laws and amendments to legislative acts. They also approved the Program of creation of workplaces and employment of the population for 2011. The document envisages creation of 956,200 new workplaces next year.

Besides, the upper house of the parliament introduced changes in the structure of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan.

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The ceremony of rewarding the winners of Guangzhou Asian Games with money prizes was held at the Olympic Glory Museum in Tashkent. The rewards were issued in accordance with the order of the President of 1 December. Athletes of Uzbekistan won 56 medals at the 16th Asian Games in China, including 11 gold, 22 silver and 23 bronze medals, occupying the eighth place among all teams.

The highest results were shown by Rishod Sobirov (judo), Dilshod Mansurov and Artur Taymazov (freestyle wrestling), Elshod Rasulov (boxing), Rustam Kasymjanov (chess), Vladimir Tuychiyev (cycling), Julia Tarasova and Svetlana Radzivil (track and field athletics), Vadim Menkov (canoe), Serik Mirbekov and Gerasim Kochnev (canoe doubles), Sergey Borzov, Andrey Babajanov, Alexey Mochalov and Vyacheslav Gorn (kayak).

Speaking on behalf of all athletes, Elshod Rasulov and Julia Tarasova thanked the head of the state for the attention paid in the country to the development of sports and support of the sportsmen.

www.uza.uz

Dear compatriots!
Ladies and Gentlemen!

These days the nation solemnly marks the 18th anniversary of adoption of the Main Law – the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Celebrating this truly historical date in the life of our state and our people, we give due to the everlasting role and significance, which the Constitution of the country has played in formation of the modern Uzbekistan, in achievement of the goal, which we have set before us from the early years of independence, i.e. to build a democratic law-governed state with socially oriented economy and establish the civil society, where the human being, his interests, his rights and freedoms are the most supreme value.

Today, objectively assessing and summarizing the outcomes of independent development of Uzbekistan, it is of no doubt that all the achieved goals and results recognized by the world community, which our country secured for over the past years, - both stably functioning economy, its sustainable growth rates, the year-to-year growth well-being of the population and strengthening authority in the world community, - all of these, first of all, are the result of implementation of the deeply thought-out objectives, principles and norms enshrined in the Constitution.

Shortly speaking, the life itself compellingly confirms the correctness of the country’s development model, which was chosen by us and enshrined in our Constitution that has gained the name of the “Uzbek model”.

As far we are moving away from the obsolete totalitarian, centralized, command, planning and distributive system as more we are getting convinced to what extent the principles and norms, on which our model is built, were right.

This is, first of all, full deideologization of our life, rejection of communist dogmas, rule of Law for all, maintaining by the state of the role of a main reformer, the choice of not a revolutionary, but evolutionary path, i.e. phased and gradual nature of reforms being carried out in line with the principle “do not destroy the old house until you build a new one”, as well as a strong social policy.

Guided by these principles, for over the past period in fact we have achieved a lot and can rightly be proud of this.

In my view, we have achieved the main thing, i.e. the process of reforming and democratization of the country acquired an irreversible and progressive nature.

The people, their social consciousness and their attitude towards life are changing. Their political maturity and civic responsibility for what is taking place in the country and the world are growing.

And all of this serves now as powerful moving force, which ensures onwards progression of the country along the path of progress and prosperity.

Along with this, while giving due to what was accomplished, we don’t have the right to forget that the life is always on the move.

Objectively and self-critically assessing the traversed path and the place of our country in the radical changes taking place in the world, we must not flatter ourselves with what was achieved and must not succumb to the feeling of euphoria and complacency.

In the century of globalization and increasing competition, in which we live now, only as a result of persistent and determined progression ahead on the way of cardinal reforms and modernization we can achieve the perspective goal, which we have set before ourselves, i.e. to join the ranks of developed democratic and flourishing states, provide our people worthy living standards.

It is these particular tasks which are set in the “Concept of further deepening the democratic reforms and establishing the civil society in the country”, enunciated at the joint session of chambers of our Parliament on November 12 this year.

The followings must become our most important priorities:

- to continue the constitutional reforms aimed at further democratization of state power and governance, continue the reforms on consolidating independence and liberalization of judicial system;

- the guarantees of the human and citizen rights in the information sphere, ensuring freedom of choice and improving the electoral legislation;

- further expansion and strengthening of rights and authorities of the non-state non-profit organizations, public structures and citizens’ self-governance bodies, in particular, makhalla, which are set to become in practice the most important factors of protection of democratic values and lawful interests of people, as well as establishment of a civil society.

Only continuing to carry out the large-scale economic reforms and transformations in accordance with fully justified model that we chose can ensure the sustainability and necessary pace of development of the economy, to raise our living standards and allow us to secure our worthy place in the world community.

It goes without saying that it is necessary to realize that we are setting before us such most complex and considerable tasks for implementation of which it will take many years.

Now I won’t dwell in detail on the concrete directions envisaged by the Concept of further reforming and modernizing the country.

All of these issues are now being covered by the mass media rather in detail and they are the subject of discussion not only in our country, but also abroad.

At the same time, I would like to underscore that the most complex and responsible task is not about elaborating the Concept itself, but drafting and gradually implementing the Complex program, - speaking in other words, the strategy of implementing the target objectives set in the Concept on further deepening and expanding the launched reforms to democratize and modernize the country and pursue the high development goals which we have set before us.

Speaking about this, I consider it necessary to pay attention to the following major principles which our work must be based on:

First. We must observe continuity, gradualness and consistency, speaking otherwise, the evolutionary nature of ongoing reforms, bearing in mind, that they should serve as a logical and natural continuation of the chosen course of building a democratic and law-governed state with a strong civil society.

Second. It is necessary to clearly understand that the directions of reforms proposed in the Concept are closely interlinked and interdependent.

One cannot ensure the market reforms and liberalization of economy without consistent democratization of social order and state system, providing for independent judiciary. It is equally related to the issues of ensuring freedom of speech and information, freedom of choice and developing the electoral system, establishing the civil society institutions, raising the political awareness, social and economic activeness and legal culture of our citizens.

Third. The success of further reforming and modernizing the country can be ensured only then, when the reforms become accessible and comprehensible for each consciously thinking person, and if the reforms become business of each citizen and each person living in our soil.

I set the biggest hopes and thoughts on you, my compatriots present in this hall, and above all, on the youth and in their person on the many-million forthcoming generation, who now enters our life as the decisive creative force whom the future of the country belongs to.

I firmly believe that our children – our pride and buttress – shall be worthy of the hopes, which we pin on them.

Dear friends!

A year ago at the grand meeting, dedicated to the Constitution Day, together with you we adopted decision to announce 2010 in our country as the “Year of harmoniously developed generation”.

Putting forward this exclusively important task for the present and especially for the future of our state and society, we proceeded, first of all, from the indisputable truth that the 21st century, in which we live, is the century when the intellectual values, the high level of knowledge and education dominate and are in demand.

Today there is no need to speak a lot about the fact that the most decisive factor of our progression ahead and ensuring realization of our most cherished dreams is a human capital, the forthcoming generation of young people with contemporary knowledge and in-demand professions capable to take on a responsibility for the future of the country.

It goes without saying that elaborating the program of harmonious development of upcoming generation we clearly realize that it is impossible to tackle this task of utmost importance for over the short period.

This goal must turn into a subject of daily concern and priority attention of the state and our entire society for a long-term perspective.

Naturally, the implementation of this extraordinarily large-scale program cannot be covered in the framework of one speech. This issue shall be discussed in detail at the sessions dedicated to the outcomes of the year, which will be held at the local levels and the center. Allow me to briefly dwell on the most important aspects of implementation of main directions of the Program “Year of harmoniously developed generation” in 2010.

Above all, a special attention was paid to the issues of further improving the normative and legal basis directed to protecting the rights and interests of children and youth, strengthening the legal foundations of their harmonious development.

Proceeding from the requirements of time, a thorough inventory of more than 600 normative and legal acts was made, on the outcomes of which the relevant amendments and additions have been introduced to the legislative and normative acts currently in force. They include: the introduction of additions to the Code on administrative responsibility that reinforce the responsibility of managers of entertainment institutions and other officials in terms of observing the set norms and strengthening the law and order that rule out drawing minors into criminogenic situation.

The Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis adopted in the first reading the Law “On information and library activity” aimed at providing the information and library, and above all, Internet services, firstly, to pupils and students based on the latest information technologies.

The adoption of the Law “On preventing neglect and delinquencies among minors” has a profound importance. It is necessary to underscore that adoption very soon of the Law “On limiting distribution and consumption of alcohol and tobacco products” shall become an important factor of fostering a healthy generation and guarding it from bad habits that undermine their health in the early age.

The draft of new wording of the Law “On physical culture and sports” aimed at further reforming the sphere of physical culture and sports and improving the system of training specialists in this sphere is also an important document elaborated in the framework of the Program.

Naturally, when we speak about healthy generation, first and foremost, we mean fostering a healthy progeny. For over the past years the large-scale measures have been worked out and implemented in this direction based on the program “A healthy mother – a healthy child”.

Everyone is aware how much efforts and funds have been put to protection of motherhood and childhood, including the construction in the capital city and the regions of diagnostic, screening and perinatal centers, new maternity complexes supplied with modern medical equipment.

In the framework of the State program “Screening of mother and child”, the screening centers were established in the cities of Gulistan and Jizzakh, alongside with those in other areas in Uzbekistan. All regional centers are supplied at the expense of budget with modern diagnostic and laboratory equipment and consumable materials. This has permitted to take to a higher level the prophylaxis and treatment of a broad range of hereditary diseases and decrease the degree of risk of birth of children with hereditary diseases and congenital growth diseases.

In all regions of the country practically the entire population is provided with medical examination and ultrasound check-up at the countryside medical stations and specialized centers supplied with modern equipment. The “Health improvement week for fertile-age women, children and teenage girls” is held monthly. This year alone more than 7 million 800 thousand women and 8 million 500 thousand children at the age of up to 14 years went through medical examination.

This year more than 12 thousand visiting nurses, over 8 thousand pediatricians, neonatalogists (baby doctors), midwives and nurses raised their qualification and went through training with introduction of new technologies in rendering medical services to women and children.

It is hard to find analogues to preventive measures being adopted in Uzbekistan on protection of population’s reproductive health directed to strengthening health of pregnant women through providing them with special polyvitamin complexes that contain the necessary spectrum of vitally important elements. Such measures allow to annually improve health of 400 thousand pregnant women, promote stronger health of mothers and prevent birth of children with congenital growth diseases.

The enormous work is being carried out to prevent a number of diseases deemed dangerous for people’s life. Today in all regions of the country more than 98 percent of children are vaccinated against controllable infections. As a result, the number of cases of diphtheria and measles has sharply decreased. The number of cases of infectious diseases decreased in 2010, including cerebrospinal infection – by 28 percent, epidemic parotiditis – by 27 percent and viral hepatitis – by 13 percent.

In the course of yet another large-scale measure carried out in the country - the National days of immunization against polio – 4 million children at the age of up to 15 years have been vaccinated. This has permitted to prevent falling ill with polio in the conditions, when unfavorable situation unfolded in the neighboring countries.

According to a number of respected international institutions, Uzbekistan occupies one of the leading places among 125 countries of the world on the level of favorable conditions created for women and protection of motherhood.

The UNICEF Regional Office for Eastern Europe, Baltics and CIS recognized Uzbekistan to be the regional model on introducing programs in the area of protection of motherhood and childhood.

More than 1 trillion 700 billion soums was allocated from the State budget to finance the protection of motherhood and childhood, prevent various diseases and as a whole to develop the system of healthcare. This means it is by 30 percent more than it was allocated in 2009 and as more as twice in comparison with the year 2008.

A special attention in implementation of the State program “Year of harmoniously developed generation” was paid to the development of the sphere of education, and above all, reinforcement of its logistical and technical basis, new construction and provision of educational institutions with modern equipment.

As a result of implementing the National program of cadres training and the State nationwide Program of developing the school education we have built or thoroughly reconstructed in line with modern designs 1536 academic lyceums and professional colleges, about 9 thousand, or practically all general education schools and more than 1800 sports halls.

With an aim of constantly renovating the logistical and technical basis of these educational facilities, undertaking on systematic basis their re-equipment with the state-of-the-art computer technology, educational laboratory equipment, furniture and study inventory, maintaining their up-to-date operation, as well as effectively utilizing the existing enormous potential we have established a completely new structure – the special fund at the Ministry of Finance.

In 2010, 315 billion soums were deposited to the bank account of this fund and in 2011 it is envisaged to allocate 370 billion soums. And this fact witnesses about enormous attention paid in our country to this issue.

I would like to especially note the significance for us of the opening this year in Tashkent of the new and modern education complex of the Turin Polytechnic University, which is set to become a source of the highly qualified cadres for dynamically developing domestic automobile industry and several other branches.

For over this period we have optimized the system of cadres’ training, unified 50 directions of bachelor’s education and 74 master’s specialty, as well as introduced the new classifiers of directions and majors of secondary special, professional and higher education.

In the framework of the Program, in 2010, 560 leading cluster schools were provided with 13500 computers worth about 6 million US dollars, over 750 rural schools were supplied with modern educational laboratory equipment and multimedia tools, the teachers of 1.5 thousand rural schools were supplied with 3400 personal computers worth in total about 13 million dollars.

At the moment, all educational, scientific and cultural-enlightenment facilities of the country – and they are more than 12 thousand – are connected to Educational portal, which contains over 25 thousand study materials and resources. This permits to actively introduce the methods of distance education into the education system as well as a broad complex of information and communication services for the country’s students.

Along with this, I want to underscore once again that it acquires an enormous significance the introduction of modern information and computer technologies, digital and broadband telecommunications and Internet not only in schools, lyceums, colleges and higher educational institutions, but also in the life of each family. It is the dimensions of development of contemporary communication systems and information technologies that serve as an indicator of the development level of the country and society.

Thanks to the work being accomplished in this direction, today the number of Internet users make up 6 million and half of them account for mobile communication service users.

I would like to especially note that in 2010 the modern digital television was launched in the cities of Tashkent and Samarkand, which allows to significantly increase the quality of services on distribution of multi-program television channels, and opens up principally new opportunities in terms of access to international information resources.

Dear compatriots!

The work being consistently carried out in the sphere of physical training and sports, especially, on further developing the children’s sport, building sports grounds, facilities and complexes in each city and village that meet the latest requirements and equipped with necessary sports inventory, now gives its positive results.

It should be noted that for over the years of independence Uzbekistan built more than 1200 new sports facilities and more than thousand of them are located in the rural area. This permitted today to draw over 260 thousand children into regular various types of sports.

A significant progress was achieved in actively involving the girls to go in for sports, and above all, in the rural area. Proceeding from the motto “No one should stay aside from sports”, the sports clothing and inventory worth 3 billion 500 million soums were procured for 120 thousand girls from the low-income families.

I would like to draw your attention yet to another notable fact. After adoption of the Program of developing calisthenics, the number of those who go in for this wonderful type of sport in the country increased 6-7-fold, and in some regions – 10-12-fold.

I think in this regard it is appropriate to make one vivid example. At the XVI Summer Asian Games, recently came to an end in China, our sportswomen on calisthenics, having demonstrated their talent and mastery, had secured the honorable second place, which became an unprecedented event in sports life of Uzbekistan.

It is worth noting that more than 500 young sportsmen of our country, the third of which make up girls, have participated this year in the 42 international competitions.

Today we should mention the success of our young sportsmen at the I Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, where they won 9 medals. And at the XVI Asian Games the Uzbekistan national team confidently competed with world-recognized sportsmen – by winning 11 gold, 22 silver and 23 bronze medals and occupied in the team rating the honorable eighth place.

Taking today’s opportunity, I want to announce with pleasure the names of some talented young men and women, who made famous our Homeland to the entire world at the international arenas – Rishod Sobirov, Rustam Kasymjanov, Vladimir Tuychiev, Vadim Menkov, Dilshod Mansurov, Yuliya Tarasova, Arthur Taymazov, Elshod Rasulov, Svetlana Radzivil, Serik Mirbekov, Gerasim Kochnev, Sergey Borzov, Alexei Babajanov, Vyacheslav Gorn and Alexei Mochalov, who won gold medals at the Asian Games.

The student of the Tashkent Institute of Physical Culture, the twice world champion on canoe rowing Vadim Menkov, who in 2010 was recognized by the International Rowing Federation to be the best canoeist of the world, became a true pride of our people.

All of this gives us confidence that the national team of Uzbekistan will successfully compete at 2012 Olympic Games in London.

We hope that the youth national football team of Uzbekistan that successfully competed at the last Asian Games will duly demonstrate its mastery next year in the football world cup in Mexico.

The true courage and selflessness, as well as the high morale and determination were displayed by players of the Uzbekistan national team, who for a second time in a row secured a title of world champions at the amputee football world cup in Argentina.

On behalf of the entire nation I want to express enormous gratitude to all our valorous sportsmen, who demonstrated high mastery at the world and continental competitions and raised high Uzbekistan’s flag, and wish them new victories.

I consider it appropriate to dwell more in detail on yet another priority direction of the State program “Year of harmoniously developed generation”. I am speaking about broad involvement of the graduates of professional colleges and higher educational institutions to the sphere of small business and private entrepreneurship with an aim of practical application of the contemporary knowledge and skills gained by them.

The adoption of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On additional measures to draw the graduates of educational institutions into an entrepreneurial activity” served as an important step in this direction. It is worth noting the work being carried out by the country’s banks in terms of allocating the graduates of educational institutions the soft loans to establish their own business.

I want to draw your attention yet to another important issue. All of us well understand that in the contemporary conditions of fierce competition one cannot speak about progress in isolation from the issue of further developing innovative technologies and science, actively attracting talented and gifted youth to the scientific activity, as well as creating conditions for them to realize their creative and intellectual potential.

Today the time itself dictates that this issue needs to be considered as one of the utterly important priorities of our policy.

Recently we have adopted the resolution of the President on radically improving the system of training the scientific and scientific-pedagogical cadres of higher qualification. The essence of this document is as follows: instead of obsolete methods of cadres training in the forms of postgraduate and doctoral studies at higher educational and scientific research institutions of the country we have introduced an institute of intern-researcher-applicants and senior scientific fellow-applicants.

Most importantly, with a goal of creating incentives and conditions for realizing one’s creative and intellectual potential we have decided to equate the official rate of pay of an intern-researcher-applicant with basic rate of the official rate of pay of an applicant-researcher and of a senior scientific fellow-applicant – with the rate of pay of senior scientific fellows, who have Ph.D. degrees. In practice, it means increasing for all of the aforementioned applicants of a salary to 1.6 times.

It is necessary to dwell yet on another direction of the Program of principal importance, i.e. on continuing the large-scale work being carried out in the country to reinforce family, extend care about young families, provide them with legal and social protection, as well as create necessary conditions to form a healthy and solid family.

There is no need to speak that it is in the family, in the atmosphere of love and mutual respect of parents, where a new human being is born, where he is fostered as a personality and citizen. It is in the family, where he imbibes the notions of honor and kindness, respectful attitude towards elders, where the person’s worldview is shaped in the spirit of national and universal values.

In this regard, this year we continued the work started in previous years in terms of supporting the institution of a family. For example, in order to resolve the housing problems and providing housing amenities the commercial banks allocated the mortgage and consumer credits to 2.5 thousand young families worth 107 billion 600 million soums. Besides, the khokimiyats (governor’s and mayor’s offices) of the regions, cities and districts allocated more than 5 billion 800 million soums of attracted sponsorship funds for reconstruction of the emptied uninhabited buildings and procurement of one’s own housing. More than 7200 young families received cattle for free of charge, and 5 billion 300 soums have been allocated for these purposes.

In the framework of the Program we have introduced the new contemporary forms and tools of the information and pedagogical technologies with an aim to foster in youth a solid spiritual immunity against influence of the so-called “mass culture”, religious extremism, penetration of ideas and values alien to our people.

Certainly, in this context it acquires a profound importance the propaganda and popularization of works of a genuine art in contrast to the samples of a low-standard “mass culture”.

Dear friends!

It is notable that the non-governmental organizations became the initiators of many undertakings set by the State program “Year of harmoniously developed generation” and this serves as an indisputable proof of our real achievements in building a civil society in the country, vividly demonstrates the commonality of interests of a state and society in fostering the harmoniously developed generation.

This year alone about 8 trillion soums were channeled from all sources to implementation of the Program “Year of harmoniously developed generation” and this witness about the depth and enormous scale of this work.

Availing myself of this opportunity, on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire nation I want to express a sincere gratitude to the state and non-state organizations of the country, enterprises, farming entities and entrepreneurial structures, foreign funds and international organizations, and all people, who made their worthy contribution to this noble cause.

Dear compatriots!

Now along with you we must consider what a name we shall give to the upcoming year 2011.

I think there is no need to speak once more about the essence and significance of a concrete naming each year that unites all of us along the path towards the goal, which we will set before ourselves.

In the whole we all well understand how important this issue is in mobilizing the capacities and funds of the state and society, enterprises, organizations or institutions regardless of their form of ownership, legal and physical entities, sponsors and charity funds in order to achieve the set objectives and jointly tackle the available problems.

One can see a confirmation of this in our practice and on the results of the large-scale work, which is being accomplished starting from 1997, when we began to give each new year a name, which embodies the thoughts and aspirations of the people.

Taking into consideration the aforementioned conclusions and with an aim to taking up to a new level the social and economic development of the country, I propose to announce the upcoming new year 2011 the “Year of small business and entrepreneurship”.

Speaking about entrepreneurship, first and foremost, we mean the private entrepreneurship. It is appropriate to note that from the time immemorial the entrepreneurship occupied a special place in the history of our country. We can say a lot about the traditions of our ancestor’s spirit of enterprise, their respectful and careful treatment of land, property, crafts and business qualities of people.

Here I want to remind once again the wise words of Amir Temur: “One resolute, enterprising, vigilant, courageous and brave man is preferable to thousands of lacking initiative and indifferent people”.

Perhaps, in the past the entrepreneur was named in a different way. But whatever way he was named – the trader or foreman-craftsman, the owner of workshop or enterprise, our ancestors at the expense of such types of economic activity provided the interests not only of their own families, but also the entire country.

In a word, it won’t be an exaggeration if to say that the entrepreneurial talent initially exists in our people.

It should be underscored that from the early days of independence in defining the future of the country, political system and social order of the state and society, firstly, in drafting and approving the Constitution the principal issue about ownership and property relations has always remained in the focus of our attention.

It is therefore that recognizing the equality of the state, corporate and private ownership in the make-up of the country’s multiform economy, our Constitution and legislation enshrine the priority of private ownership and ensure reliable constitutional guarantees.

Today the small business and private entrepreneurship with especially important and considerable share in the economy, the role and interaction, and simply speaking, a profound significance, which cannot be replaced by any sphere and direction, take a special place in the development of state and society.

Creating maximum favorable conditions, benefits and preferences, rendering comprehensive support, accelerated development of small business and private entrepreneurship, without which it is impossible to ensure the future of our economy, serve as the most important priority for over a span of the whole period of independent development.

One should not forget that the accelerated development of exactly this sphere is one of the most significant factors of filling the domestic market with competitive and quality products, creating the new jobs, first of all, for the youth, which is one of the today’s outstanding issues, and ensuring on this basis the growth of incomes and well-being of the people.

Speaking about exclusive importance of developing the small business and entrepreneurship, we must realize that while resolving this problem we will directly accomplish the fundamental task, which mostly defines the essence and substance of the ongoing reforms, i.e. creating a middle class of owners as the basis of a democratic society.

Everyone knows that it is this social stratum, i.e. the middle class, who is mostly interested in further deepening the reforms being carried out in the country, as well as the stable and sustainable development. Shortly speaking, the small business and entrepreneurship now become a guarantor and buttress of the social and political stability in the society, an active moving force along the path of the country’s progress.

For over the last years we have accomplished a lot in terms of creating a favorable business climate and promoting the small business and private entrepreneurship.

I think, not dwelling on this issue in detail, suffice it to make just one example.

If in 2000 the small business produced 30 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, then after a short period of time, on the outcomes of 2010 this indicator, as it is expected, will amount to 53 percent, which is without any doubt a logical result of our purposeful work.

Touching on this topic, I want to especially draw your attention to the fact that the small business and private entrepreneurship are becoming an important factor of providing employment and the source of a stable income. The particular fact that at the moment over 74 percent out of the total number of the country’s employed population is working in this sphere also witness about the aforementioned.

It is hard to imagine, where these people would look for the jobs now, had we not paid a big and comprehensive attention to this sphere in its own time, had we not created the necessary conditions and not given various preferences.

A vivid confirmation of the aforementioned thought serves the very fact that in 2010 alone thanks to developing the small business and private entrepreneurship we created 480 thousand new jobs. And more than 60 percent of them are in the rural area. Taking into consideration that about 50 percent of the country’s population lives just in the villages, I think it is not difficult to comprehend the social significance of these figures.

Yet one can speak a lot about obvious advantages and big opportunities of the small business and private entrepreneurship. However, if to take into account that at the moment there are many untapped potential and opportunities in Uzbekistan to develop this sphere, and the small business and entrepreneurship occupy a leading, and moreover, a resolute place in the total volume of the gross domestic product in the developed countries of the world, then it will become clear that how a large-scale work we will have to accomplish in this direction.

Proceeding from this, it is necessary to pay a special attention to the following priority directions of the State program, which shall be drafted and adopted in connection with announcement of the Year of small business and entrepreneurship.

Firstly, with an aim of protecting the rights and interests of small business and entrepreneurship, as well as giving the new opportunities for development of this sphere the issues of critical assessment of the current normative and legal basis and adopting the new laws must remain in the focus of our attention.

Speaking about this, it should be emphasized that one cannot tolerate anymore such a state of affairs, when at the local levels instead of giving support to private entrepreneurs the officials put all kinds of obstacles to those, who strive to establish, let it be small, but their own business.

It goes without saying that for over the last years we have accomplished a big work to considerably reduce the interference of state and supervising institutions in the financial and economic activity of enterprises, tangibly expand the economic rights and freedoms of economic and entrepreneurial entities. However, the low qualification of certain officials of supervising bodies still remains to be an acute problem and negatively affects the work in this direction.

Along with this, one cannot deny that in many regions and districts there are displays of corruption, bribery, extortion and abuse of official status. It is high time to fully eliminate such illegal phenomena.

The next priority direction is to create yet more favorable conditions for small business and private entrepreneurship.

For over the last years we have carried out and are still accomplishing a big work to simplify the registration procedure of small businesses, filing reports to the tax, financial and statistical bodies. Nevertheless, it has to be done a lot in this sphere, as well.

Along with this, in the program we need to lay down the concrete measures on resolving the issues of construction and connecting small businesses to engineering and communication networks, i.e. the electrical power and natural gas supplies, as well as water supply and sewerage system. It is necessary to establish a strict control over implementation of these measures.

Another important issue is linked with creation of conditions and benefits on tax and other payments for the sphere of small business and private entrepreneurship.

Everyone knows well that the measures adopted for over the last years to further reduce the tax burden for economic entities from 13 percent in 2005 to 7 percent, or its reduction almost twofold, expanded the opportunities for the development of small business and private entrepreneurship.

Starting from 2011 it is envisaged to reduce this figure from 7 percent to 6 percent, which, no doubt, will become a new benefit given by the state to businessmen and entrepreneurs.

I think that in this direction, not limiting ourselves to the work being accomplished, we must undertake practical measures to further improve the system of allocation of midterm and long-term credits to small businesses and private entrepreneurship for modernization and technological renovation of production and resolving available problems.

It is necessary to attach especially important significance to tackling the issues of participation of small businesses and entrepreneurship in the sphere of foreign economic activity, as well as regional and world markets.

We need to dwell yet on another issue worth a close attention. At the moment, in Uzbekistan the small business and private entrepreneurship are mainly concentrated in the sphere of commerce, services and communication, as well as reprocessing agricultural products. Along with this, it is necessary to create broad opportunities to develop small business and private entrepreneurship in industrial branches, organize modern high technological innovative industries in the spheres of nanotechnologies, pharmacology and pharmaceuticals, information-communication and biotechnologies, apply alternative energy, and in a word, to open up a way for the development of small business and private entrepreneurship based on the advanced achievements of science.

I would like to especially note that here I have dwelled briefly just on certain aspects and priority directions, which must be laid down in the program.

It goes without saying that in order to fill the program with a concrete substance and implement the outstanding tasks it is necessary to create by a governmental resolution a special working commission, deeply and thoroughly elaborate each direction with involvement of leading specialists, above all, the entrepreneurs themselves.

I think that the state and non-state organizations, small businesses, farmers and entrepreneurs, in a word, a broad public shall take an active part in this work with their thoughts and practical proposals.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to repeat once again: the small business and entrepreneurship must become a solid buttress of our society, its well-being, today’s and future development of our country.

I am confident that exactly such a view and exactly such an approach will become a main guideline in our further activity, above all, in resolving very important and outstanding tasks before us.

I wish all of you a strength and energy, as well as new successes in achieving this goal.

Dear compatriots!

Once again I congratulate all of you on the Constitution Day and wish you a sound health, peace and abundance to your households.

 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Oqsaroy residence on 2 December. Uzbekistan and the United States have been pursuing a constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues, which contribute to developing a qualitatively new stage of bilateral relations in the political, economic, humanitarian and other fields. Welcoming the guest, President of Uzbekistan highly evaluated the dynamics of the Uzbek-American relations in various areas, which correspond to the spirit of partnership and mutual understanding.

“We highly value relations that have formed between Uzbekistan and the United States,” Islam Karimov said. “I hope today we will have a good opportunity to exchange opinions on the bilateral relations, regional problems and issues that represent interest to both sides.”

Expressing sincere gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for warm reception, the Secretary of State confirmed the commitment of the US administration to the principles of mutual respect in the bilateral relations.

“Mr President! Let me thank you for your kind words and this opportunity to discuss important issues representing mutual interest,” Hillary Clinton said. “President Barack Obama also attaches great importance to the discussion of the most important sides of our bilateral relations. I am glad that the representatives of our official delegations will be able to consider a wide range of issues.”

Uzbekistan and the US have been strengthening bilateral contacts in the issues of ensuring regional security, including counteracting international terrorism, preventing drug trafficking and protecting state borders. Both sides have on a constant basis been exchanging experience in this direction, organizing trainings for specialists in the framework of various programs.

Uzbekistan has been taking an active part in the socioeconomic recovery of Afghanistan, providing practical help and assistance in transporting goods of humanitarian and non-military purpose, providing electricity, food products and construction materials, and creating transport communications. The volume of energy supplied to Afghanistan in 2010 has increased more than six times. The Uzbek specialists have also been constructing the strategically important railway line between the Afghan cities of Hairaton and Mazar-i-Sharif. All these efforts prove the idea that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem, and the position of Uzbekistan remains unchanged on this.

During the negotiations at Oqsaroy residence, the sides exchanged views on the perspectives of expansion of bilateral cooperation in many directions, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

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Uzbekistan and the United States signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation on 2 December in Tashkent.

The document envisages cooperation between the Uzbek and the US government bodies, higher educational institutions, scientific research centers and private companies in the fields of science and technology.

The agreement aims at fuller use of scientific and technical potential of the two countries, expansion and strengthening of the ties between the Uzbek and the US scientific and technical communities and supporting mutual cooperation in this sphere.

The sides have agreed for mutual exchange of information, experience and technologies, organizing joint seminars, conferences and meetings, training scientists, experts and technical specialists, as well as joint implementation of projects.

The scientific and technical cooperation between Uzbekistan and the US covers areas like energy, information and communication technologies, biotechnology, healthcare, nanotechnologies, agriculture and water management, environmental protection and other areas.

The agreement was signed by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov and the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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Issues of upbringing healthy generation are among priority directions of the state policy in Uzbekistan.

Proclamation of the year 2010 as the Year of harmoniously developed generation significantly boosted the activities in this area.

The system of protection of the health of mothers and children has been improving on the basis of the concept “Healthy mother – healthy child”.

Numerous educational establishments and sports objects have been built and reconstructed in Uzbekistan during the years of the country’s independence.

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The third international children’s drawings biennale “Joys of Tashkent” completed in Tashkent with the winners’ awarding ceremony. More than 3,500 works of children from over 40 states were presented at the exhibition, reflecting topics like childhood, home country, surrounding world and others. The grand prize of the biennale went to Arai Hiromi from Japan for his work “Flying to Uzbekistan”.

Jannat Uzemedova from Turkmenistan, Maria Dudnik from Ukraine, Chi Wang from China, Alina Faiziyeva from Uzbekistan, Sharifa Ismail Keianna from Indonesia, Ahmad Mahmud Muhammad from Egypt and Anna Masariova from the Czech Republic won gold medals.

The international exhibition was organized in the framework of the State program “Year of harmoniously developed generation” by a number of state and public structures, as well as international organizations.

The goal of the biennale is to support creative young people, create conditions for their communication with foreign youth and enriching the young artists’ knowledge about other countries.

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The members of the Uzbekistan national team have returned from the 16th Asian Games in China.   They were greeted at a solemn ceremony held in the Tashkent airport with participation of the members of the government, sports officials, relatives, media and fans. The athletes of Uzbekistan won 56 medals in total at the Games held Guangzhou on 12-27 November.

With 11 gold, 22 silver and 23 bronze medals, they became the eighth strongest team at the event.

“Defending the honor of the Motherland at the international tournament is a special pride for any sportsman,” Rustam Kasimjanov, chess world champion and winner of the Asian Games, said.

Chief trainer of the national boxing team Sharof Khudoyberdiyev, speaking at the ceremony, said the results of the performance in Guangzhou were significant, despite the fact that the team was made up of mainly young athletes.

“I believe our athletes will achieve even higher results at the 30th Summer Olympic Games, to be held in 2012 in London,” he said.

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The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan on 30 November considered the priority tasks set by the President for the parliament in his recently presented Concept of deepening democratic reforms.

The deputies said the head of the state had put forward a wide-scale and deeply reasoned program of expanding democratic reforms and formation of civil society.

They especially highlighted the President’s legislative initiatives to amend the Constitution and adopt new laws to improve the balance of the powers among the three subjects of state authority – the President as the head of the state, the legislative and the executive authorities.

For the first time in Uzbekistan, a new order is going to be introduced when the Prime Minister’s candidature is proposed by the political party that won the majority of seats at the elections to the Legislative Chamber or several parties which have equal deputy seats.

Another novelty is granting the parliament the right to issue a no-confidence vote to the Premier, which would lead to the resignation of the whole Cabinet. These measures will significantly increase the role of the parties and the parliament on the whole in solving the most important state issues, the deputies said.

During the discussion, the members of the lower house proposed to develop a set of measures to implement the President’s initiatives and improve the parliament’s activity.

In particular, they called for searching new forms and methods of work of the committees and the fractions, expanding the interaction of the parliament with other bodies, improving the legislative activities and learning the leading foreign experience of law-making.

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