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EXPLORE UZBEKISTAN

EXPLORE UZBEKISTAN

                                              LATEST NEWS : January 2010                             ARCHIVES

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a resolution on the National Program for the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation.

The program sets out to improve the legislative premises, introduce amendments into existing normative acts and government regulations that meet the requirements of contemporary life. That includes protecting the rights and interests of children and youths, and perfecting the normative principles for their comprehensive development.

The program also envisages reinforcing the actions aimed at nurturing a healthy generation with gradual yet assertive implementation of the program Healthy Mother, Healthy Child. The latter calls for improvement in the system of children’s healthcare and women’s reproductive wellbeing. This set of issues prioritizes the development of a preventive healthcare, strengthening the material wealth and technical equipment of medical service, intensification of explanatory and advisory work with population on the issues related to giving a birth and upbringing healthy children.

Tasks to be fulfilled in the education system comprise a considerable part of the program. It includes, in particular, challenges with respect to ensuring rational and effective use of modern facilities in the sphere of education. Learning disciplines and professional specializations in the higher and secondary special education system need to be revised and perfected, so do state educational standards, curricula, learning and methodological literature. The priority goal is the radical enhancement of learning quality in schools, academic lyceums, professional colleges and universities of the country by large-scale introduction of new information and communication and pedagogical technologies, electronic textbooks and multimedia facilities to learning process. Crucially, the document envisages material and moral stimulus packages for the hard work of teachers and tutors in the country.

The program takes into account, in particular, the issues related to the steady amelioration of work in the sphere of physical training and sports for the growing generation. The agenda includes a wide-scale attraction of young people to regular physical training, building of new sports complexes, stadiums and gyms, supplying them with up-to-date facilities and equipment, provision with highly qualified training personnel.

Young businesspeople will be offered government support this year as well. The document envisages a number of actions toward further stimulation and development of small and entrepreneurial businesses, attraction of youths, especially in rural areas.

Another trend of the program highlights the elaboration of a complex of measures on encouraging the progress in science, arranging conditions for the attraction of gifted young people to scientific and academic activity.

New action plans will be developed this year to support young families. For instance, one of the program’s clauses envisages measures to provide every young family with access to modern information and communication technologies, digital and wide-screen telecommunication facilities and broadband internet.
The republican commission instituted following President Karimov’s directive signed December 9, 2009, was tasked to arrange and monitor the implementation of government program for the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation.

The territorial and sectoral programs will be worked out within that program to be implemented in the course of the year.
 

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As part of the expanding interaction between Uzbekistan and the Federal Republic in this sphere, a thematic presentation has been organized in Berlin addressing the current state and development prospects of agriculture and processing industry in Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by representatives of federal ministries and agencies, economic and financial institutions, private companies, institutions and research centers in Germany who specialize in agriculture. The Uzbek delegation was represented by the Association of Farmers, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, Uzinfoinvest Agency as well as various companies and firms.

During the presentation, Uzbek officials chose to focus on agricultural development in Uzbekistan and implemented economic and structural reforms. Participants of the occasion also provided information on favorable investment climate in the country, export potential in agricultural sector, as well as prospects for investment cooperation with German companies.

A particular attention was drawn to granted tax and customs allowances and preferences for domestic and foreign investors, in particular, within the established free industrial economic zone in Navoi.

Speaking about relations between the two nations, an authorized representative of Ferrostaal AG, Udo Voelker said Uzbekistan is Germany’s leading trade partner in Central Asia.

“Our organization is highly interested in further development of economic relations between Uzbekistan and Germany” said Voelker. “Uzbekistan, which is home to tasty fruits and vegetables, has an august agricultural potential. In their turn, Germany’s businesses have modern technologies and equipment, the attraction and use of which may contribute to the further modernization of the agrarian sector in Uzbekistan.”

He also added that the ongoing economic reforms in Uzbekistan open for German companies good prospects for running successful business and expanding the volume of bilateral trade, a good example of which is a trucks manufacturing venture created in Uzbekistan jointly with MAN.

Representative of credit insurance company Euler Hermes Kreditversicherung AG, Manfred Bruer, in his address stressed the need for more active use of export insurance services for expansion of bilateral economic cooperation between Germany and Uzbekistan. Pointing to the significant economic and investment potential of Uzbekistan, Bruwer called on German companies to work more closely with the Uzbek partners.

According to participants of the event, Uzbek and German agricultural companies have noticeably intensified cooperation. This is demonstrated by a recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the German companies specializing agriculture and food industry.

Professor Edgar Klose gave details about the cooperation of INNO-Concept GmbH and Brandenburg Institute for the Promotion of Technology and Innovation with Uzbekistan in the introduction of innovative methods of agricultural production, monitoring the environment and sustainable economic development.

During the event, participants held a cooperation exchange where Uzbek and German delegations held talks and signed cooperation agreements.
 

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China Coal Energy Company Limited has won the tender for modernization of Angren coal mine.

According to Uzbekugol JSC, customer of the project, the modernization of Angren coal mine covers substitution of the cyclical technology to conveyor when developing secondary kaolin and coal seams.

The project is to increase coal production to 6.4 million tons per year against 3.2 million tons in 2009.

It is planned to supply 4.2 million tons of coal to New Angren Thermal Power Plant for its year-round solid fuel combustion. Technical modernization of the mine is be implemented along with the transfer to the year-round coal combustion.

According to preliminary data, the modernization of the open-pit mine will begin in the second half of 2010 and be completed by early 2012. The total project cost is $154.4 million is funded by a loan from China’s Eximbank in the amount of $120.4 million and Uzbekenergo’s own funds in the amount of $34 million

The project of transition of Yangi Angren Thermal Power Plant to coal combustion is estimated at $107 million. On the first stage (2009-2012), it is planned to modernize five units. Increase in annual capacity will reach 2,100 MW.

Angren coal deposit is the largest in Uzbekistan. The deposit contains Angren and Apartak open-cast mines.
 

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IE Singapore State Agency for Foreign Economic Relations together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized a visit for the business mission from Singaporean companies specializing in car manufacturing, machinery and electronic industries.

The Singapore delegation’s main purpose of this visit was to learn more about business and investment climate of the country, establishment of contacts with potential partners to establish joint venture and explore opportunities for commercial activities.
During the visit, the delegation members held a series of talks at Uzbekistan’s ministries and departments and also visited manufacturing plants in Tashkent, Samarqand, Andijon and other cities in the country.

Assessing the status and prospects of partnership at the car market, Vice-President of RIM Polymers Han Tjing Oei noted the intensive development of the industry in Uzbekistan.

It should be noted that the visit of the entrepreneurs was preceded by a business seminar held in late 2009 in Singapore, devoted to development of car industry in Uzbekistan, where Singapore businessmen were briefed in detail on the prospects of the automotive industry in the country, favorable investment environment and conditions created for foreign investors.

“At the same time, Singaporean companies are interested in Uzbekistan not only as a place to invest, but also as a promising market for high-tech equipment supply,” said Janet Lim, Chairman of CFM Holdings. In her opinion, this direction may be interesting for both Uzbekistan and Singapore.

The representative of IE Singapore Agency under the Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry Julia Lee informed of the Agency’s intention to further disseminate information on Uzbekistan’s opportunities among other businesses in Singapore.
 

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A presentation of a new UNDP project in Uzbekistan “Supporting the development of the microfinance sector” has been held in Tashkent

The joint project between the Government of Uzbekistan and UNDP “Support to Microfinance Development in Uzbekistan” is a new initiative aimed at supporting further development and sustainable growth of the microfinance sector.

During the presentation it was said that primary purpose of the project is promotion of establishment of efficient, effective and sustainable microfinance sector by uniting efforts of all interested parties, including international donors and financial institutions.

It should be noted that major objectives of the project are technical assistance for improving of sustainability of micro-credit institutions system and strengthening institutional capacity of the National Association of Microfinance Organizations and Credit Unions. All this in general would promote and strengthen micro-credit institutions and expand access to financial sources.

An important aspect of the project is to increase public awareness of the population on microfinance through development and promotion of various publications.

Elnura Mametova, Manager of Central Asia Microfinance Center for Central and Eastern Europe and CIS noted the successful implementation of joint projects in Uzbekistan and added “Today we can see that the simple access to micro-loans allows representatives of small and entrepreneurial business to plan their strategy more confidently.”

Since 1998, UNDP has piloted two projects facilitating the creation of the country’s first nongovernmental micro-credit organizations. Practical approbation of those programs showed the viability of microfinance and the demand for such services, thus attracting support from the government. It can be recalled that a state program of development of microfinance for 2007-2010 adopted in Uzbekistan includes various components of micro-financing, in particular, educational, advisory, organizational, legal and practical ones.
 

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Tourism fairs were held in the Belgian city of Leuven and the Dutch city of Utrecht and extensively presented Uzbekistan’s tourism potential.

Uzbekistan stand in Leuven attracted a particular attention of the fair’s visitors. They were shown a film telling about the rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage of the Uzbek people, as well as today’s achievements of the country in various fields, especially in improving tourism infrastructure.

Most of the guests expressed their admiration for the historical sights of Uzbekistan and works of applied art.

President of the Belgian company Hobo Reisen A.Gotz said that the exhibition’s visitors went to the fair with a purpose - to choose for themselves a place of rest in the current tourist season. According to A.Gotz, one such country is Uzbekistan - a country known to tourists and travelers around the world both for its ancient monuments and warmth and hospitality. According to him, group of Belgian tourists had been formed who planed to visit Uzbekistan in early May this year, while in the company’s plans for the first half of 2010 include organization of several tours in Uzbekistan, because the number of Belgian tourists wishing to visit the country was constantly growing.

In the city of Utrecht, at the Vacantiebeurs-2010 international tourist tours to Uzbekistan were proposed by major Dutch tourist companies as Djoser, Dimsum Reisen, Vaobab Reisen, Eurocult Lito Reisen, Koningaap, Sawadee Reisen, Tiara Tours, VNC Asia Travel, Sunita Tgavel, VSD Trave1.

Uzbekistan’s ancient cities located on the Silk Road are the main objects for tourist tours from the Benelux countries.

Karine Kwek Vell, Manager of Tiara Tours Company, noted that the number of tourists from the Netherlands, wishing to visit Uzbekistan, is growing steadily recent years. Currently, a group has been formed in 2010, and during the exhibition people continue to make requests for a visit. Karine Kwek Vell was confident that “this is just the beginning” and subsequently number of tourists would grow. According to Karine Kwek Vell, Uzbekistan became one of the best tourist centers on the legendary Great Silk Road, through development of the country’s tourism infrastructure.
 

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The construction of Hairaton-Mazari-Sharif railway was officially launched last week, where the main contractor is O’zbekiston Temir Yollari State Stock Railroad Company.

As was reported earlier, the 75km-long railway line and a few stations will be built and commissioned during the year, together with the renovation of Hairaton station.

The Uzbek side also intends to assist in training of Afghan railway specialists who will be able to carry out repairs and maintenance of the railway line after its commissioning.

During the project’s official opening ceremony, the Afghan side stressed that the launch of the construction of Khairaton - Mazari-Sharif railway was a vivid demonstration of friendly relations between two countries. It was noted that, taking into account Uzbekistan’s huge potential and experience in many spheres, including in construction, the Afghan side was interested in expanding Uzbek organizations’ involvement in economic projects in Afghanistan.

International experts consider the construction of the railway as Uzbekistan’s great practical contribution to economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.
 

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The Tenth Meeting of the joint Uzbek-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation was held last week in Teheran. The sides discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral relations.

Uzbek delegation was headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiyev, and the Iranian side was represented by Minister of Commerce Mehdi Ghazanfar.

During the talks, the sides discussed the state and prospects of bilateral trade, economic and scientific-technical cooperation. In particular, the meeting explored the possibilities to increase trade between two countries, further development of cooperation in transport and communications sector, providing an active and mutually beneficial use of transit facilities between the two countries.

Following the talks, a Protocol of Tenth Meeting of the joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran was signed.

The sides also agreed to hold next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in 2011 in Tashkent.
 

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The exhibition of works by the French photographer Pascal Thomas entitled Couleurs d’Ouzbekistan (Colors of Uzbekistan) has opened in the French capital.

Common Parisians, business and culture people as well as travel companies attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Legendary historical towns of Uzbekistan and architectural monuments, rich cultural, scientific potential as well as human resources, modern infrastructure, cordiality and hospitality of the Uzbek nation attract the interest of the French, for sure.

As the photo master said he tried to reflect all the riches of culture of the Uzbek people, the beauty and grandeur of historical monuments of the country.

Displayed in the exhibition the works of the photographer have aroused huge interest of visitors who shared their impressions with journalists. Particularly, according to the representatives of the National Conservatory of Arts in Paris, the exhibition contributes to further profound comprehension by the French public of rich cultural-spiritual values of the Uzbek people as well as the modern life of the country.

The exhibition of photo works of Pascal Thomas on Uzbekistan in the gallery “Le carrefour” in Paris is to last through the end of March 2010.
 

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Today, the national air company O’zbekiston Havo Yullari (Uzbekistan Airways) marks its 18th birthday. Since the initial years of its existence, the company has fancied modern aircraft with eminent efficiency and exceptional comfort.

The roots of accomplishments and progress are in the government program for the development of civil aviation in the republic through 2020. The program sets out a complete modernization and unification of the fleet, a modern aircraft maintenance base, development of infrastructure, drastic reconstruction of air traffic control system, formation of the company’s own professional training school.

In contrast to expert forecasts, Uzbekistan Airways has retained its position amid the global economic downturn, and has been reviewing the past year and drawing plans for 2010.

Since late 2008 due to the impact of the global economic slowdown, volume of air traffic in the world has fallen. However, the demand for quality and affordable air travel in domestic destinations has remained relatively high. The airline has traced this trend, readjusted its strategy and started to develop its routes within the country, including cargo traffic.

In 2009, the company succeeded to increase its flights by 7.7 percent and freight transportation by 8.1 percent than in 2008 in domestic destinations.

The company carried on establishing an international intermodal logistics center at Navoi International Airport.

On May 27, 2009, Uzbekistan Airways started regular operation of two cargo aircraft A300-600 from Navoi to Bangkok, New Delhi and Mumbai that has expanded its international freight transport.

Handling of wide-body long-haul aircraft requires a special responsibility and a great complexity of manufacturing processes. The company replenishes and upgrades its fleet, first of all with aircraft of a new generation.

Last year, Chkalov Aircraft Production Association provided the national air carrier with two modified IL-114-100 aircraft. Uzbekistan Airways has concluded agreements with largest aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus. The airline has ordered two B-787 Dreamliner, four B-767, ten A320s, six of which will be delivered in 2010. The first A320 will arrive as early as July this year.

Uzbekistan Airways Technics continues to build capacity as the company provides all types of line and base maintenance of aircraft fleet, not only that of Uzbekistan Airways but also those of foreign airlines. High quality of maintenance, professional competence of staff and constant development of new types of services are confirmed by relevant international certificates.

Regarding the safety standards, Uzbekistan Airways has one of the most stringent requirements in civil aviation. Now the airline has shifted to a qualitatively new level. This is the introduction of safety management system. In 2009, Uzbekistan Airways has passed the IOSA audit which has become a significant event for the industry. In preparation for the audit the national airline has restructured its units in accordance with the quality and safety standards worked out by the International Air Transport Association. After IATA checking, Uzbekistan Airways has been included in the official register of IOSA operators and a corresponding certificate as a high appreciation of the entire staff of the company.

The national company has enacted interline agreements on mutual recognition of electronic shipping documents with 16 international airlines that created favorable conditions for attracting passengers from near and far countries where air companies issue and accept only electronic air tickets.

During the preparation for joining the Sky Team international airline alliance, Uzbekistan Airways had chosen the service provider of information systems (reservation systems, bank statements and electronic tickets processing, website passenger reservations, revenue management etc.). Airline experts are carefully reviewing all aspects related to joining the alliance, and confident that this will provide much benefit to both Uzbekistan Airways and its passengers.

As part of its development strategy, the national air company plans to consolidate its position in all market segments. In accordance with the objectives set by the government of the republic on the further development of civil aviation, Uzbekistan Airways has prioritized in 2010 to ensure and raise air safety and security, improve all structures and industrial complexes.
 

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Joint Production Association Uzbek Metal Plant produced more than 716,000 tons of steel last year, which is 6.2% more than in 2008. According to Uzmetkombinat’s press service, in 2009 the company shipped 687,100 tons of finished steel as the growth rate against 2008 amounted to 106.9%.   In the production of consumer goods the plant also yielded positive results, 108.4%.

The plant is constantly searching for new markets. For example, in 2009 the company shipped rolled ferrous metal, slag rolling production, steel slag to Kyrgyzstan, as well as rolled brass to Iran and rolling of ferrous metals and consumer goods to Turkmenistan.

Uzbek Metal Plant is particularly active in the traditional cooperation exchange held in Tashkent. Last year, under the agreements concluded during the exchange, Uzmetkombinat manufactured over 10 billion soums worth of produce.

Uzbek Metal Plant is the only ironworks in Central Asia dealing with metal scrap. The plant was put into operation in 1956.
 

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The Republican Specialized Center for Surgery of Joints and Hands has commissioned the development of new types of surgeries on hip replacement.

“Today, surgeries on hip replacement to remove limitation of its mobility due to cartilage damage and tumor are applied in Uzbekistan,” shares Muhammad Shorustamov, Deputy Director of the Republican Specialized Center for Surgery of joints and hands. “Today, in our center is preparing to introduce hip replacement surgeries incase of fracture damaged or injury.”

These surgeries are bit more complex to conduct and require consideration of the extent of post-traumatic damage of bones. Today, the center acquired the necessary tools and trained professionals to implement these surgeries. And in February, there will be demonstration surgeries conducted by surgeons of leading foreign arthroplasty centers for our specialists.

“I believe that by the middle of this year we will start conducting such surgeries ourselves,” said Muhammad Shorustamov. “In addition, we intend to continue assisting rural specialists in the development of joint replacement.”

Surgeries on replacement of joint with an artificial implant return the natural mobility of limbs. The first such surgeries on the hip joint were conducted fifteen years ago in the Republican Specialized Center for Surgery of joints and hands.
 

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Tour performances of a band of Japanese drummers Himiko in the Uzbek capital have been occasioned to the Year of Cooperation between Japan and Central Asia 2009. The show was organized by the Ministry for Culture and Sports Affairs of Uzbekistan, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Fund Forum, the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan and the Agency for Culture Affairs of Japanese government.

Not reasonless they say “If you want to have a rest, and visit – even if only in your dreams – the country where the Japanese cherry tree blossoms, introduce yourself to the creativity of Japanese drummers”. Uzbek spectators have got such an opportunity. Two wonderful evening events have been presented by Japanese musicians with new sounding of the traditional percussion instruments on the stages of Alisher Navoiy State Academic Bolshoi Theater and the Grand Hall of State Conservatory.

Master classes by the Japanese female drummers took place at the State Conservatory within the tour program, where students and all visitors had an opportunity to get familiarized with the art of playing the Japanese drums.

The concert of a band of Japanese drummers Himiko has been the product of energetic cooperation between Fund Forum and Japan’s public organizations. In November last year, a concert of traditional Japanese dances was organized in Tashkent where a dancing group Bandou Sengiku performed classical Japanese dances and evoked keen interest in the spectators. In their turn, the Japanese public actively visited concert performances of the instrumental group Registon during its tours across Japan. And in 2007, the concert “Music and Dances of the Land of the Rising Sun” was organized in Tashkent with the participation of leading masters of national dance and music, including the national dancing theater Ofarin who represented Uzbekistan in many joint cultural projects of the two countries.

Himiko is a group of female drummers who started performing in February 1985 under the initial title “Female Japanese Drums Himiko”. Later, the band was renamed as “Group of Drummers of Himiko”. The ensemble borrowed its title from the mysterious empress Himiko who ruled the state Jamataikoku in ancient times, and the previously unknown world of taiko was created by means of merging the power and courage of Japanese drums with female grace and beauty.
 

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The database of Bukhoro Ahbori daily is created at the regional library’s information center. The newspaper was published in the 1920s.

Local specialists have also created an electronic catalogue of rare books preserved in the library of Bukhoro’s last amir (ruler). The catalogue is the essential information resource as it contains the classification of hand-written books of the 7th – 19th centuries.

Readers of the information-library center can also got familiarized with electronic versions of some popular scientific legal magazines and books published abroad.

“Furthermore, our programming specialists have created a CD of the nine-volume collected works of the great scientist-orientalist, the academician Vasiliy Bartold that could be served as a rich material for researchers engaged in studying the history of our country, the ancient literature and culture,” suggested Iqbol Saidova, manager of the information-technological department of the Center.

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Following a number of similar launches, a pilot introduction of distance learning has started in Uzbekistan about a month ago. The new system focuses on advanced training of teachers of general schools. In her interview to UT, Mahfirat Abdullayeva, director of the Distance Learning Center under the Central Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Public Education Cadres, presented a detailed account of the project’s implementation.

“The launch of the new system ensured a qualitative progress in the development of the distance education in Uzbekistan. The distance education system of the republican designation has been put into operation for the first time in the country. It fully meets the generally accepted idea of the distant education system in the world. The whole study process including the monitoring of the material comprehensibility level and final assessment takes place with the help of computer technologies as well as global information networks.”

- Both national and foreign experience is said to have been used while creating the distance learning system...

Sure, indeed. The considerable experience of elaborating educational and methodological materials for distance learning at Tashkent Institute for Teachers Advanced Training has proved rather valuable. For several years its specialists have been introducing distance education technologies to advanced training of teachers in general schools. The Moodоl system developed by Australian pedagogues and applied in 70 countries worldwide has been used as a kind of a platform, software. The whole interface of the program was translated into the Uzbek language during the adaptation process.

- Please tell us about the specialists and first students involved in the development of distance learning.

Absolutely all technical staff responsible for the network’s operation underwent a special training. In the training process they had an opportunity of not only attending classes with participation of foreign specialists but also taking an in-depth study course abroad. The leading scientists-specialists of the republic participated in the process of development of the training material.

60 teachers of informatics from Bukhoro, Samarqand, Farg’ona regions and Tashkent city were the first learners. Adaptation and perfection is taking place together with the learning process. We are opening the course for teachers of the English language in February and the course for teachers of physics in March. The advanced training courses will be launched for a total of teachers of 11 disciplines by the end of the year.

- What are the long-term prospects of the project?

Our distance education system should cover the whole republic starting from January, 2011. The material and technical base and specialists have been already prepared for that. Each region will have a regional coordination center and five resource centers in schools at remote districts on the basis of the regional institute for retraining and advanced training of teachers. At the result each teacher will have the opportunity of choosing the form of advanced training. They will be able to take a full-time tuition at the advanced training institute as well as undergo the distance education.
 

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The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan held a session on 29 January to consider the results of the socioeconomic development of the country in 2009 and the main priorities for 2010.

President Islam Karimov delivered a speech in the session. In particular, he said that thanks to correct development and modernization strategy, and mobilization of efforts for implementation of 2009-2012 Anti-Crisis Program, the country managed not only to withstand the challenges of the global crisis, but ensure stable economic and social growth.

Macroeconomic stability and stable economic growth rates are a proof of the correctness of the economic course chosen by Uzbekistan and acknowledged as the Uzbek model of economic reforms, the President noted.

In 2009 the GDP of Uzbekistan increased by 8.1%, industrial production by 9%, agricultural production by 5.7%, retail trade turnover by 16.6% and paid services by 12.9%.

The state budget has been was implemented with a surplus without cuts in budget spending, while the inflation level did not exceed the forecast and comprised 7.4%, the head of the state said.

The measures to strengthen the banking and financial sector have allowed to double the cumulative capital of the banks in the past two years, while the share of bank credits used for investment purposes has reached 70%.

A complex of measures have been implemented to ensure financial stability of the enterprises of the real sector, mainly through modernization of production, reduction of the products’ cost price, expansion of cooperative ties among local companies and stimulating internal demand. The volume of localized production increased 2.3 times last year, with launch of more than 120 new types of products.

Thanks to support and stimulation of the local exporting enterprises in the conditions of unfavorable conjuncture at world markets, in 2009 the export volumes increased by 2.4%.

Uzbekistan has pursued the policy of structural transformation and diversification of the economy, modernization and technical renewal of production, and attraction of investments, mainly foreign ones. New production capacities were launched last year in the automobile building, construction materials, chemical, food, light, pharmaceutical and other industries. Car and railway transport systems and communications have also seen extensive development.

The anti-crisis measures taken in 2009 have resulted in creating more than 940,000 new workplaces, including over 500,000 in the rural areas.

President Islam Karimov also drew attention to the existing unsolved problems and touched upon the most important tasks in the country’s social and economic development in 2010.

The President entrusted the heads of ministries, economic management bodies, as well as local authorities, to take required measures to continue and deepen reforms in the economy, implementation of strategic investment projects and strengthening the banking and financial system.

Islam Karimov also highlighted the importance of the implementation of all measures included in the 2010 State Program “Year of harmoniously developed generation”, speeding up construction of rural housing and infrastructure, increasing employment and people’s incomes.
 

Address by President Islam Karimov at the joint session of Legislative Chamber and the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Dear deputies!

Distinguished senators!

Dear friends!

It gives an enormous pleasure to cordially congratulate you on the deserved victory in the elections and the high level of trust, which has been rendered to you by voters and population of the country.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to express to all of you, the elected representatives of people, my enormous respect and confidence.

I am convinced that the trust, which has rightly been rendered to you, - this is, firstly, the expression of respect towards your personality, your knowledge, experience and selfless labor, above all, the concrete contribution, which each of you is making to the cause of further increasing authority and flourishing of the country, well being and prosperity of our nation.

At the same time – this is the trust rendered to the political party, the public movement, which you have represented in the general elections.

I would like to underscore time and again that this all, above all, the particular advance, which it will need to be justified by each at this own working place by a concrete work, his honest attitude towards fulfillment of the duty, which I hope you are well realizing as the deputies of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

I would like to draw your attention yet to another very important moment.

Your authority is the authority of the Legislative Chamber and Senate, this is authority of the nation’s Parliament, and finally, this is the authority of our country.

Distinguished friends!

I think, today at our joint session of the Legislative Chamber and Senate of Oliy Majlis there is no need to speak a lot about the elections to the Legislative Chamber, Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan and local Kengashes (Councils) that took place on December 27, 2009, as well as the runoff elections to those bodies on January 10, 2010.

The detailed and rather objective assessments of these elections have already been given by both relevant authorized structures and observers both inside the country and on the part of accredited organizations and observers from abroad.

Above all, the state of general activeness of voters, state of openness, transparency, observance of norms and requirements of domestic and international legislation, which have taken place in the elections, are noted in those assessments and commentaries, which became yet as another confirmation of the fact that how truly enormous steps our society has made for over the past years on the way of democratic transformations, ensuring freedom of choice for everyone and for establishing strong civil society.

Yet already the fact that practically about 30 percent out of the total number of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and about 20 percent of the deputies, who have been elected to the local Kengashes, went through the second round of voting speaks about a lot, and above all, about how the elections were democratic.

The elections demonstrated the high socio-political culture of the population, growing level of its political and civil self-consciousness, its broad support of our progressive advancement along the way of deepening reforming and modernizing the country.

Most importantly, the elections have once again demonstrated that all radical changes and transformations taking place in our state – this is a process, which has acquired an irreversible nature.

And yet there is another very important conclusion, which we need to make, - these elections showed to what extent those decisions made on time were right and efficient, in particular, we have adopted the Constitutional Law “On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country”, as well as implemented measures to ensure so that the political parties, as they participate and prove in the elections their competence, become in practice the decisive force of deep transformations taking place in Uzbekistan.

I think I shall not be mistaken if I say that particularly such peculiarity made up the essence and main substance of these elections, and without any doubt, will render a considerable impact on raising efficiency of the nation’s parliamentary system.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again congratulate and thank all our citizens, express the feelings of deep respect to the entire nation that our country has successfully withstood this tough political examination on the way of building our deserved future.

Distinguished participants of the session!

Before starting to dwell on the issues related to forthcoming activity of the newly elected Legislative Chamber and Senate, it accords me a profound pleasure to express the words of a sincere gratitude to the members of both chambers of Oliy Majlis, who have relinquished their powers, for their work, for their honest labor, for their substantial contribution to consolidating the might of our country, as well as raising the prosperity and well being of our nation.

The activity of the country’s bicameral parliament elected for the first time in 2004 coincided in its time with the important period in our life notable for its deep transformations, dynamic processes of consistent reforming and liberalizing all spheres of political and socio-economic life, democratic renewal and modernization of the country.

The previous make-up of parliament’s deputies made an important contribution to resolution of all those priority tasks set before Uzbekistan by adopting more than 250 laws of a profound significance in deepening the socio-political and socio-economic reforms being carried out in the country.

As we summarize the accomplished, today it can be said that the main tasks in terms of establishing the lower chamber of parliament as permanently functioning professional body, which elaborates and adopts laws, and the upper chamber – the Senate as the body of territorial representation, which fully and comprehensively expresses the interests of regions, have been as a whole successfully fulfilled. The quality and validity of legislative acts being passed have substantially improved. The balance, consistency of national and regional interests is being ensured more effectively.

The role and influence of political parties on the activity of the highest representative body of the country, representative bodies of power at the local levels have substantially increased.

For the first time the parliamentary majority has been formed in the Legislative Chamber – the Democratic bloc, which brought together the factions of the Movement of entrepreneurs and business people – the Liberal-Democratic Party, Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish”, as well as the Social-Democratic Party “Adolat”. At the same time, the parliamentary opposition has been formed represented by the faction of the People’s-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

A special place was reserved in the lawmaking activity of Oliy Majlis to the issues of normative and legal support of structural transformations in the economy taking place in the country, further creation of favorable investment climate, modernization, technical re-equipment of production, as well as development of the country’s banking and financial system.

During this period the entire package of legislative acts has been adopted, which envisage the consolidation of legal protection of private ownership, establishment of a powerful class of owners in the country, consolidation of farming, ensuring further liberalization of economy, creation of favorable conditions for development of small business and entrepreneurship, as well as establishment of a ramified market infrastructure.

The most important issues remained on the focus of attention in terms of continuous growth of population’s incomes and well being of the people, successful implementation of the large-scale social programs.

Those and the whole number of other measures aimed at legislative support of economic reforms promoted creating the necessary legal maintenance of successful implementation of the Anti-crisis program of measures for 2009-2012 directed to minimize the negative consequences of the global financial and economic crisis, allowed Uzbekistan, among other limited number of countries in the world, to provide for sustainable growth rates of economy and increase the real incomes of population.

The growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the year 2009, which was not easy in all respects, made up 8,1 percent, industrial production – 9 percent, total amount of investments increased by 26 percent, including the foreign investments – by 68 percent, - and all these serve as a confirmation of the aforementioned.

The positive balance in the foreign trade turnover made up more than 2,3 billion dollars, the growth of average salary made up 40 percent, and of the real incomes – 26,5 percent.

The parliament has substantially contributed to the large-scale work being accomplished in the country to deeply reform and liberalize the judicial and legal system, ensure in practice the independence of judicial power. For over these five years 58 laws were adopted in accordance with which further reforming of the judicial-legal system has been carried out. The liberalization of the system of criminal punishment has been accomplished.

The institute of advocacy has been reformed. The system of executing the court decisions and the activity of prosecutor’s office saw improvement; the number of other measures has been taken aimed at consistent democratization of the entire judicial and legal system.

The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on abolishing the death penalty in the country starting from January 1, 2008, as well as the Law on delegating the right to issue an arrest warrant from prosecutor’s office to courts adopted in 2007 drew a wide response in the entire world. With introducing the said measures one of the most humane and liberal systems of criminal punishment in the world has been formed in Uzbekistan.

Much has been accomplished in terms of strengthening and developing the institutions of civil society, developing the independent mass media – the most important component of democratic reforms.

For over the last years about ten legislative acts were adopted directly aimed at further democratizing and liberalizing mass media, increasing their activeness in ensuring glasnost and openness of socio-political and socio-economic reforms, as well as introducing the latest information-communicational technologies into the media space.

In July 2008 both chambers of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted the joint resolution “On measures to strengthen support of non-state non-profit organizations, other institutions of civil society”. It became yet another important step on the way of consistently ensuring the independent development of NGOs, institutions of civil society, strengthening their role and significance in democratic renewal of the country. The mentioned joint resolution paved way for establishment of the independent system of forming sources of financing the activity of NGOs and other institutions of civil society based on democratic principles.

Distinguished participants of the session!

Assessing the achieved successes, along with that I consider it necessary to note the unutilized reserves, shortcomings and inadvertences in the activity of chambers of the previous convocation. This is especially important to make today, when the tasks and priorities of the activity of Oliy Majlis for the forthcoming five-year period are being defined.

First, it is necessary to admit that one of the big shortcomings in the activity of the Legislative Chamber is the lack of the deeply and comprehensively elaborated program of lawmaking set for a long-term perspective, closely linked with the needs, course of socio-economic and socio-political reforms in the country. This is one of the reasons that laws are frequently adopted haphazardly once they are introduced by subjects of legislative initiative.

Second, the passiveness and insufficient activeness of the deputy corpse in terms of initiating and promoting laws vitally necessary for implementing the dynamically developing reforms in economic, political and humanitarian spheres serves as a serious shortcoming. During the last five years from out of 297 draft laws introduced into the Legislative Chamber only 44 draft laws have been initiated by deputies. Along with that, 42 draft laws were introduced directly by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, more than 160 draft laws were introduced by the country’s government mostly in the framework of fulfilling the decrees and resolutions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Third, the quality of laws being adopted requires radical improvement. Most of them have been directed to introducing amendments, clarifications and addenda to the already passed laws and were not of a codified nature. The draft laws included discrepancies, doubling with acts adopted earlier and had many reference rules. And most significant shortcoming is that the passed laws frequently lack the procedural mechanisms that provide for implementation of those acts of legislation, and this, in its turn, considerably complicates their application, leads to non-fulfillment of laws and legal nihilism, as well as decreasing of efficiency of the law-enforcement practice.

Fourth, the forms of deputy-led control and influence on improvement of the law-enforcement practice envisaged by law have been poorly used. For over the entire period of functioning of lower chamber just several parliamentary inquires (interpellations) have been made, in particular, on the issues of introducing of innovative technologies into production, accelerated construction of enterprises of chemical industry and manufacturing new types of products.

Fifth, the systemic work of a member of parliament at his election district requires considerable improvement, which would allow him to reveal how the passed laws are working, in which laws today the practice of economic construction feels the need, what problems his voters are dealing with and what needs to be done to resolve them. Suffice it to say that the “Procedure of organizing activity of a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the election district” was elaborated and approved by chamber only in May 2008, i.e. in the fourth year of functioning of parliament. The work itself was mainly related to holding the meetings, which, as the analysis reveals, frequently were of a formal nature and were just limited to answers to the incoming complaints and questions.

Sixth, especially in the beginning of practical activity of upper and lower chambers the serious problems occurred related mostly to demonstration of ambitions from both sides, and nevertheless those contradictions have negatively impacted the quality and terms of adoption of legislative acts.

Speaking briefly, it was difficult to provide for functioning of each particular chamber as an independent and mandatory component of the lawmaking process accomplished by Oliy Majlis – the highest legislative body of Uzbekistan.

It is fully natural and logical that during fulfilling the functions and powers laid on each of the chambers there may emerge various differences and contradictions between them.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to underscore that the Senate, its members are not vested with a right of legislative initiative. The Senate is a representative body and its considerable part, while serving as the deputies of regional, city and district Kengashes of people’s deputies, are their authorized representatives at the highest legislative body of the country and are accountable to them.

And therefore it is fully logical that in their activity and in considering the draft laws and making decisions, while guided by, firstly, the nationwide interests, they consider those bills through the prism of interests of territories and regions.

And therefore the cases of rejection by Senate of some law, the discussions which emerge in the framework of conciliation commissions of upper and lower chamber on the essence and substance of proposed drafts, we must consider as normal and healthy form of work of a democratic parliament.

Dear deputies and senators!

As we exactingly and critically assess the work of Oliy Majlis for over the past period we must clearly realize that without eradicating the shortcomings, overcoming inertness and inertia in the work of parliament, the deputies will not be able to effectively resolve the tasks set before them, fulfill the high promises, which were given to voters during the elections.

Moreover, it must be obvious for all that the newly elected parliament will have to work in qualitatively new political and socio-economic conditions.

At the moment, the country faces the tasks enormous on their scale and depth in the sphere of state and social construction. Given the complex conditions stipulated by continuing global financial and economic crisis we will have to ensure further sustainable development of economy, continue the work on its diversification, modernization and technical re-equipment of production. In the tough geopolitical conditions unfolding in the region and the world as a whole, we will have to resolve the tasks of ensuring security, stability of the country, preserving peace in our land and the whole number of other responsible and large-scale tasks on successful accomplishment of which depend today and the future of our country and our children.

As it is known for everyone, it has already been for 30 years that the military conflict has been continuing in the neighboring Afghanistan. When the tense situation remains in one of the states of the region, naturally there exists a threat to peace and security in the entire region, as well.

From the most authoritative international rostrums Uzbekistan put forward the practical initiatives on addressing this conflict. In particular, at the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest in April 2008 the President of Uzbekistan for the first time enunciated the view that the Afghan problem cannot be resolved only by military tools. In addressing the conflict in Afghanistan we have put forward the initiative to transform the Contact Group “6+2” into “6+3”, bearing in mind the participation in it of the U.S., Russia and representatives of NATO along with the countries neighboring on Afghanistan.

And in fact, billions and billions of dollars have been spent for over the thirty years to resolve the Afghan problem. Today it becomes obvious the need to radically change the approach to settling the situation in this country.

It is very important to ensure respect towards the national customs, culture and religious values of the multinational and multi-faith people of Afghanistan.

As it is known, soon London will host the international conference on this problem. A number of states that participate in this conference express the view about the impossibility of addressing the conflict in Afghanistan by military ways, which does confirm the rightness of Uzbekistan’s stance on this issue.

In order to establish peace and stability on the long-suffering Afghan soil the international community must, above all, render a targeted economic, financial, social and humanitarian assistance, which must be accomplished under auspices of the United Nations.

Today many states of the world render such assistance to Afghanistan. It is natural that the neighboring countries to a bigger extent are interested in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan. Uzbekistan as the closest neighbor also renders a substantial assistance to Afghanistan.

In particular, starting from 2010 the amount of electrical power supplied by us to Afghanistan increased to 6 times as compared with previous years.

These days the constructors and specialists of Uzbekistan are starting the work on laying the railroad line Termez-Khairaton-Mazari-Shareef. I am confident that it will be finished by the end of this year.

In a word, our parliament also must make its own contribution to strengthening peace and stability in the region.

Dear friends!

All of the aforementioned will require the parliament the high level of initiative, continuous search for ways of increasing the efficiency of the lawmaking activity, and each and every deputy and political party, above all, fulfilling the commitments shouldered by them in the elections.

I think there is no need today to speak about how important it is in establishing the law-governed state, which we are building, the soonest filling in the gaps and “blank spots” in the legislative and normative basis, how serious changes requires the law-enforcement practice, betterment of work of the law-enforcement and judicial bodies in observing Law and once again Law.

In this, we must clearly realize that ensuring the economic growth, achieving the high living standards of people, resolving other tasks in socio-economic, socio-political sphere will depend on successful accomplishment of one most important task. This task is about to quickly and effectively moving along deepening the democratic reforms and liberalizing economy, building the strong civil society.

I think that in the process of preparation the concrete program of the forthcoming work both in the Legislative Chamber and the Senate all of these tasks will be taken into account and concretely improved.

The following most important key issues, as I deeply believe, must remain on the focus of our attention.

First, I would like to firmly state from this high rostrum that we will not be able to achieve the high goals in terms of modernization the country if we are not to ensure the coordinated and deep correlation of processes of reforming economy and social sphere with permanent renewal of the socio-political and judicial-legal system.

The issues of further strengthening the role of parliament in socio-political life of the country must remain on the focus of our attention in line with the Constitutional principle of separation of powers.

The most important place in implementing this task belongs to development of a multi-party system, increasing the activeness of political parties and intensification of a competitive struggle between them.

The essence of the task which we must set before us is that the pre-election inter-party struggle, the clash of ideas and programs, which took place in establishing the new make-up of the parliament, should continue and intensify during the daily parliamentary activity. Figuratively speaking, the clashes of ideas and programs must take place particularly in the parliamentary arena, and through such struggle the goals which each party sets before itself must be achieved.

I am convinced as more heated and stronger the competition will be between various political factions in the Legislative Chamber, so there will be more guarantees of that the ideas of each party that represents the interests of certain social forces and layers, its program tasks are going to be successfully realized. Certainly, all of this will promote the growth of quality of laws, growth of authority of the parliament, its impact on the processes taking place in the country.

The inter-party discussions must be led on serious, professional and substantial basis. Therefore indeed the political parties need to concentrate on deeper studies of socio-economic issues that are of a concern to their constituencies, elaboration and implementation of measures in terms of their resolution.

The time has come to go from the general elaborations on “political support of the strategic course of the country’s leadership to carry out reforms” towards concrete actions, proposing deeply thought-out, including alternative, competitive projects and programs that reflect the purposeful tasks of each particular party or movement.

It is important to reveal the serious shortcomings and oversights at the local levels, which hamper increasing the social efficiency of reforms, hold their open, transparent and constructive discussion, undertake a substantial criticism of heads of bodies of state, economic management, controlling and law-enforcement system, who each at their own place are failing to deal with obligations laid on them.

It is necessary to broader use modern methods of work with constituencies, generally recognized political technologies and turn the party-issued print into the arena of bitter inter-party discussions.

The second most important task of the parliament, local representative bodies of power – Kengashes – is to conduct the strict parliamentary, deputy-led control of how the executive power, government in the center and khokimiyats (governor’s and mayor’s offices) at the local levels implement laws passed by parliament.

It should be directly admitted that such work, unfortunately, is poorly organized in the Legislative Chamber and the Senate. Yet so far the Legislative Chamber and the Senate infrequently hear and discuss the information on implementation of laws, most important state programs in the relevant branches on the part of Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his deputies, heads of ministries, agencies, committees and other executive structures.

As the results of study show, those parliamentary hearings were of a general and mostly informative nature with poor determination of positions by particular committees or commissions on the considered issues, some programs, documents with concrete and comprehensively elaborated recommendations have not been passed.

In the upcoming period it is necessary to take all necessary measures in terms of broader application in the center and at the local levels of the legal norms and mechanisms of controlling powers of the legislative power as envisaged by law.

Hearing of heads of state structures on the state of affairs related to implementation of acts of legislation at the branches entrusted to them must become a daily form of parliamentary activity.

The practice of hearing the information of heads of executive power should be expanded, in particular, of the members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the state of affairs, law-enforcement practice in the spheres of activity they oversee.

In particular, in conducting the parliamentary control a special attention should be paid to the measures in terms of decreasing the groundless interference of state structures with the sphere of economy.

A special attention should be paid to the issues of implementation of the Anti-crisis program of measures for 2009-2012, entire complex of measures envisaged in it with regard to ensuring sustainable development of the socio-economic sphere and stability in the country.

It is necessary to broader use such forms of parliamentary control as parliamentary inquiry, parliamentary hearings and other forms of parliamentary activity envisioned by law.

Substantial explanation, giving comprehensive elucidations on the issues raised in the parliamentary inquiry is a direct duty of officials of bodies of state power and management.

The responsibility for its implementation must be laid on the heads of bodies of state power of all levels and the prosecutor’s office.

Successful implementation of the task in terms of reinforcing the parliamentary control over executive power substantially depends on the broad participation of mass media and public in this work.

The big and responsible tasks lay ahead before the party press which it should be noted with regret yet continues to remain, speaking simple, the insipid.

The most important task must be as follows: the parliament must become a conductor of democratic transformations, liberal reforms directed to establishing the strong civil society.

The life itself more insistently puts on the agenda the issue related to intensifying the work in terms of implementing the Program “From a strong state towards a strong civil society”, the essence and substance of which is as follows: as we continue to carry out the social-economic, socio-political reforms, the model of state and social construction that we chose, the task of strengthening the role of citizens in governing the country becomes important, which in practice it means further development of the entire system of institutions of civil society, its harmonious integration with governance of the country and administrative-territorial units.

The organizational and legal conditions should be fully used to have an active influence by political parties on forming the bodies of executive power in the center and the local levels. With these goals it is necessary to intensify the activity of the party groups at the local Kengashes of people’s deputies, increase the party influence on the work of executive structures of all levels in resolving the concrete tasks of socio-economic development of regions.

I consider it important direction of legislative activity the further development of normative and legal basis of the activity of civil and public institutions, non-state and non-profit organizations so that they could secure their own niche in the system of decisionmaking, upholding interests of particular layers and structures of society whom they represent.

In this respect the big and responsible tasks lay ahead before the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan elected from the Ecological movement of Uzbekistan, which now unites more than 100 core NGOs. The deputies from this movement are called upon to promote further development of legislation in the sphere of environment protection, organization of systemic work in terms of increasing accountability of bodies of state power in the center and the local levels, as well as various public and other structures on unconditional implementation of the documents, which have already been passed in this sphere.

It ought to be firmly and clearly learned a simple truth – from now on the Ecological movement of Uzbekistan steps onto a qualitatively new level, acquires enormous opportunities so that from the high rostrum of a deputy to put forward and control the issues of environmental protection, shield the human and country’s population from dangerous and aggressive changes of ecology.

The improvement of legislation aimed at expanding the rights, powers of institutions of civil society, including the citizens’ self-governance bodies, in the system of social and state construction must become a priority direction.

Today the makhalla (neighborhood community area) is an important factor of the timely and successful resolution of acute issues of citizens at the local levels and upholding their interests. The contribution of makhalla into resolution of issues of spiritual and moral upbringing of citizens, youth, effective functioning of the social sphere, providing for public security and order at the local levels grows.

In this respect, improvement of the legal basis of activity of makhalla, expansion of its powers, mechanisms of effective functioning is our priority task.

It is important to continue work to turn makhalla into the center of targeted social support of population, development of private entrepreneurship and family business.

It is necessary to envisage further expansion of functions of makhalla in the system of public control over the activity of management bodies; ensure closer interaction of bodies of state power and management with citizens’ self-governance bodies with a view of broader informing public about the implementation of state social programs at the local levels.

The ever growing significance and role of makhalla in addressing the acute issues of citizens, ensuring the social activeness of citizens requires further improvement of the system of elections of chairmen (aksakals) of citizens’ gatherings and their advisors, which provides for election as aksakals and their advisors of the most deserved citizens.

Today the life itself unambiguously sets before us the task in terms of consolidating the place and role of mass media in the system of institutions of civil society. Further liberalization of mass media, intensification of activity of non-state outlets of press, radio, television and expansion of their access to the global network of Internet must provide for glasnost and openness of the policy of reforms being carried out in the country, promote consistent establishment of a strong civil society.

For this it is necessary to ensure further betterment of legislation in the sphere of mass media, which must create conditions for consistent growth of quality, mastery and efficiency of our national press to the level of high requirements and criteria of the developed world mass media.

It is necessary to create additional conditions for more active coverage by mass media of the foreign and internal policy conducted by the country with taking into account the pluralism of views and events taking place in the country and abroad.

It is important to ensure further development of normative and legal basis of activity of ever more expanding network of non-state media outlets, protection of copyright and intellectual ownership, as well as introduction of market mechanisms into the informational sphere.

The issues of creating the normative and legal mechanisms directed to further consolidation of material and technical basis of mass media, as well as material and moral stimulation of work of their employees take on outstanding significance. The worthy appraisal of the work of employees of the sphere, their material and moral stimulation presuppose both increasing independence and freedom of editorial offices of newspapers and magazines and their accountability.

Dear friends!

During the last elections our people cast their votes for consolidation of peace and stability in the country, deepening of market relations, modernization, democratization of socio-political life, as well as for peace-loving foreign policy. Today the nation looks with confidence and hope on the deputies, whom it has elected, for all those, who bear a special responsibility for the fate of reforms.

Dear friends, be worthy the high confidence of the people. I wish you a sound health, strength and luck in the activity of a deputy, as well as happiness and well being to your families.
 

The Senate and Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan assembled for a joint session on January 27 in Tashkent.

At the joint session President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov delivered a speech entitled “Modernization of the country and fostering a solid civil society is our key priority”.

The President underlined, that parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan held on 27 December 2009 have demonstrated the high socio-political culture of the population, growing level of its political and civil self-consciousness, its broad support of our progressive advancement along the way of deepening reforming and modernizing the country.

The elections showed to what extent those decisions made on time were right and efficient, in particular, adoption of the Constitutional Law “On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country”, as well as implemented measures to ensure so that the political parties, as they participate and prove in the elections their competence, become in practice the decisive force of deep transformations taking place in Uzbekistan.

President Islam Karimov has also evaluated the work of the Parliament for the period of 2005-2009. He noted that during this period the Parliament had adopted a whole package of legislative acts which envisage the consolidation of legal protection of private ownership, establishment of a powerful class of owners in the country, consolidation of farming, ensuring further liberalization of economy, creation of favorable conditions for development of small business and entrepreneurship, as well as establishment of a ramified market infrastructure.

The most important issues remained on the focus of attention in terms of continuous growth of population’s incomes and well being of the people, successful implementation of the large-scale social programs.

These and the whole number of other measures aimed at legislative support of economic reforms promoted creating the necessary legal maintenance of successful implementation of the Anti-crisis program of measures for 2009-2012 directed to minimize the negative consequences of the global financial and economic crisis, allowed Uzbekistan, among other limited number of countries in the world, to provide for sustainable growth rates of economy and increase the real incomes of population.

As a confirmation of the aforementioned serve the growth of Uzbekistan’s GDP in 2009, a year which was not easy in all respects, made up 8,1 percent, industrial production – 9 percent, total amount of investments increased by 26 percent, including the foreign investments – by 68 percent, underlined the President.

It was also added that the positive balance in the foreign trade turnover made up more than 2,3 billion dollars, the growth of average salary made up 40 percent, and of the real incomes – 26,5 percent.

President Islam Karimov noted that the Parliament substantially contributed to the large-scale work being accomplished in the country to deeply reform and liberalize the judicial and legal system, ensure in practice the independence of judicial power. For over these five years 58 laws were adopted in accordance with which further reforming of the judicial-legal system has been carried out. The liberalization of the system of criminal punishment has been accomplished.

The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on abolishing the death penalty in the country starting from January 1, 2008, as well as the Law on delegating the right to issue an arrest warrant from prosecutor’s office to courts adopted in 2007 drew a wide response in the entire world. With introducing the said measures one of the most humane and liberal systems of criminal punishment in the world has been formed in Uzbekistan.

The President has outlined the priority tasks before the Parliament in further contributing to state and societal development.

His speech has also highlighted the issues of the country’s further economic development, ensuring peace and stability in the region. In particular, President Islam Karimov stressed that given the complex conditions stipulated by continuing global financial and economic crisis necessary measures should be taken to ensure further sustainable development of economy, continue the work on its diversification, modernization and technical re-equipment of production.

“In the tough geopolitical conditions unfolding in the region and the world as a whole, we will have to resolve the tasks of ensuring security, stability of the country, preserving peace in our land and the whole number of other responsible and large-scale tasks on successful accomplishment of which depend today and the future of our country and our children”, the President said.

In this context he drew attention to the issues of establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan suffering from military conflict going on for the past 30 years. “When the tense situation remains in one of the states of the region, naturally there is a threat to peace and security in the entire region, as well”, stressed Islam Karimov.

From the most authoritative international rostrums Uzbekistan put forward the practical initiatives on addressing this conflict. In particular, at the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest in April 2008 the President of Uzbekistan for the first time enunciated the view that the Afghan problem cannot be resolved only by military tools. In addressing the conflict in Afghanistan we have put forward the initiative to transform the Contact Group “6+2” into “6+3”, bearing in mind the participation in it of the U.S., Russia and representatives of NATO along with the countries neighboring on Afghanistan.

This initiative has generated a great interest of the international community.

The President stressed that billions and billions of dollars had been spent for over the thirty years to resolve the Afghan problem. Today it becomes obvious the need to radically change the approach to settling the situation in this country.

It is very important to ensure respect towards the national customs, culture and religious values of the multinational and multi-faith people of Afghanistan.

It should be noted that a number of the countries of the world, including those participated in the international conference on Afghanistan just held in London, are expressing the view about the impossibility of addressing the conflict in Afghanistan by military ways, which does confirm the rightness of Uzbekistan’s stance on this issue.

In order to establish peace and stability on the long-suffering Afghan soil the international community must, above all, render a targeted economic, financial, social and humanitarian assistance, which must be accomplished under auspices of the United Nations.

Today many states of the world render such assistance to Afghanistan. It is natural that the neighboring countries to a bigger extent are interested in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan. Uzbekistan as the closest neighbor also renders a substantial assistance to Afghanistan.

In particular, starting from 2010 the amount of electrical power supplied by us to Afghanistan increased to 6 times as compared with previous years.

These days the constructors and specialists of Uzbekistan are starting the work on laying the railroad line Termez-Khairaton-Mazari-Shareef. I am confident that it will be finished by the end of this year.

In a word, the Parliament also must make its own contribution to strengthening peace and stability in the region, the President said.

Outlining the priority directions of the future work of the Parliament President Islam Karimov put special importance on certain tasks.

In particular, the issues of further strengthening the role of parliament in socio-political life of the country must remain on the focus of our attention in line with the Constitutional principle of separation of powers.

Another important task of the Parliament, local representative bodies of power – Kengashes – is to conduct the strict parliamentary, deputy-led control of how the executive power, government in the center and hokimiyats (governor’s and mayor’s offices) at the local levels implement laws passed by parliament.

A special attention should be paid to the issues of implementation of the Anti-crisis program of measures for 2009-2012, entire complex of measures envisaged in it with regard to ensuring sustainable development of the socio-economic sphere and stability in the country.

The President also underscored that the most important task must be as follows: the parliament must become a conductor of democratic transformations, liberal reforms directed to establishing the strong civil society.
 

Information agency “Jahon”
 

 

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of Oliy Majils held a joint session on 27 January in Tashkent. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the session. Among the participants were members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of national organizations, foreign ambassadors and diplomats, representatives of international organizations and the media. Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Dilorom Tashmuhamedova chaired the joint session.

After the approval of the session agenda, the deputies and the senators considered the appeal of the Cabinet on turning over its authorities before the newly elected parliament and approved it.

The parliament also entrusted the government to continue its duties until the new government is formed.
 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov made a report at the session titled “Modernization of the country and building strong civil society is our main priority”. Heads of party fractions in the lower house and senators spoke on the issues raised by the head of the state in his speech. They supported the ideas and conclusions of the President. The lower and upper houses of the parliament passed a joint decision on developing a program of measures aimed at implementing the tasks outlined in the speech of the President.

Islam Karimov also introduced the candidature of Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the post of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.

The members of the parliament approved the candidature and passed corresponding resolutions.
 

www.uza.uz
 

The newly elected Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held its first session on 26 January in Tashkent. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the session.

Opening the session, chairman of the Central Election Commission Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov informed the participants about the results of formation of the Senate and congratulated the senators with their election.

The senators approved the session agenda, elected the interim secretariat of the first session and the interim group for control of the use of electronic system.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov made a speech at the session.

“It is a great pleasure for me to meet you today, express my sincere respect and good wishes, and congratulate all of you with winning the high trust of the voters and obtaining the title of the senator,” the head of the state said.

The newly formed Senate includes representatives of spheres like industry, construction, agriculture, science, culture, education, healthcare and other organizations, Islam Karimov said.

94 members of the Senate have higher education, including 18 economists, 9 lawyers, 23 engineering and technical specialists, 15 pedagogues and 8 medical workers. Among senators also are 13 candidates of science, 8 science doctors and 2 academicians.

“We have to take into consideration the vast experience gained in the country over the past five years to increase the efficiency of the activity of the Senate,” Islam Karimov noted.

The President expressed gratitude to the members of the previous Senate for their contribution to the country’s development.

The head of the state proposed candidates to the post of the Chairman of the Senate and Deputy Chairpersons.

The senators in a secret voting elected Ilgizar Sobirov as Senate Chairman and Mavjuda Rajabova and Musa Erniyazov as Vice Chairpersons.

The session participants also formed committees if the Senate and elected their chairpersons.

www.uza.uz
 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on appointing 16 members of the Senate (upper house) of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) on 22 January. Below is the list of the senators.

Farmanov Alexander Kasymovich – chairman of board, director-general of Almalyk mining and smelting combine;

Sanaqulov Kuvandik – director-general of Navoi mining and smelting combine;

Tyan Valeriy Nikolayevich – director-general of “O`zbekiston Havo Yo`llari” National Air Company;

Tursunbayev Yulchiboy Egrashevich – judge of the Constitutional Court of Uzbekistan;

Muhamedov Gafurjan Israilovich – rector of the National University of Uzbekistan;

Rtveladze Edvard Vasilyevich – head of department of the Arts Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan;

Akbarova Farida Sharahimovna – Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, chairman of the Women’s Committee;

Ahmedov Anvar Akmalovich – chairman of the “Mahalla” Fund;

Salikhov Shavkat Ismailovich – president of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan;

Usmanov Mirabror Zufarovich – member of the Senate working on a permanent basis;

Bakibayev Erkin Jurayevich – chairman of the central council of the veterans support fund “Nuroniy”;

Safayev Sadik Salikhovich – chairman of the foreign policy issues committee of the Senate;

Rahmonkulov Mir-Akbar Hoji-Akbarovich – First Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan;

Artikova Svetlana Baymirzayevna – head of legal information department of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan;

Mirzaaliyev Iqboljon Mirzakarimovich (Iqbol Mirzo) – deputy chairman for work with youth of the Writers Union of Uzbekistan;

Abdullayev Ihtiyor Bahtiyorovich – State Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan.
 

www.uza.uz
 

The newly elected Legislative Chamber (lower house) of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan held its first session in Tashkent on 22 January.

In accordance with the legislation, the session was opened by the chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov. He made a report on the results of the elections to the Legislative Chamber and congratulated the newly elected deputies.

After approving the session agenda, the deputies elected the interim secretariat of the first session and the interim group for use of the electronic voting system.

In accordance with the law on the Legislative Chamber regulation, the deputies formed the Elders Council for the election of the Speaker of the chamber and vice speakers.

After the session of the Elders Council, the CEC chairman announced the council’s proposal on the candidate to the post of the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber. In secret voting, the deputies elected Diloram Tashmuhamedova as the Speaker of the parliament’s lower house.

The deputies then voted on the candidates to the posts of vice speakers and elected Bakhtiyar Yakubov (head of fraction of Liberal Democratic Party), Ulugbek Vafoyev (head of fraction of People’s Democratic Party), Ulugbek Muhamadiyev (head of fraction of Milliy Tiklanish party), Ismail Saifnazarov (head of fraction of Adolat party) and Boriy Alihanov (head of deputy group from the Ecological Movement).

The chamber registered fractions of political parties and the deputy group of the Ecological Movement, created the day earlier at the constituent assemblies of the four parties and the Ecological Movement.

The deputies also formed the corresponding committees of the parliament’s lower house and elected these committees’ chairpersons.
 

www.uza.uz
 

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan held a session on 22 January to consider the results of the elections to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis conducted on 20-22 January.

The commission registered 84 members of the Senate elected by the joint sessions of the local councils across the country (six members from each of 12 provinces, city of Tashkent and the Republic of Karakalpakstan).

The CEC said the elections of the senators were held with the participation of the commission in an open way, and no violations of the legislation had been registered during the elections.

As reported earlier, President Islam Karimov appointed remaining 16 members of the Senate with his 22 January decree.

The Central Election Commission adopted a decision to call the first session of the newly formed Senate on 25-26 January.
 

www.uza.uz
 

The Anti-crisis program, developed in Uzbekistan on the initiative of the President, has served as an important factor in ensuring economic stability in the country and increasing the volume of production of competitive goods.

After the bankruptcy, joint venture Kosonqoy-Tekmen in Namangan region was reorganized into Kosonsoy Toqimachi LLC, wich support of the National Bank of Uzbekistan and Uzbekinvest national insurance company.

Thanks to the investments worth UZS 210 million, the technological line and other equipment of the enterprise were renewed.

Today the company produces import-substituting products like woolen and half-woolen items, as well as yarn.

These products are supplied to local enterprises manufacturing ready products, including RAU-Tom joint venture in Pap district and carpet factories in Margilan.

“We use only local raw materials in our production,” company chairman Akbar Mamadaliyev told UzA. “Wool is supplied by Tashkent companies, while synthetic materials by Navoiazot company.”

Kosonqoy Toqimachi currently employs 165 people. In the last six months, the company produced goods worth UZS 460.5 million.
 

www.uza.uz
 

The seminar of the joint consultative program for development of the free industrial-economic zone Navoi was held in Tashkent on 20 January.

The event was organized by the Ministry of foreign economic relations, investments and trade jointly with the Ministry of strategy and finance of South Korea, Korean Development Institute and Korean Institute for International Economic Policy.

South Korea is one of the largest investment partners of Uzbekistan. The total volume of investments invested by this country in Uzbekistan has exceeded USD 2 billion.

At the conference on Navoi free economic zone held in March 2009 in Seoul, about 40 agreements on creation of joint ventures were signed between the two countries. They will operate in oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, light industries, machinery building, mining, construction, furniture production, etc.

President Islam Karimov signed a decree on creation of Navoi free economic zone in December 2008. The move is aimed at Increasing the industrial potential of Navoi region, development of transport and social infrastructure, production of high technologies and attraction of foreign investments.

To date, 19 agreements on creation of industrial enterprises in Navoi economic zone worth USD 187 million was signed. After their launch, they will annually produce goods worth USD 375.5 million, lamost half of which will be exported.

This year, launch of 50 projects is expected in Navoi free economic zone.
 

www.uza.uz
 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a resolution on the regular call up to the Armed Forces and transfer to the reserve of the servicemen who have served the established terms of military service.

According to the resolution, citizens of Uzbekistan of the call-up age will be called up to the statutory service in February-March 2010.

Those who are fit for service but are not called up this time, will be included in the mobilization call up reserve.

The citizens who have served the established terms of military service will be transferred to the reserve in March-April.
 

www.uza.uz
 

 

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov at Oqsaroy, 18 January. According to Head of our state, the visit constitutes a good opportunity to exchange views on not only bilateral, but also multilateral issues of primary importance in order to raise our relations to a higher level.   Today, the cooperation of the two countries develops in political, trade, economic, cultural, and many other spheres.

At the talk, Igor Shuvalov expressed his gratitude to President of Uzbekistan for the warm welcome, stressing his delight with the state of bilateral relations and the process of implementing agreements reached by leaders of the two countries during previous summits. Prospects to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as other topics of mutual interest were discussed at the occasion.   www.uza.uz

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on calling the first session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on 22 January.

In accordance with the article 81 of the Constitution, Constitutional Law on Legislative Chamber and article 5 of the Law on Central Election Commission, the first session of the parliament’s lower house is called by the Central Election Commission.

The CEC resolution states that the first session of the Legislative Chamber will be held on 22 January in Tashkent and will consider organizational issues.

The CEC members also considered preparation to the elections of the members of the Senate (upper house), scheduled for 18-23 January.

www.uza.uz
 

The first session of the newly elected Joqargy Kenes (Supreme Council) of the Republic of Karakalpakstan was held on 15 January.

The deputies elected at the 27 December and 10 January elections, representatives of the central bodies of the People’s Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Adolat Social Democratic Party and Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party participated in the session.

They considered the results of the elections, as well as election of the chairman of the Joqargy Kenes and appointment of the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan.

Deputy from the election district No.84 Musa Erniyazov was elected chairman of Joqargy Kenes.

Bahadir Yangibayev was appointed as the chairman of the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan/
Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the session of the Karakalpak parliament.

www.uza.uz
 

The council of young scientists started functioning at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.
The structure unites tens of young people, which work in more than 50 educational and scientific establishments of the country.

The aim of the council is to support important scientific research, strengthen the integration among scientific establishments and industrial enterprises, as well as increase young scientists’ interaction.

Development of science was one of the priorities President Islam Karimov outlined in his recent speech in December. The head of the state said the country’s progress depended on the development of science and called for expansion of prospective scientific research.

In particular, the President stressed the importance of creation of new laboratories in the system of the Sciences Academy and universities, and establishment of their cooperation with leading foreign centers.

www.uza.uz
 

Agrobank (former Pakhtabank) has been developing cooperation with the Asian Development Bank in supporting businesses in Uzbekistan, including small enterprises and farmers.

The funds provided by the ADB have been used for development of small and private enterprises in rural areas, as well as financing large investment projects.

Since 2001, more than 170 agricultural producers have received long-term credits from three credit lines of the ADB for a total sum of over USD 25.2 million.

Within one project, which aimed at increasing grain crop capacity, 93 farms in Jizzakh, Tashkent and Samarkand regions were financed.

In Surkhandarya region, Amuzang canal was restored, and 60 agricultural producers were able to increase production of crops.
 

www.uza.uz

The elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan held on December 27, 2009, continue to be in the focus of expert and analytical circles and foreign media.

Editor-in-chief of electronic analytical edition Les Milieux des Empires Sylvie d’Izarn pointed out the high and qualitative level of the parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan.

“Polling stations were operating very competently in accordance with international standards. Every voter had an opportunity to freely consult with the relevant information about candidates, their election programs and legislation. Members of relevant election commissions on the ground are literate, well-prepared and deeply know all legislative acts,” she said.

The French expert has paid a particular attention to activity of the local media, which long before the elections objectively and independently provided population with all necessary information. During the actual elections, information about their beginning, the process and preliminary results were given very quickly. The elections could be seen online on a special website “election.uz” in three languages - Uzbek, Russian and English.

“In my opinion, political literacy of the population of Uzbekistan is very important. Youth activism is particularly encouraging, who consciously feel responsibility for the future of the country and, thus, contribute to its great future,” Sylvie d’Izarn said. “Today’s parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan are an illustrative example of the fact that even developed countries can learn from Uzbekistan in terms of democratic elections”.

Jacques Bara, professor of the Pantheon-Assas Paris II:
“For the second time I took part in elections in Uzbekistan and would like to highlight a marked growth of the political literacy of Uzbekistan’s population. This became apparent, particularly, in a voter activity, involvement of youth as well as in equal participation of men and women in the elections.

I visited several polling stations in Tashkent City, taking part in ballot counting and summing up. I can highlight the fact that in all cases all necessary practical and organizational conditions were created for voters. People voted freely. I had not witnessed any pressure or interference to the electoral process,” Professor Jacques Bara said.

Chinese “People’s Daily” published comments by prominent Chinese political scientists on the outcomes of parliamentary elections held in Uzbekistan.

Director of the Institute for Remote Regional Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Xing Guanch noted that the elections were held on a multiparty and alternative basis. This shows that Uzbekistan has created a democratic constitutional state and its election system fully corresponds to international standards.

He pointed to the growing authority of Uzbekistan in international economic relations. Despite the global financial crisis, the country’s economy is developing steadily, which confirms the correctness of Uzbekistan’s way of national development.

Secretary General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Research Center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Sun Zhuanzhi noted that Uzbekistan created the needed environment for citizens to participate in the elections. They exercise their electoral rights, the legal framework to ensure people’s freedom of expression, exercising and protection of their legitimate interests.

Bernama Malaysian News Agency posted on its website a series of articles on the preparation and the course of the elections to the Lower Chamber of Oliy Majlis and local representative authorities.

The articles on “Democracy in Uzbekistan on Proper Track” and “The Elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan a Good Experience for an Observer” commented the view by Malaysian Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Committee Wan Ahmad, who notes that in spite of Malaysia’s advanced communication system, this ensures participation in elections only 73-75 per cent of voters, while Uzbekistan, due to the legal culture of its population, overcomes 87 per cent of voter attendance.

Mr. Radhakrishnan, a lawyer, in his article entitled “Make Elections a Matter of Whole Family as in Uzbekistan” in The New Straits Times noted positive experience of Uzbekistan’s electoral commissions, which ensure participation of 17 million voters, along with providing separate rooms for care of children whose parents have come to a vote, and the tradition of responsibility of the older generation to younger, demonstrating the importance of fulfilling civic duty by participating in elections.

Media of Arab countries continue the topic of the parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan. In particular, the website of the “Asiya al-Wust” (AER) Agency (www.aisaalwista.com) contains an article “Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan were held with voters’ active participation”.

The article focuses on the words by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov about transparency of the current elections in the country. The head of state’s remarks that “holding elections to the Legislative Chamber and local Kengashes based on a multiparty and alternative basis is indicative of the forming of a democratic constitutional state and in full compliance with our electoral system to international standards” were particularly attended to.

In its turn, the piece referred to Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan Mirzo-Ulughbek Abdusalomov who reported that 87.8 per cent of voters participated in the elections.

The article also notes that over 270 observers from 36 countries and four missions
of international organizations - the OSCE/ODIHR, the Executive Committee of CIS, SCO and OIC carried out monitoring of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.
 

www.ut.uz
 

That is the title of an article published in the French paper La Depeche du Dimanche (Sunday News). Michel Salinas – history lecturer at Toulouse University – is the author of the article.

Having visited Uzbekistan as the member of the tourism group, Michel Salinas decided to share her impressions with the readers of the popular French edition.
The article says that the trip to Uzbekistan can be called the meeting with the history, ancient orient, magnificent architectural complexes giving the clear view of the rich historical heritage of the Uzbek people.

She begins her narration about the journey around Uzbekistan with the capital of the republic. “Tashkent is a modern lively city with its broad, clean and shady avenues, numerous fountains with the equestrian statue of Amir Temur in its center. Metro stations look like palaces from the fairy tale The Arabian Entertainments and distinguish by their striking cleanness. It has no hasty vanity,” writes Michel Salinas

Telling about Khiva, the French researcher says that the city surrounded by the impressive fortified wall is the pearl of the Uzbek architecture. The old city Ichan Kala is a museum-town to wander around for hours.

Bukhara, according to the author, “is a city of generalists, scientists and writers. Visiting ancient shopping streets in the city we found ourselves in the active part of the epoch of the Great Silk Road, in the time of intensive trade exchange, when caravans loaded with furs, silk, carpets and superb textiles departing to Syria, Egypt and Byzantine Empire were the essential part of this city’s life…”

Michel Salinas recommends the readers visiting Bolo-hauz, Magoki Attari mosques, the portals of which are decorated with mosaic bricks, as well as many other architectural monuments including Chor Minor.

The author was especially impressed by visiting Samarqand, she writes as follows:” Endless vegetable ornamental patterns and polychromic ceramic blocks covered with Kufic calligraphic inscriptions are met in Samarqand.

The walk on the Registan square is unforgettable. This is the most splendid square,
everything is surprisingly harmonious and perfect here. This is the place of conduction of the prestigious international music festival Sharq Taronalari with participation of numerous foreign performers. One cannot but visit the Ulugbek’s Observatory. This historical monument, the gigantic part of which remained till the present time, strikes the imagination.”

The article is concluded by the description of Shakhrisabz. The author remembers it warmly: “Shakhrisabz (known as Kesh in the ancient) is the native town of Amir Temur because the great commander and state figure was born 7 kilometers away from it in Khoji-Ilgar settlement.

Numerous newlyweds come to his monument in the center of the town to take photos; you can merge with them, dance with them without any risk of being noticed by anybody, and feel involved into their happiness.”
 

www.ut.uz

The International Forum will gather about 3,000 foreign guests

As we informed earlier, the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank will take place in the capital of Uzbekistan this year. About 3,000 guests are expected to visit Tashkent to participate in this international forum including heads of governments, presidents of central banks, ministers of finance, as well as representatives of business, academic circles and civil society.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will hold its 43rd Annual Meeting on 1-4 May 2010 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It will be the first time a member country from Central Asia will host the event.

According to the organizers, the 2010 Annual Meeting will take stock of progress made under Strategy 2020, ADB’s long-term strategic program, adopted in 2008, which lays out its core goals through to 2020. Many other topics will be covered during meeting events, including reformation of the global financial system and post-crisis development in Asian countries. The agenda includes a number of presentations of several countries and seminars dedicated to Uzbekistan.

The ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers meeting will be held in Tashkent concurrently.

The ASEAN+3 is the abbreviation of the mechanism of cooperation between ten ASEAN member-countries and three countries in the Eastern Asia: China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Uzbekistan has received $1.1 billion in 26 loans and $35.5 million in technical assistance since joining the ADB in 1995. 67 countries are currently the ADB members; 48 of them are situated in the region itself.
 

www.ut.uz

An agreement has been approved between the governments of Uzbekistan and Bahrain on the promotion and mutual protection of investments.

President of Uzbekistan has signed a resolution “On Approval of the International Treaty”. The bill approves the agreement between the governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kingdom of Bahrain on the promotion and mutual protection of investments.

The agreement was signed November last year in Manama during the visit of Uzbek state delegation to Bahrain.

It should be noted that the current relations with Arab nations is a priority of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. In this context, cooperation with Bahrain assumes a special importance.

In June last year, there was an official visit of the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa. During the visit the sides focused on deepening and expanding the economic ties. It was noted that promising areas include oil and gas processing, banking and financial sector, agriculture, and tourism.

During the negotiations, the Bahraini side underscored that the ongoing large-scale reforms in Uzbekistan to improve fiscal policies have produced notable results. Annual tax relief and exemptions provided to small businesses and private entrepreneurs, as well as foreign investors are an important factor in economic development.

The recently signed Resolution “On Approval of the International Treaty”, under which the governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kingdom of Bahrain will promote and protect mutual investment, has once again confirmed readiness of the sides to develop cooperation for mutual benefit, enhance economic and investment links, as well as facilitate the development and implementation of new joint projects.
 

www.ut.uz

A delegation of the University of Malaysia at Perlis (UMP) headed by its vice-chancellor Kamaruddin Husin has visited Uzbekistan. During the visit the Embassy of Malaysia in Uzbekistan organized a meeting of members of the Malaysian delegation with professors and teaching fellows in our country.

The sides exchanged experience in the education process and discussed further cooperation. The meeting resulted in signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Tashkent State Automobile Road Institute and the Perlis University.

As Kamarudin Husin pointed out, the signing of this memorandum will provide an impulse for further fruitful cooperation between the two universities.

Today, there are already signed memorandums of cooperation between the UMP and a number of universities of Uzbekistan, and an intergovernmental memorandum on cooperation in the field of higher education between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Malaysia.

According to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to Uzbekistan A. Harun, the signing of the Memorandum on cooperation in education between governments in January 2009 and the visit of one of the leading universities of Malaysia provides for the establishment of enhanced cooperation among students, shows the practical implementation of the efforts of the country’s leadership on harmonious development and decent infusion of young generation of Uzbekistan in the modern world’s educational institutions, demonstrating the enormous intellectual potential of the Uzbek youth.

In this regard, he expressed confidence that the announcement of 2010 as the Year of  Comprehensively Advanced Generation is a logical continuation of the policy of phased development of the rich potential of Uzbekistan.
 

www.ut.uz

Date on January 14

On January 13 this year the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov addressed his message of congratulation to the defenders of Homeland - both “those, who worthily serve in the Armed Forces, and those, who stay in reserve”, as the the text of the message has read.

Here is the full text of the said message - as it has been translated from the Russian language at the Information Agency “Jahon”.

FESTIVE CONGRATULATION TO THE DEFENDERS OF HOMELAND

Dear defenders of Homeland – the privates and sergeants, officers and generals, veterans of the Armed Forces!

It gives me an enormous pleasure to sincerely and heartily congratulate you and all compatriots who have devoted themselves to a noble cause of defending the Fatherland on the landmark date in the life of our country – the Day of Defenders of Homeland, the 18th anniversary of our Armed Forces.

For over the last years the enormous work both on its scale and depth has been accomplished in Uzbekistan to establish the Armed Forces and form the national army that meets the modern requirements and standards and serves as a reliable guarantor of independence, security and territorial integrity of the country.

Based on the comprehensive analysis of possible and emerging threats and challenges to security the long-term program of reforming the army has been elaborated and is being implemented.

In accordance with this program, the staff and deployment of units of the Armed Forces have been reviewed, which united into a powerful system the subdivisions and units of the Ministry of Defense, border troops, military formations of other ministries and bodies.

The principally new organizational and staff structure of the Armed Forces and their main combat subdivisions were introduced. The duplicating, low effective elements of management and structure have been liquidated. This has allowed to raise their mobility, operative functioning and firing capabilities.

We have established and continue to develop the subdivisions of Special Operation Forces, Corps on the struggle against terrorism and other modern combat subdivisions capable to repulse any aggressor, who encroaches upon the territory of our country.

The decrease of the terms of conscription for a military service to one year, organization of conscription itself once a year, substantial increase in the troops of the contract-based sergeant staff servicemen and introduction of the service of mobilization conscription reserve have principally changed the look, essence, substance and combat capabilities of our army, as well as the moral situation in military units.

Not less has been accomplished during these years to develop the military and technical cooperation, supply the troops with modern types of armament. The implementation of purposeful, policy programs aimed at providing the servicemen with housing, various types of medical servicing, increasing the money allowances, as well as stimulation of persons, who completed the active military service allowed to substantially better the material, social and living conditions of servicemen, as well as members of their families.

Assessing the work accomplished during this period, we have all grounds to state that today Uzbekistan practically disposes of modern, compact, mobile and well-armed national army able to reliably defend stability and security of the country, inviolability of its borders, as well as peace and tranquility of our people.

Along with this, the complex rapidly changing military and political situation in the region and the world, as a whole, intensification of potential and real threats and challenges to security related, firstly, to ever aggravating situation in Afghanistan, expanding of scales of drug aggression, international terrorism, extremism and other threats require comprehensive consolidation of combat readiness of our Armed Forces, reinforcement of measures in terms of protecting and safeguarding the state border.

The implementation of the tasks set before the Armed Forces requires further deepening of the work that we have started in terms of fulfilling the adopted strategy and priorities to modernize and reform the army, strengthen its potential and combat readiness taking into account the growing demands in terms of ensuring stability and security of our Homeland.

With these purposes I consider the following to be necessary:

First, to provide for a permanent mobilization readiness, mobility of subdivisions and units of the Armed Forces, their capability to timely and effectively neutralize the possible challenges, threats and attempts to infringe the inviolability of borders and peaceful labor of our citizens.

Second, it is of a substantial importance to accelerate the implementation of the set tasks in terms of re-supplying the units and subdivisions of the Armed Forces with the latest system of armament and combat techniques, as well as modern tools of their maintenance.

In this context it is necessary to cardinally better and expand the scales of international military and technical cooperation with foreign partner countries, prepare and implement the complex Program of measures set for 2010-2015.

It is necessary to pay a special attention to radical betterment of educational and combat training, which is called upon to ensure a high level of combat capability of troops, starting from platoon-battalion ending with military districts. The dynamic changes of tactics, methods of conducting combat operations in modern conditions, growing complexity of the latest armament and military techniques require the soonest elaboration and introduction of the principally new programs of individual and group combat training and skills of personnel, radical revision of conducting the command and staff as well as operation and tactical exercises.

One must continuously learn the military art – today this requirement is the most important component of all work to modernize our army.

Third, it is important to continue and deepen the work that we have started to improve the system of military management, provide for coordination, precise interaction and congruence of units and subdivisions of all types and branches of troops, military formations of ministries and bodies in all of the depth of defense in specific conditions of a possible theater of war operations. It is important to ensure full-fledged functioning of the army as a well-organized mechanism, single inseparably linked combat complex, which provides for a timely exposure of and cover for vulnerable spots in the country’s defense system, as well as reliable protection of its state border.

Fourth, the main task remains to be radical betterment of the system of training, retraining and raising qualification of the officer and sergeant cadres, taking into account the contemporary requirements and standards improvement of the activity of military and sergeant schools on training the intellectually developed, strategically thinking officer cadres, as well as professional sergeants able to effectively manage the subordinate subdivisions, and maintain at them a healthy moral and psychological state.

The military schools are called upon to become leading and main military-scientific centers of the Armed Forces, where the modern systems of armament and techniques, methods of managing troops, tactical techniques of conducting combat operations, combat training and educational programs used in troops are perfected and pass through pre-troop approbation.

With these purposes the most serious attention should be paid to providing the military educational institutions with necessary military techniques and simulators, using in the study process of the latest pedagogical, information and communication technologies, methods of modeling and simulation.

Fifth, announcement of 2010 as the Year of harmoniously developed generation sets new and yet more responsible tasks before the command and supervisory staff of the country’s Armed Forces in terms of perfecting the system of educational work among young officers, sergeants and privates, who today make up the core of our army.

In the forthcoming period a special attention should be focused on gradual and consistent betterment of social and living conditions of stay and service of privates, sergeant and officer staff, complete implementation of the adopted state programs on providing servicemen with housing, construction and reconstruction of military towns, creating at them maximum amenities that meet the latest requirements and standards.

The implementation of the tasks set before the Armed Forces requires from the Ministry of Defense, Joint Staff and from all command staff an unconditional fulfillment of instructions and provisions of the Directive of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of establishment of the country’s Armed Forces.

Dear friends!

Addressing in this festive day all defenders of Homeland – those, who worthily serve in the Armed Forces, and those, who stay in reserve, I express a firm confidence that our army shall reliably provide for a protection of the sacred frontiers of Fatherland, tranquility and peaceful life of our people, as well as a clear sky over our land.

I once again congratulate you on the Day of defenders of Homeland!

I wish all of you a sound health, happiness and prosperity!
 

Islam Karimov,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the opening of the monument “Vatanga Qasamyod” (“Oath to the Motherland”) in Tashkent on 12 January. The monument was raised on the initiative of the head of the state. The hokim (mayor) of Tashkent A.Tukhtayev opened the ceremony. The state anthem of Uzbekistan was played. President Islam Karimov opened the monument and laid flowers to its pedestal. “Today, we may be proud that over the short period of time in Uzbekistan a mobile, well armed and technically equipped army, which meets modern requirements, has a high capacity and can repulse any aggressor,” the President said in his speech.   “I believe it should be clear for all of us that there is a powerful factor, which adds strength to the army and becomes decisive when necessary – the moral and

 psychological preparation of the military servicemen, their unshakeable will and spirit, active

 attitude to life, and most importantly, deep understanding of who and what they are fulfilling their

 military duty.

“In this regard, I would like to note that the effectiveness of the artistic images, which serve as spiritual examples for the youth, plays a decisive role and has a great importance in upbringing the young generation in the spirit of national idea, courage and firmness,” Islam Karimov said.

Taking oath is not merely an official event, but an unforgettable moment in the life of every man.

This is why the sculptural complex on the proposal of President Islam Karimov was named “Vatanga Qasamyod” (“Oath to the Motherland”).

Raised in the center of a green park, the monument has become an embodiment of the devotion to the Motherland and courage of the self-sacrificing sons of our people.

The representatives of the Oliy Majlis, Cabinet of Ministers, ministries and departments also laid flowers to the pedestal of the monument.
 

www.uza.uz 

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan held a session on 12 January to consider the results of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

As reported earlier, the second round of voting was held on 10 January in 39 electoral districts.
The CEC adopted a resolution on registration of 39 deputies of the lower chamber of the parliament elected last Sunday.

Thus, elections in all 135 territorial electoral districts were announced completed.

The elections were held in full compliance with the national legislation, the head of CEC Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov told journalists in Tashkent.

The parties and their candidates had equal rights and possibilities to hold their election campaigns, meet the voters and using the mass media.

Four candidates fought for one seat in 99 electoral districts and three candidates in 36 districts.
17,215,700 people were on the list of the eligible voters, of which over 15.108 million or 87.8% participated in the first round of voting.

After the first round on 27 December, deputies were elected in 96 districts. Besides, 15 deputies were elected from the Ecological Movement on the same day.

In the second round of voting, held on 10 January, 3.96 million or 79.7% of a total 4,969,547 eligible voters participated. They voted for one of the two candidates in each of 39 districts.

Summing up the results of the elections, CEC head said the Liberal Democratic Party received 53 seats in the lower house, People’s Democratic Party 32 seats, Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) democratic party 31 seats and Adolat (Justice) social democratic party 19 seats.

33 deputies or 22% of all elected members of the lower house are women. 47 deputies or 31.3% have been elected to the Legislative Chamber for the second time.

Over 50 local and more than 200 foreign mass media covered the election process. 36 states and four international organizations (OSCE ODIHR, CIS Executive Committee, SCO and OIC) send more than 270 observers.
 

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The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan held a regular session on the results of elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The outcome of elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan was examined at the session in compliance with the law “On Elections to Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”. Members of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis elected by voters and at the conference of the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan were registered.

As CEC chairman Mirzo-Ulug’bek Abdusalomov noted in his speech, in 99 districts, 4 candidates run for each parliament seat, and 3 candidates in 36 districts.
In total, electoral register included 17,215,700 eligible voters, of which over 15,108,000 or 87.8% cast their ballots.

Voters’ turnout in Karakalpakstan made 90.9%, while 88.9% in Andijon region, 87.1% in Bukhoro region, 89.8% in Jizzakh region, 88.3% in Navoi region, 87.4% in Namangan region, 89.3% in Samarqand region, 91.4% in Sirdaryo region, 89.1% in Surkhondaryo region, 88.1% in Tashkent region, 85.8% in Farg’ona region, 88.3% in Khorazm region, 88.1% in Qashqadaryo region and 81.9% in the city of Tashkent.

The threshold of 33% of turnout was overcome in all 135 election districts. In compliance with the law, elections thus were recognized succeeded.

In 96 districts, candidates to the lower chamber of parliament were elected, including 33 from the Liberal Democratic Party, 25 from Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party, 22 from People’s Democratic Party and 16 from Adolat Social Democratic Party. Nineteen deputies or 19.8% are women. Besides, 15 candidates were elected at the conference of the Ecology Movement on the day of elections in compliance with the law “On Elections to Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

On December 30, 2009, the Central Election Commission set the second round of the elections for 10 January due to the fact that candidates in 39 election districts failed to overcome the 50% threshold.

In accordance with the law, the second round will be held for two candidates with the largest number of votes received at the general elections. A candidate is considered elected if he or she receives the majority of votes on the second round.
The second round will be held openly and publicly. Candidates for deputies can hold election campaign in related districts and use mass media adhering to the procedure set by the Central Election Commission.
It should be noted that the CEC approved the program of measures on preparation and holding of the second round of elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan in certain election districts.
 

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The elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan held on December 27, 2009, became one of the central topics in the world’s leading media.

Russia’s ITAR-TASS news agency reported that the elections were held in a free atmosphere without violations, in compliance with electoral legislation. “The organization of elections is very good, one can see that a solid preparatory work had been undertaken. From the very early morning I have visited polls. All polling districts meet all legal requirements, in particular, have electoral registers, all necessary documentation. Process of voting has been skillfully organized,” ITAR-TASS quoted Vladimir Portyakov, an observer from the mission of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Russia.

Another representative from Russia’s leading mass media, Vesti, describing the progress of the vote quoted Sergei Lebedev, head of mission of observers from the CIS Executive Committee, chairman of CIS Executive Committee, who visited polling stations in Tashkent, Khorazm and Jizzakh regions as international observer. As Vesti noted, after visits Lebedev said that “a thorough and comprehensive preparation had been done for the parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan to be held on a highest level.” The observer underscored that “in order to ensure practical implementation of citizens’ suffrage, an electoral system was established that fully meets all international standards.” According to chairman of CIS Executive Committee, programs of candidates reflected “many aspects and directions that will serve the future of the country. Election of worthy candidates will contribute to further prosperity of Uzbekistan and welfare of the population.”
“Parliamentary elections were held on the last Sunday of 2009 in Uzbekistan. According to the country’s Central Election Commission, turnout was almost 88%. As President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov spoke on election day, “previously, political parties had never fought for political influence and power,” but this year the race for seats in the lower house of parliament brought a true competition in the process,” wrote the US newspaper the New York Times.

Agence France Press reported that “the current elections demonstrated the movement of Uzbekistan toward a democratic society.” “From this perspective, all that was done in this period, especially after 2000, gave new impetus to this process.”

Chief editor of InfoSCO Tatyana Sinitsyna remarked that “the country has carefully and responsibly prepared for the elections this year, improving the mechanism of all election procedures, liberalizing the process. Taking into account the law ‘On introducing amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with the improvement of electoral legislation’, December 2009 elections are called to become an important step in deepening the reforms on democratic renewal and modernization of the country.” This is confirmed by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov who said “many nations of the world have come through centuries of experience and development of democratic traditions to a free civil society. We also dream about building that kind of society and making our steps.”

Chinese media outlets have paid a proper attention to an important political process in Uzbekistan. In particular, Xinhua Information Agency reported that “statement of Uzbekistan’s Central Election Commission that all four parties in the country - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and Adolat Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, have been permitted to the elections to the lower house of parliament. Election commissions registered 17,215,700 eligible voters of Uzbekistan. The elections were attended by over 300 observers from 36 states and four assessment missions from international organizations - OSCE, SCO, CIS and OIC.”

China Central Television (CCTV) informed its viewers that almost 8.5 thousand polling stations worked in 135 constituencies, reminding that the citizens of Uzbekistan abroad were also able to cast their votes for candidates - 44 polling stations were opened around the world. In addition, CCTV emphasized that “Uzbekistan’s voters were to cast their vote for one of 506 candidates from four political parties. Under the new electoral law, the number of seats in the lower house of parliament increased from 120 to 150. Of these, 135 deputies are elected by territorial constituencies on a multiparty basis. The remaining 15 will come to the parliament from the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan.”

The printed edition of the People’s Daily states in Chinese that the lower chamber of the Uzbek parliament consists of 150 deputies elected for 5 years. 135 deputies are elected by direct poll. The remaining 15 deputies are elected from the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan by its highest body - the Conference.

Chinese Journal Lookwe publicized the comments of the head of CIS Executive
Committee Sergey Lebedev who stated that “Uzbekistan has done much for democratic elections. The mission of the CIS Executive Committee participated in the previous elections in Uzbekistan. National electoral legislation has improved significantly. It fully guarantees freedom of expression of citizens and meets democratic requirements. The fact that such a large number of foreign and international observers have arrived to observe the elections demonstrates the great interest expressed in the world to ward Uzbekistan.”

Azerbaijan’s Trend News information agency, reporting on the current parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan, quoted Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Milli Majlis Hadi Radjabali who visited the country as an international observer. “At all polling stations where I was able to observe the electoral process, there was a high degree of organization, which can be achieved only by careful preparation. Members of election commissions gave detailed answers to citizens’ questions. Electorate voted actively and freely. I read Uzbekistan’s electoral legislation and other documentation for the elections, as well as amendments. They not only comply with international norms, but also reflect the constitutional rights of voters and democratic principles recognized by the international community. The electoral process has received wide coverage in all media, including Internet. The fact that the voting process was watched by hundreds of observers and foreign journalists ensures openness and transparency of the parliamentary elections,” the Azerbaijani parliamentarian said.
Kazinform information resource of Kazakhstan posted a view of observers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on their pages. As Sherali Jononov, head of the SCO mission noted, observers from the SCO had an opportunity to meet with representatives of all four political parties and the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan, as well as to visit any of the polling stations in Tashkent city and Sirdaryo region they liked. “There were no violations observed during the elections.”

In the opinion of observer from the CIS mission and Ukraine Anatoly Kinakh, voting process was well organized, and the elections themselves “will create a better quality government, aimed at improving the living standards of people. Changes to the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan, in my opinion, are positive, because in a democratic state the power belongs to the people, and Uzbekistan has moved in this direction,” concluded Kinakh.

WAM Information Agency of the United Arab Emirates published the following information about the elections: “Today, in the election day to the lower house of parliament of Uzbekistan, Uzbek voters cast their ballots in 8,447 polling stations. As Mirzo Ulughbek Abdusalomov, CEC Chairman of Uzbekistan stated in an interview with reporters, about 15 million citizens attended the voting process. He said that the elections took place peacefully, without violations.”
 

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Amendments to the laws governing relations in the agrarian sector have come into effect this week. Specialists regard these changes as a qualitative progress in the agriculture and water management in the republic. Land owners, in their turn, take them as an opportunity for increasing the effectiveness of their work.   The Law “On introducing amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with deepening economic reforms in agriculture and water management” was signed by the head of state last week.

This is a remarkable event for the Farmers’ Movement of Uzbekistan since changes in the legislation are exceptionally important for improving the legislative framework of reforms in agriculture and water management.

The document was worked out within practical implementation of the National Program of the Year of Rural Development and Improvement elaborated for the further restructuring of the agrarian sector in the country.

The law brought about amendments for raising the effectiveness of water use, land reclamation and enhancement of irrigated lands’ fertility, introduction of energy-saving technologies as well as increasing the minimum size of land allocated for running farming business taking into account the conditions for agricultural production and their specialization.

Changes and addenda touched on the laws “On water and water use”, “On farms”, “On family-size (dehqon) farms”, “On agricultural cooperatives (shirkat)”, “On guarantees of entrepreneurial activity”, “On protection and use of the animal kingdom”, “On veterinary”, “On quarantine of plants” as well as Land and Tax Codes and other legislative acts.

For instance, the Law “On water and water use” was amended to outline the status of water consumers, their rights and liabilities. The terms of “water consumer” and “water user” were introduced, their rights and liabilities were specified.

The licensure for special water use was divided between relevant establishments responsible for certain directions of comprehensive accounting of interests of water users and water consumers. Thus, geology and mineral resources agencies are responsible for the groundwater. Agriculture and water resources agencies are liable for artificial water facilities.

The law also envisages establishment of special commission under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan to address issues of granting land to foreign investment enterprises, foreign corporate entities and individuals.

The amendments to the law “On farms” settle the regulation on increasing the minimum size of land allocated to farms specializing in cotton and grain production from 10 to 30 hectares and from 1 to 5 hectares for gardening, wine-growing, vegetable growing and cultivation of other cultures. Besides, legislators revised the concept of granting land to dehqon farms in the Land Code.
 

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National telecommunications operator Uzbektelecom signed interconnect agreement with Russia’s Megafon mobile operator.

Today Uzbektelecom has direct contractual relationships with major telecom operators in Russia. The agreement with Megafon will not only enable direct ties with this company, but also ensure quality and reduce the cost of services, said Shuhrat Sadikov, director general at Uzbektelecom.

Uzbektelekom’s press service informed the company will provide Megafon with transit high-speed links with Central Asian countries via Uzbekistan.

UT Reference

Uzbektelecom is the largest telecommunications operator in Uzbekistan covering the entire territory of the country. The company provides leased lines for operators and providers of landline and mobile, long distance and international telephony, all types of voice and data transmission services, internet access, CDMA mobile communications services, channels for television and radio programs.
 

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Kyung Jae-Min, who has worked for three years in this country as head of diplomatic mission of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan, has reviewed his activity.

It is a great honor for me to have worked in Uzbekistan as ambassador of Korea. It has been a quite productive time which helped me to better know the country and the people of this great land.

I am very happy to see Uzbekistan develop under the leadership of President Islam Karimov. During the years of my stay in Uzbekistan, I have witnessed how the country continued its democratic development carrying out extensive socioeconomic and political reforms.

Based on strategic partnership, our bilateral relations steadily develop in various dimensions. The basis for consolidating our cooperation is friendly and trustworthy relations established between the presidents of our two countries.

The state visit of the president of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung Bak in May 2009 to Uzbekistan raised our bilateral relations to a new, higher level.

South Korea and Uzbekistan have great prospects for bilateral cooperation based on mutually beneficial economic interests. The people of Uzbekistan seek to develop their economy, while the nation has the advantage of rich natural resources, skilled cadres, and important strategic location in the region. In turn, South Korea has the financial capital and technology, significant experience in economic development, and if we unite it all, I think the joint efforts will lead to bilateral complementary and mutually beneficial cooperation and development.

Our countries have successfully overcome the effects of global financial crisis. Last year, when many nations experienced economic recession, Uzbekistan showed growth of 8% which is the highest in Central Asia.

If we talk about the Republic of Korea, it was the first to recover from the downturn among the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This year, Korea plans to show positive growth rate. I believe that our nations having such considerable economic indicators will cooperate in the economic sphere with even more vigor.

Many Korean companies have shown great interest in the national project of the Uzbek government FIEZ Navoi. Korean government also wishes good luck to this promising project and is willing to assist in its implementation.

On December 5, 2009, President Islam Karimov declared 2010 the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation at the ceremonial meeting occasioned to the Constitution Day. In this regard, the President underscored the need to strengthen mother and children protection policy, promote science, education and healthcare, stimulate the development of small businesses and private entrepreneurship, create small businesses that contribute to the affluence of middle classes.

I believe the announcement of 2010 as the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation is rather timely.

I would like to congratulate all the people of Uzbekistan on successful elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic attended by more than 300 foreign observers.

Our countries have a 17-year-long modern history of diplomatic relations based on strategic partnership and developing rapidly in various fields. I am confident that in the future, friendly ties between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Uzbekistan will be even more productive due to the special closeness between the two peoples and sincere friendship between our Presidents.”
 

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The latest issue of the leading French magazine L’Essentiel des Relations Internationales (“Major Issues in International Relations”) published an article by journalist Dominique Antoine: “The Uzbekistan’s Stance in Central Asia.”

The article highlights the issues of regional security in the context of resolving the situation in Afghanistan.

After all, security is the foundation of any future development. This explains the attention of the Uzbek leadership to the development of hostilities in Afghanistan, deterioration and radicalization of the situation, as well as terrorists’ activity.

Another threat, according to Dominique Antoine, disturbing Uzbekistan, is the illegal trade of drugs produced in Afghanistan. For information the author provides the following figures: “Today, the production of Afghan opium is actually more than 8 million tons, or more than 90% of world total. Moreover, everyone knows that drug trafficking is a major source of financing for terrorist groups not only in Afghanistan but also in neighboring states.”

In this regard, the French journalist mentions the initiatives of Uzbekistan aimed at resolving the Afghan crisis.

Speaking about the need to resume the work of the Contact Group “6+2” (Iran, Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russia and the U.S.), by transforming it into a group of “6+3”, with the addition of NATO, Dominique Antoine writes: “The proposal of President Islam Karimov is that this expanded group would become an effective mechanism for international cooperation in finding solutions to the Afghan crisis”.

Further on, the article states that Uzbekistan is not only proposing initiatives timely, but also takes active part in the economic revival of Afghanistan. In December 2002, the Uzbek government took a decision to open a bridge on the border between the two countries. In December 2003, Ayritom customs complex was commissioned in the city of Termiz, traffic volume of humanitarian cargo by which made about 1.2 million tons in 2007.

Uzbekistan has built additional 11 bridges in the area Mazar-e Sharif - Kabul, which ensured regular freight traffic between the north and south of the country and intensified trade relations between the two countries. Finally, Uzbekistan won the tender for the construction of a railway route Termiz - Hairaton - Mazar-e Sharif.
 

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In 2010, National Air Company of Uzbekistan, O’zbekiston Havo Yo’llari will procure six Airbus-A320, new type of aircraft. In accordance with the contract signed between Uzbekistan Airways and Airbus in January 2010, technical staff of the former airways will pass practical training at Airbus training center based in Hamburg, Germany. Seventy two brightest professionals from the engineering and technical personnel of the airline will pass the courses. The group will include a lot of promising youths.

Specialists will receive practical skills in servicing the new aircraft, this knowledge will be confirmed by a special certificate.

The follow up groups will be trained in Tashkent with attraction of professionals from Airbus and Lufthansa Technical Training. Practical classes will be conducted by Uzbek specialists from the first group trained in Hamburg.

Besides, in accordance with the abovementioned, Uzbekistan Airways Technics will organize a computerized classroom for further training of airline personnel, and an electronic simulator - A320 cockpit mockup - will be deployed at the training center of the national air company for pilots to develop their skills for the new aircraft.
 

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Uzbek-Russian JV O’zelectroapparat Elektroshield has manufactured a double-sheaved power substation of 400 kV which will provide electricity to all residents of the free industrial economic zone (FIEZ).

Priority in the coming year will be given to the development of industrial production with attraction of foreign capital. After the official presentation of the FIEZ in March 2009 in Seoul, over 30 investment projects and agreements were signed with companies from Austria, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, China, UAE and Singapore. Under the 2010 Investment Program, 11 investment projects were carried out with $31 million of foreign direct investment.

The new major manufacturing facilities will be created in the oil and gas sector. Three joint investment projects worth $19.5 million implemented jointly with South Korean businessmen focus on the production of equipment for gas filling compressor stations and automobile gas tanks, manufacture and assembly of electronic gas meters, as well as plastic products.

Convenient location of the FIEZ in the center of Uzbekistan and the heart of Central Asia, as well as incentives provided by the government of Uzbekistan attract Korean businessmen to the power industry of Uzbekistan. Following the meetings in Seoul with heads of Korean Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (KOEMA) and Korea Industrial Complex Corporation (KICOX), O’zeltehsanoat Association signed an agreement on creation of new modern environment-friendly production facilities in Navoi with the introduction of advanced technologies to manufacture energy-saving lamps and LCD monitors. Both projects worth $8.1 million were included in the 2010 Investment Program.

Foreign investors expressed particular interest in chemical production within the free industrial economic zone. In 2010-2012, enterprises of O’zkimyosanoat together with South Korean partners are to build a factory of hygienic products worth $5 million.

By creating favorable environment for foreign investment in organization of high-tech industries and development of industrial capacity in transport, transit and social infrastructure, the FIEZ will catalyze economic growth of the entire Central Asian region, forecast experts at the Ministry of Economy.
 

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Tashkent Pakhtakor appoints Montenegrin Miodrag Radulovic as new coach It was a New Year gift for the players from the management of the famous club that has won the championship of the country eight times. “In general, founders and managers of the club are pleased with the results of the last season,” pointed out Samvel Babayan, vice-president of Pakhtakor.

“But the challenge of winning the national championship and successful performance in the AFC Champions League is high on the agenda.

And since we have a quite young team, we decided to entrust it to a young, skilled and ambitious specialist. Radulovic coached the youth team of his country, he was an assistant coach of the national team of Montenegro, and trained plenty of talented players - his disciples include Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic, Milos Krasic... He trained at the famous European clubs of Spain and the Netherlands, and works as an instructor at the UEFA coaching courses, which means he can bring new developments to the club’s football academy and help in training of young talents. Besides, young Pakhtakor coaches will have an opportunity to learn latest trends in European football from Radulovic.”

“I have been coaching for eleven years, and I had several offers from different clubs,” said Miodrag Radulovic. I have chosen Pakhtakor because of their ambitions - I like that this team tends to win in all competitions. I believe that through cooperation and hard work we will come to success, and my work will help young talented Pakhtakor players and we will achieve good results with this team. I prefer an offensive football, and I think the fans will love it...

On January 2, the team flew to United Arab Emirates to have a training session which shows Pakhtakor’s ambitions for the new season, the desire to take the title back from Bunyodkor. Well, more competition in the national championship is always welcomed, it will benefit the entire Uzbek football.
 

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Favourable investment climate has been created in Uzbekistan. The legal framework of investment activity and protection of foreign investors' rights and their investments has been formed. To a number of acts composing the legal base of the investments and their protection shall refer the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, "On foreign investments", "On guarantees and measures of protection of the rights of foreign investors". Moreover, Republic of Uzbekistan participates in a number of international conventions, providing legal instruments for protection of investments, and also Uzbekistan has bilateral agreements with many countries on protection and promotion of investments.

Republic of Uzbekistan guarantees effective protection to foreign investments and in good faith fulfils its obligations under international agreements including investment protection agreements.

Besides, there are cases when the foreign companies put their efforts to involve Republic of Uzbekistan into disputes related to their commercial activity. As such an example, the claim of "ROMAK S.A." to the International Arbitration Court vs Republic of Uzbekistan can be mentioned.

On November 26, 2009, the International Arbitration Court, acting according to UNCITRAL Arbitration rules under the administrative support of Permanent Court of Arbitration, (the Hauge, the Netherlands) rendered an award in favour of Republic of Uzbekistan and once again acknowledged the adherence of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the principals of the International Law, principles of justice.

Dispute against Republic of Uzbekistan was initiated by Swiss Company "Romak S.A.", specializing in sale of grain and cereal products. Paris was the place of arbitration.

"Romak S.A.", having entered into contractual relations with Uzbek and Kazakh Companies, supplied grain to the Uzbek enterprises. In view of dispute arisen with Uzbek companies, "Romak S.A." have applied to GAFTA to settle the dispute through arbitration. The Arbitration Court GAFTA has rendered an award in favour of "Romak S.A." and ordered Uzbek Company "Uzdon" to pay the price of the contract on behalf of "ODIL" Company.

Swiss Company applied to the corresponding court of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2000 aiming at enforcement of the GAFTA Arbitration Court award under the New York Convention on recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The Economic Court of Tashkent rejected the"Romak S.A." application, due to the non-correspondence of the submitted application to the New York Convention.

Instead of re-applying in correspondence with the New York Convention requirements, "Romak .S.A." brought an unjustified claim to the International Arbitration Court against the Republic of Uzbekistan stating that the Republic of Uzbekistan breached the Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Swiss Confederation on promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, dated 16.04.1993 (Investment Protection Agreement). Mentioned Agreement aim at protection and promotion of investments of the Parties and stipulates for initiation of Arbitration in compliance with UNCITRAL rules.

At the Arbitration Court "Romak S.A." declared itself as investor and its rights under the grain purchase-and-sale contract and according to the GAFTA award to be the investments made in accordance with the Investment Protection Agreement.

Due to the fact that the grain supply contract concluded with "Romak S.A." is a one-off commercial transaction and is not the investment contribution to the development of the economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, such contract shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court, provided by the aforesaid Investment Protection Agreement. The Investment Protection Agreement was concluded between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Swiss Confederation on April 16, 1993 aiming at the promotion of the economic prosperity of both Countries by means of creation of favourable conditions for the investments. In other words, the Investment Protection Agreement protects only the rights of the investors and their investments on the territory of the parties to the Agreement.

In its decision, the Arbitration Court agreed with the Republic of Uzbekistan arguments, dismissing the claim for lack of jurisdiction in the present matter, since "Romak S.A." had never made investments in Uzbekistan, which could be protected according to Investment Protection Agreement, and grain supply contract, GAFTA arbitration award as well as any rights of "Romak S.A." arisen from it can not be considered as investments.

The International Arbitration Court cleared out the definition of "investment" and defined investments as a "contribution" that extends over a certain period of time and involves some risk.
Thus, the Arbitration Court in its decision indicated that "Romak S.A." did not have any investments complying with the Article 1 of the Investment Protection Agreement. The rights of "Romak S.A." arise from the purchase-and-sale contract, i.e. one-off commercial deal, according to which "Romak S.A." had an obligation to supply grain to the Uzbek companies for certain payment. Since any investments in the dispute found to be missing, the Republic of Uzbekistan does not fall under arbitration proceeding and the arbitration court does not have any jurisdiction on this matter.

It is necessary to mention that the decision of the arbitration court, fairly adopted in favour of the Republic of Uzbekistan, showed insufficiency of the claim and unconscientiousness of the "Romak S.A." Company towards Republic of Uzbekistan.

In the opinion of well-known foreign practicing lawyers, the abovementioned award should be viewed as a "great contribution to investment treaty arbitration", as it adds very pertinent criteria, which helps define the term "investment" in bilateral investment treaties.

The award of the international arbitration court is available at Permanent Arbitration court web-site (www.pca-cpa.org).

Respected compatriots!

Dear friends!

In these exciting moments, when only a few minutes are left before the New Year 2010, it gives me a great pleasure to express to all of you, my dear, my sincere respect and heartfelt congratulations.

Embracing all of you, who gathered this beautiful evening at the holiday tables, in my thoughts, I sincerely wish you, your families, your close ones good health, prosperity and happiness, joy and light, and fulfillment of all of your very best dreams and wishes in the new year.

Dear friends!

Saying goodbye to the year 2009 and remembering everything we have gone through, and thinking back to the difficulties and problems that we had to overcome in the past year, we clearly realize that this year was really not easy for our country.

Obviously, there is no need today to talk about the most difficult problems and challenges that the ongoing global financial and economic crisis brought to virtually all of the world’s countries, complex problems we had to deal with in the past year in order to prevent and ease the possible consequences of this crisis for us, for our economy and for people of Uzbekistan.

It would not be an exaggeration to say today that addressing vital tasks of preventing, as it happened in many countries, a sharp slowdown of the economic growth, reduction of the demand and production, bankruptcy of banks and financial institutions, growth of unemployment and, consequently, decrease of the revenues and he living standards was truly a real test for us.

Today all of us, the citizens of our country, have a feeling of great satisfaction and pride that, thanks to the correctly chosen national model of renewal and progress, major reforms implemented over the years of our independent development, timely adoption of an efficient Anti-crisis program, not only we have withstood these tests, but we also ensured a stable economic and social development among the few countries in the world; the levels of people’s income and the welfare of the country have not declined, but are steadily increasing.

The village workers had to overcome serious difficulties, given that the late spring, prolonged rains, hail and bad weather have created additional problems.

Only thanks to the selfless labor, experience and high professionalism of our dehqans, farmers and specialists we have been able to obtain high yields of grain, cotton and other crops and reach the set targets.

The announcement of 2009 as the Year of Rural Development and Improvement and implementation of the respective State program have largely become a continuation of radical reformation and improvement of the efficiency of agricultural production due to the dominant development of farms.

I believe I won’t be wrong if I say that the Year of Rural Development and Improvement was the beginning of a long-term program of radical reconstruction and renovation of the villages on the modern architectural and industrial basis, development of housing, social and community objects and communications that meet the highest demands, saying briefly, bringing the living standards in the villages, where today more than half of the country’s population lives, close to urban conditions.

To imagine the grand scale and prospects of the work we have started to transform the villages, it is enough to say that in 2009 alone more than UZS 2.6 trillion were attracted from all sources of funding to the implementation of this program.

Needless to say that the implementation of this program is only a part of the ongoing ambitious project in the country to modernize our economy and all spheres of our lives – be it industry and construction, transport and communications, education, healthcare or culture – in short, all sectors that ensure progress of our country, prosperity and welfare of our people.

Over the past year 2009, despite the negative impact of the ongoing crisis, the gross domestic product of our country grew by 8.1%, the volume of attracted investments by 33%, growth of real incomes of the population was 26.5%, and average wages, pensions, allowances and stipends increased by an average of 40%, which itself is a clear and concrete evidence of the stable development of our economy and the increasing living standards of the country’s people.

I would like to emphasize with a great a pleasure that in the coming year 2010 we expect to increase the size of the average wage, pensions, allowances and stipends by at least 30%, which, I think, will certainly raise the new year mood of our people.

I think there is no need to prove this to anybody, and everyone living on our land understands and acknowledges that the primary basis for the achievement of these milestones, recognized by the international community today, are primarily political and economic stability, international and civil accord, and the atmosphere of mutual respect and kindness prevailing in the country – this is our asset that all of us should treasure.

The key factor, the driving force of our success is our people’s hardworking and dedication, their ability to achieve the set goal, finally, these are cardinal changes taking place in the consciousness of every one of us, in regards to work and to everything that surrounds us, and our growing confidence in the future.

This truth, the growing political and social activity and civic consciousness of our people, was demonstrated at the recently held elections for the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis and local representative bodies of state authority. These elections once again confirmed out people’s strong desire to follow the chosen path of democratic renewal and formation of civil society, and our Faith in tomorrow.

My dear compatriots!

The announcement of the coming year 2010 as the Year of the Harmoniously Developed Generation has become a natural and logical continuation of the efforts of our state in this direction.

I am convinced that all of us are well aware that it will take years and decades to reach our goal of building the state with a great future and joining the list of developed and prosperous countries. This will require maximal mobilization of our efforts and selfless work.

We are aware that a great responsibility in achieving our ultimate goal rests on the shoulders of the younger generation. And each of us sees the meaning of his or her sacred parental duty not only to ensure that our children are growing physically and spiritually healthy, but also as fully and harmoniously developed people with the latest intellectual knowledge, the people who fully meet the requirements of the 21st century, in which our children and us will live and work.

It is primarily these priorities that the plans and long-term programs, aimed at enhancing the potential and power of our country, its joining the list of developed countries and growth of international prestige, adopted today should meet.

This is why, along with implementation of the wide-scale and long-term program to modernize, diversify, and technically and technologically renew the leading sectors of economy carried out in our country, we, as before, will pay the priority attention to building a strong social infrastructure and rapid development of the social sphere in the country.

Thus, in the state budget approved for 2010, more than 59% of spending is social spending. To develop healthcare and educational sectors alone, more than 50% of the expenditure part of the state budget will be spent. For the development of healthcare, UZS 1.7 trillion have been allocated, which is 30% more than in 2009.

Such attention, such attitude to the needs of social sector development can rarely be met in the world practice.

My dear compatriots!

Let me once again congratulate all of you with the coming year 2010.

May the New Year bring kindness and happiness, and may deepest wishes of each of us be fulfilled!

May peace and tranquility reign in our land, and may the sky over our Motherland be clear!
 

Islam Karimov,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan