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EXPLORE UZBEKISTAN

EXPLORE UZBEKISTAN

LATEST NEWS : JUNE 2009

On June 23 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the Special Envoy of France on Afghanistan and Pakistan Pierre Lelouche, according to the national newspapers.

President said that the meeting served as a fine opportunity to discuss the issues of cooperation of Uzbekistan with France in terms of ensuring the regional security and stability in Central Asia, settling the situation in Afghanistan, the newspapers reported.

At the talks the sides have considered the efforts of international community aimed at consolidating stability and providing for the development of Afghanistan. In this context, President Islam Karimov has renewed his firm stance and belief that it was impossible to address the Afghan problem only by military way.

According to President, without addressing such acute problems as reconstruction of economy, communications and social infrastructure of Afghanistan destroyed by war, without getting the Afghans themselves involved to this process, without securing the inner consensus and strengthening the vertical of power one cannot positively change the situation in the country.

Special envoy Pierre Lelouche has thanked the Uzbek Leader for a warm welcome. He said that France considered Uzbekistan to be a key partner in Central Asia and stood keenly interested in extending the mutually beneficial cooperation in all directions of mutual interest.

Also, at the Oksaroy talks in Tashkent the sides have exchanged views on the state and prospects of bilateral Uzbek-French relations in political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres, as well as on the urgent regional and international problems, according to the reports.

The day before the French delegation led by Mr. Lelouche visited the ancient and ever young city of Samarkand for the tour of the glorious venues of medieval history and ancient past.

Gulistan hosted the seminar, which was dedicated to the urgent problems of preserving the motherhood and childhood in Uzbekistan, the report by the Uzbekistan National News Agency has said.

The Ministry of Health and the UNISEF Office to Uzbekistan organized the seminar workshop.

The representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, healthcare establishments and the members of public participated at it.

At the moment, considerable work is being accomplished in Uzbekistan to strengthen the people’s health, in particular, secure the health of mothers and children, as well as bring up comprehensively developed generation.

Those who took a floor at the seminar spoke about the main factors that serve for the harmonic development of the forthcoming generation in Uzbekistan and strengthening the children’s health. They have also touched on particular issues in terms of bettering the material and technical basis of medical establishments at the local levels, as well as raising the medical culture in families.

Strengthening of health of mothers and children, betterment of the system of medical services requires further enhancement of professional skills of medical workers, as much as their knowledge of the latest achievement’s of medicine. Pursuing such particular goals, the officials at the local levels organize the regional study centers, according to the report.

Those who have participated at the Gulistan workshop had also taken part at launching of the regional study center established at the Regional Children’s Hospital.

The Regional stage of the traditional contest among disabled children “The world of charming colors” took place in Khorezm province, the Khalk sozi national newspaper reported this week.

According to the newspaper, over 35 participants took part at the contest. The event pursued the goal as to reveal the talented boys and girls, as well as comprehensively support and stimulate them.

“Each participant presented his series of drawings for jury”, said Dildora Jumaniyazova of the Khorezm Regional Council of the Kamolot Public Youth Movement. “Besides, they have showed their skills and mastery by drawing on an individual topic of their choice given certain time.”

According to the newspaper report, the amateurs and specialists liked the works by Beghzod Ruzmetov of Yangiaryk District, Madiyor Solayev of Urgench District and Khudoyshukur Rajabov of the city of Urgench.

The winners of the contest have been granted the right to participate at the Republican stage of competition.

One of the most important factors, which defines the authority and the prestige of the press in reporting, is to observe such principles as accuracy, efficiency and objectivity, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.

Nowadays the information attacks go on under the guise of “mass culture”. Their purpose is self-interest and ideological subversion. It requires the workers of mass media of special vigilance, raising their political and legal awareness, as well as professional skills.

The delegates to the forum “The perspectives of press” have focused on such issues at their discussions in Karshi, the administrative capital town o of the Kashkadarya Province.

The Public Fund for Supporting and Developing the Independent Print Media and Information Agencies of Uzbekistan alongside with Creative Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan, National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan are reported to have initiated the said forum.

The conference has been dedicated to the Print and Mass Media Workers Day – traditionally marked in Uzbekistan on June 27 each year.

Those, who spoke at the forum that took place in the spirit of discussion, had noted that the effective use of media opportunities, raising the legal awareness of journalists and assisting them to cover the specific topics, rendering the necessary conditions for the reporters in seeking the knowledge and information in the legal sphere would promote the upbringing the youth in the spirit of withstanding against alien influence and currents.

“The future of the press depends on the cadres”, said the editor of the Nishon tongi newspaper Salomat Tursunova. “Raising the professional skills of journalists is important in developing the sphere. From this point of view, today’s event was very useful for us – the workers of mass media.”

As a part of the event, the attendees, who have graduated from the Center of journalism skills at the Kashkadarya newspaper, established given the support of the Public Fund for Supporting and Developing the Independent Print Media and Information Agencies of Uzbekistan, received the certificates.

Uzbekistan accords a tangible attention to enhance the quality of medical services, strengthening the financial technical basis, and particularly, the health of the population, according to the report by Narodnoye slovo newspaper.

The ceremony of handing over 17 Damas minivans and eight Hyundai automobiles equipped with the latest equipment and technical tools to medical establishments in Namangan Province became as yet another manifestation of such care and attention on the part of state.

“These automobiles have been granted to our district and city centers for emergency medial aid,” director of the Namangan Regional Branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Aid M.Vakkosov said.

These modern automobiles will help to timely render the emergency medical aid to the people of remote and mountainous areas of the Chust, Yangikurgan and Mingbulak district, he added.

“We are pleased of the leadership of the country for the care and attention being paid towards ensuring better people’s health.”

At the moment, Uzbekistan, as it builds the democratic state and strong civil society, pays a considerable attention to increase the authority of mass media, in particular, developing the non-state television and radio channels society, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.

The project of establishing the network of territorial radio stations elaborated by the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan serves the aforementioned goal. The project is aimed at further betterment of providing the people at the remote areas of Uzbekistan with quick information.

As a part of implementation of the said project the Uzbekistan Agency of Communication and Information gave the latest radio transmitters and other radio-relay equipment for the territorial radio stations for free. At the moment, all conditions are available to launch the radio stations.

The new network of non-state radio stations has been named as NRT. The NRT-Tashkent will broadcast in Tashkent, and NRT with suffix of the name of particular province of Uzbekistan are going to broadcast in the local areas. Thus, they will be able to go on air by the titles of NRT-Turtkul, NRT-Bukhara or NRT-Kokand, and so on. The listeners from various areas of the country may have an opportunity to listen to over 13 radio stations.

NRT will start broadcasting on the day of professional holiday of mass media workers - on June 27.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Germany hosted the ceremony of signing by Uzbekistan the Charter of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Germany Bakhtiyor Gulyamov signed the document on behalf of Uzbekistan.

Germany is an initiator of establishment of IRENA. The founding conference of the Agency took place on January 26 this year in the city of Bonn. During this conference over 75 states signed the Agency Charter. By now the number of signatory states has made up one hundred.

IRENA is consults the advanced industrialized and developing countries from around the world, as well as assists in promoting the renewable sources of energy. The support of the Agency member-states in establishing and bettering the framework conditions to stimulate the development of renewable sources, including by way of transferring technologies and know-how in this sphere, is yet one of the priority directions of the Agency’s activity.

Germany is a depositary of the IRENA Charter and claims to host the Agency headquarters in the country. On June 28-29 the Egyptian city of Sharm ash-Sheikh will host the conference of the Agency preparation committee. The conference will see the discussion of the issues of placing the Agency headquarters and appointing the IRENA Director-General, as well as other important matters in terms of further activity of the Agency.

On June 18 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, according to the national newspapers.

President Islam Karimov said that the visit served as a fine opportunity for pinpointing the priority and prospective directions of cooperation with this international financial institution.

Uzbekistan joined the IMF in 1992. In 1993 the International Monetary Fund established its office in Uzbekistan. For over the recent years Uzbekistan has been undertaking successful cooperation in such spheres as banking legislation, statistical accounting and reporting, budget classification and payment system. Uzbekistan has accomplished all of its commitments on payments for the IMF credits.

According to the Article IV of the IMF Charter, annually Uzbekistan is visited by the IMF mission for talks on the issues of extending cooperation in such directions as development of the banking and finance system, improvement of monetary and credit policy, as well as consolidation of macroeconomic stability.

In particular, in December 2008 Uzbekistan saw the visit by the IMF Mission led by the Deputy Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department Sena Eken.

The Mission has underscored that despite the erupted global financial and economic crisis, Uzbekistan had been able to maintain the economic stability; the GDP growth made up 9 percent; the positive balance in the foreign trade and the surplus in the budget; the currency reserves saw continuing growth.

Considering the high economic growth rates, consistent consolidation of macroeconomic stability, successful structural changes, the IMF Board of Executive Directors has highly assessed the economic development in Uzbekistan.

During the Oksaroy talks in Tashkent Mr. Strauss-Kahn said that the International Monetary Fund stood ready to expand the cooperation with the Republic of Uzbekistan in terms of alleviating the impact of the global economic crisis and further developing the national economy. He has thanked the President for a warm welcome.

The Navoi Province achieves the considerable results on developing the light industry, producing competitive output and raising the employment level of population, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.

In 2008 the products worth UZS 77.7 billion were manufactured in the light industry. All capabilities are being used to raise those indicators for this year, as well. At the moment, 128 companies are operating in the area, including the “Bakht textile”, “Navbakhor textile” and “Velan”.

“Over 100 young men and women have been provided with jobs,” the director of the Bakht textile Navoi Joint Venture Kabul Tursunov. “We process 7,5 tons of cotton fiber per a year and export the yarn to such countries as Russia, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. With turning the company to its full power capacity we will be able to raise its export potential, and its currency reserves are going to account for 13-14 million US dollars. And yet the number of employees will make up to 400.”

On June 17-18 this year the city of Tashkent hosted the international conference “Afghanistan: problems of stabilization and prospects for reconstruction”, the Narodnoye slovo Russian-language newspaper reported June 20.

The Fund for Regional Policy along with the U.S.-based John Marshall European Center for Security Studies is reported to have organized the said forum.

Over 20 foreign experts from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India, U.S., Russia, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Slovenia, Japan, South Korea and states of Central Asia, as well as the representatives of a number of foreign diplomatic missions to Uzbekistan and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan participated at the conference.

The experts, who spoke at the forum, have comprehensively discussed the issues of military and political situation in Afghanistan, socio-economic and ethnic-cultural aspects of addressing the Afghan problem, international approaches towards ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan, as well as the role of neighboring countries in recovering the social and economic infrastructure of that country.

Also, during the floor debates the delegates to conference noted the enormous potential in Uzbekistan’s initiatives in terms of settling the conflict in Afghanistan, stabilizing the political, social and economic situation in the country. The participants of the conference have said that Uzbekistan’s approaches towards addressing the Afghan crisis sought a greater support of the international community.

In this context, the delegates have underscored that taking into account the historical experience and unfolding situation in Afghanistan, there was not for a military war of addressing the existing problem.

The experts, who took a floor, pinpointed to the priority of rendering a purposeful economic aid to Afghanistan, addressing the acute problems of poverty and providing for an employment, constructing and establishing the economic and social infrastructure of the country. They have noted Uzbekistan’s contribution to comprehensively promoting the social and economic recovery of Afghanistan.

The experts believed that the respectful attitude towards national and religious values, traditions and customs of the Afghan people stood as a necessary condition of all stabilization and reconstruction efforts.

The participants of the conference have also believed that the Afghans themselves ought to be involved in settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan.

The delegates to the conference have underscored that Uzbekistan’s initiative in terms of establishing the 6+3 Contact Group, comprising of Afghanistan’s immediate neighbors, the U.S., Russian Federation and NATO, given the UN’s coordinating role was the most effective mechanism of dealing with Afghanistan’s recovery as much as of a political dialogue between all confronting sides inside Afghanistan.

For the first time that initiative has been enunciated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the NATO/EAPC Summit in Bucharest in Romania in 2008. Later it was actively discussed during various regional and international forums, including at the SCO Ekaterinburg summit.

The participants of the conference concluded that the solution of the many years-long conflict in Afghanistan has stood as the most important condition of ensuring regional and global security. The peace in Afghanistan will open up the broad opportunities for a sustainable economic development, long-standing stability in Central and South Asia.

On June 15-16 this year the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated at the session of the Council of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member-states in the city of Ekaterinburg of the Russian Federation, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.

The high-profile Summit took off early morning of June 16 with the heads-of-states-only session, which saw the participation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, President of the Russian Federation Dmitriy Medvedev, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Kurmanbek Bakiev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon, the report said.

During the talks the heads of states have had a detailed exchange of views on the processes ongoing in the region and the world. They have considered coordination and enhancement of the concerted efforts on mitigating the impact and overcoming the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis in the SCO member-states, ensuring and consolidating the financial and economic stability.

At the same time, the heads of states discussed the issues of cooperation in the sphere of strengthening security, and in particular, the struggle against such threats as terrorism, extremism, separatism, trafficking of arms and narcotic substances, and other types of transnational organized crime.

The presidents also considered the situation in Afghanistan as well as the issues of recovery of the war-shaken economy of the country. Dwelling on the said problem, President Islam Karimov has renewed his initiative in terms of establishing under UN auspices of the international mechanism – the 6+3 Contact Group – that would comprise of six states, immediately neighboring on Afghanistan, and the representatives of Russia, U.S. and NATO.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said that it was extremely important to show full respect towards deep historical roots of the multinational people of Afghanistan, towards all confessions, traditional values of Islam, achieve based on consideration of all these factors the dialogue and necessary consensus inside Afghanistan.

Presidents discussed the issues of further development of SCO, bettering activity of its structures, extending cooperation with the member-states and regional structures.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization became one of the influential and powerful organizations with high potential that acts as comprehensively and deeply thought-out mechanism in developing the political, economic, humanitarian cooperation, as well as consolidating security and stability.

Having consolidated the mutual trust in political sphere the SCO participating states had reached the effective coordination of approaches towards regional and international issues.

For the SCO member-states the cooperation in the sphere of security has always been a priority. Therefore, on the eve of summits along with meetings of the representatives of social and economic complex the participating states also hold the sessions of security council secretaries, representatives of interior ministries, defense, on emergency situations and other special services.

The member-states pay a substantial attention towards the issues of economic cooperation. They consistently develop the program of long-term economic cooperation. The Business Council and SCO Banking Association jointly serve for the development of immediate contacts between the business circles and banking structures.

Nearly twenty specialized structures operate at the SCO. Alongside with Business Council and Banking Association there are special working groups on such spheres as customs, transit, information and telecommunication technologies, transport, road construction, logistics, agriculture and others.

The SCO member-states also develop the humanitarian cooperation. They regularly hold festivals, exhibitions and other cultural events. The cooperation in the area of medicine is important in the exchange of experience and coordination of combating the infectious diseases.

The session of the delegation-level Council of heads of states saw participation of the observer-countries – the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Manmohan Singh, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Norovyn Altanhuag, as well as President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, who appeared at the summit as a guest.

During the talks the participants of the summit exchanged views on the issues of further development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, extending the trade-economic, scientific-technical and humanitarian cooperation with observer countries. Also, the heads of the SCO participating states and representatives of the observer-countries considered the international and regional situation, discussed cooperation in consolidating the financial, energy, information, ecological and food security.

On the outcomes of the Summit, the participants signed the SCO Ekaterinburg Declaration, Convention against terrorism and number of other decisions. The chairmanship at the SCO went to the Republic of Uzbekistan.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, who is in Yekaterinburg for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, met the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao on 15 June.

During the meeting, the sides noted that the Uzbek-Chinese relations were developing in the spirit of the Interstate agreement on partnership relations, friendship and cooperation signed in 2005.

“We highly value the developing cooperation with China,” Islam Karimov said.

“This meeting is a good opportunity to exchange opinions on the issues of bilateral cooperation,” Hu Jintao said.

The heads of two states considered development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, cooperation within international organizations and other issues of mutual interest.

The relations between Uzbekistan and China, based on the principles of friendship, mutual interest, trust and respect, are developing dynamically in all spheres.

An important factor is the closeness of views of the heads of the two states on issues of cooperation, as well as regional and international problems.

In the framework of the financial cooperation, the interest-free and long-term credits of the Chinese government and export credits of the Eximbank of China are helping implement the projects in social sphere and infrastructure development in Uzbekistan.

The investment cooperation in the oil and gas sector is also developing. The Chinese National Petroleum Corporation is conducting geological survey works in the Aral Sea Area, Ustyurt, Bukhara, Khiva and Ferghana investment blocks.

223 Uzbek-Chinese joint ventures are operating in Uzbekistan, and 44 companies of China have their representative offices in the country.

On June 14 this year the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov will participate at the session of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow and on June 15-16 – at the meeting of the Council of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) heads of states in the city of Ekaterinburg.

On June 11 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the Special Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation on the relations with CIS states Farit Mukhametshin, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.

At the Oksaroy talks the sides have had a detailed exchange of views on bilateral and multilateral cooperation as a part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the report said.

Also, the Uzbek Leader and Russian President’s CIS affairs Special Envoy discussed the urgent issues of rationally using the water and energy resources of the region.

Mr. Mukhametshin has thanked President Islam Karimov for a warm welcome in Tashkent. 

This week the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates signed the Memorandum of Understanding in Tashkent, according to the national newspapers.

Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates are the states that enjoy substantial economic potential. The cooperation between the two countries is on the rise, according to observers. Thanks to the favorable investment climate created in Uzbekistan for foreign entrepreneurs the Emirates businesses are becoming keenly interested in engaging with their Uzbek partners in various spheres of leading business.

There are over seventy joint ventures that have been established along with Emirates investments attracted to Uzbekistan. They successfully operate in the spheres of trade, foodstuff, production of textile, construction materials, as well as the transport services.

“The United Arab Emirates highly value the cooperation with Uzbekistan,” the Emirates Minister of Economy Sultan bin Said al Mansoori said. “The ties between the two states based on friendship, mutual respect, trust and interest consistently develop in many spheres, including in the areas of trade, economy, investments, information technologies and tourism.”

According to the newspapers, as a part of their stay in Tashkent the UAE delegation also held talks at a number of ministries and agencies.

The delegation members visited the Khazrati Imom Complex (Khastimom), State Museum of history of Temurids, and saw exhibits on the life of the great medieval commander and statesman and his descendants. 

The official visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to the Federative Republic of Brazil on the invitation of President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received a broad coverage in the Brazilian mass media.

Taking into account that Uzbekistan and Brazil occupy an important place in their respective regions, the Brazilian media note that President Islam Karimov unambiguously stood for comprehensive development of cooperation with Brazil – the leading country of Latin America. In his turn, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been quoted as saying that Uzbekistan is a leading country of Central Asia and reliable partner of Brazil.

Brazilian media reports that during their talks the Presidents shared their views on the issues of Uzbek-Brazilian relations, strengthening security in Central Asia, situation in Afghanistan, processes which are undergoing in Latin America. Presidents also discussed the global financial and economic crisis, ways of decreasing its impact, mitigating the consequences.

Media also notes the similarities in the ways of development of two the countries, which for a historically short period of time have turned from the countries with raw material orientation into the countries which export the finished products to the world markets.

Highly assessing the outcomes of the visit of President Islam Karimov, media reported that both countries have a significant potential for developing and deepening the cooperation, particularly in such areas as aircraft building, mechanical engineering, petrochemical production, textile, processing of agricultural products, tourism and transport.

The media noted that a significant package of documents aimed at enhancing trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation have been signed in the course of the visit. On the outcomes of talks the sides adopted a Joint Statement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Federative Republic of Brazil.

On the eve of the visit, one of the largest daily newspapers of Brazil О' Globo published a series of articles under general title of “Uzbekistan – the Country of Great Opportunities”.
“Territory of contemporary Uzbekistan is one of the ancient cradles of the world civilization,” the newspaper wrote. “From the ancient times it was the land where powerful states rose – one replacing another.”

“Uzbekistan is a leading industrial state in the region of Central Asia, which maintains stability and economic development of the region as a whole.”

“Uzbekistan has successfully overcome the so-called “transition period.” For over the last years the country’s economy grew at 7-9%. The GDP of Uzbekistan reached 9% in 2008, making it one of the highest in the world, while foreign trade increased by 22%.”

“Thanks to the favorable investment climate, more than USD 100 billion has been invested in the economy during the years of independence. Of them more than USD 27 billion is foreign investments.”

The paper also wrote that “the Republic of Uzbekistan has been confidently implementing the reforms aimed at creating a powerful and diversified economy. At present, the country has elaborated measures on accelerating the implementation of Anti-crisis Action Program, which was developed in November 2008 and aims preventing and neutralizing the consequences of economic crisis on the economy of the country.”

The report also noted that “among the advantages of modern economy of Uzbekistan are the political and macroeconomic stability, the unique investment climate, favorable natural and climatic conditions, hospitable and diligent people, and still many others.”

“The most important advantage of Uzbekistan in the conditions of energy shortage which impacts many developed and developing countries is that Uzbekistan is one of the few countries in the world whose economy enjoys total energy independence,” the newspaper also wrote. “Uzbekistan is among the top ten countries for its reserves of natural gas and oil, coal and uranium, and is their net-exporter. The total energy reserves of Uzbekistan are sufficient to provide for the needs of the country at least for 100 years,” О' Globo reported.

The paper has also underscored that “proximity to large markets and developed transport infrastructure of Uzbekistan, integrated in multimodal communication system of Eurasia also predetermines prospects of investment and trade economic cooperation.”

О' Globo also featured a broad comments on the outcomes of the visit of President Islam Karimov. As paper wrote, “the visit opens up the new pages in the relations between the two countries and offers potential opportunities of extending the bilateral interaction on broad spectrum of issues of international politics.” The paper cited President of Brazil as saying “I am confident that with the visit of President Islam Karimov we will start taking concrete steps to shorten the distances between our countries and start to better know each other.”

The Agenda Estado News Agency wrote that President Islam Karimov has highly assessed the measures taken by the Brazilian leadership to overcome the consequences of the global financial crisis and expressed confidence that the two countries with developing economies can quickly address the crisis.

The leading Brazilian news agencies - ABN and Agency Brazil broadly commented on remarks of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the Uzbek-Brazilian talks and his assessments of cultural-civilization and geopolitical significance of Uzbekistan, as well as the prospects of bilateral interaction in trade-economic and investment spheres.

The agencies have made an emphasis on the remarks by the Brazilian President that “while Asia is becoming the center of dynamic and innovative development, Uzbekistan and Brazil, which enjoy the large natural riches, develop their economies on the basis of diversification of industry”.

The agencies also quoted the President of Brazil as saying that Uzbekistan is committed to its historical heritage and traditional role in maintaining and enhancing the dialogue between various nations and cultures. “Uzbekistan is the most densely populated country of Central Asia and secures a strategic place in the nexus of Asia,” President said. “This state is the cradle of thousands-years-old civilization. Those, who want to discover the new horizons, must take ancient traders and entrepreneurs as an example. Thanks to them, Samarkand and Bukhara became the venue of intersection of the West and the East,” President Lula da Silva said.

Brazilian media noted that President Lula da Silva compared the position of Uzbekistan in Central Asia to that of Brazil in Latin America and named Uzbekistan “as multinational country, rich with natural resources and powerful economy.” It is underscored that agreements on political, economic, technical and cultural cooperation, which have been inked during the visit “would lay a foundation for a long-term mutually beneficial partnership.”

The commentators noted that in the course of talks the sides defined the prospects of bilateral cooperation taking into account the trends of modern global development. President Lula da Silva of Brazil is quoted as saying that “in the conditions of global financial crisis our countries have already demonstrated the signs that they can contribute to the construction of the new economic geography and promote the reforms in international financial architecture. I join President Karimov in his confidence that the time has come to undertake drastic changes in the world banking and financial system. I am absolutely confident that Uzbekistan and Brazil are better prepared for the new world order which will be formed after the crisis.”

The Brazilian media note the fact that the positions of two countries stood close and coincided on the most important issues of international politics of security. In particular, it concerns the prospects of reforming the United Nations and its bodies. The media underscored the fact that President Islam Karimov supported the candidacy of Brazil for a permanent place at the UN Security Council. At the same time, the media noted the common approaches of the two countries towards the problems of nuclear nonproliferation: both Uzbekistan and Brazil are the initiators and staunch supporters of the need to establish the nuclear free zones in Central Asia and Latin America.

According to Agencia Safras News Agency, one of the outcomes of the visit has become strengthening of cooperation in the sphere of agriculture. In this regard the agency underlined that in the city of Brasilia the Ministry of agriculture, cattle-breeding and stockpiling and the Ministry for foreign economic relations, investments and trade of Uzbekistan signed an agreement on cooperation in agriculture for the period of five years.

The Agreement encompasses such spheres as cattle-breeding and veterinary. It also includes the issues of raw-material for bio-fuel production, dairy products, vegetable-growing, sustainable preservation of soils, issues of genetic and bio-technologies, processing agricultural products, issues of security of cattle-breeding.

The joint researches in the sphere of agriculture, exchange of genetic materials, developing the technology of bio-fuel production and food preserving, as well as the exchange of specialists, scientists and conducting training courses for them are defined as examples of different forms of cooperation between the two countries.

Yet another news agency - Agencia Komara de Notisias - reported that at the meeting with Chairman of the Chamber Michelle Temer President of Uzbekistan supported Brazil’s candidacy for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.

The Prensa Latina reported that the official visit was preceded by bilateral forum of representatives of business circles, which was held by Industrial Fund of San Paolo State, Center for Industry of San Paolo State from the Brazilian side and the Ministry for foreign economic relations, investments and trade of Uzbekistan, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry from the Uzbek side. The forum offered various opportunities for defining the opportunities for investing, trade and cooperation between two countries.

“At the end of the meeting the Industrial Fund of San Paolo State and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the sphere of food and leather processing, shoe production, petrochemical, chemical and textile industry,” Prensa Latina reported.

With the election of President Barack Obama, the public of Uzbekistan quite naturally, carefully keeps track of and notes the new initiatives in the activity of the U.S. administration.

Yet the appearance of Barack Obama at the Cairo University has not become the exclusion.

The speech of Barack Obama is, above all, the confirmation of prevalence of realism and pragmatism in the foreign policy approaches of the U.S. administration, this is an appeal to break with a vicious circle of mistrust and standoff with the Muslim world, this is a message to end with the negative stereotypes about Islam, wherever they may proceed from, and give a start to the new era of relations of the U.S. and Islamic world.

This is a strife to find the new ways of interaction between the United States and Muslims throughout the world in the interests of peace, justice and progress.

It is worth noting the pragmatism of the stated foreign policy course of the administration of Barack Obama in the approaches towards the issue of the so-called policy of “spreading democracy”.

The essence of the newly stated approaches towards this problem lays in that any imposing of one’s own values to other countries with “fully different history and culture” is counterproductive. It is important for oneself to be a good example for imitation, continuing to protect democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion as the universal values, identically equal for all.

Such sober-minded and real approach in addressing very important problems of today will undoubtedly find a positive response among the international community. 

On June 3 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Uzbekistan Richard Norland, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.

President Islam Karimov said that the meeting served as a fine opportunity to exchange views on the issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation of mutual interest.

During the Oksaroy talks the sides discussed the further development of cooperation in the sphere of regional security, trade and economic partnership, as well as implementing the prospective projects in humanitarian and other areas, according to the news agency report.

On May 27-29 this year on the invitation of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to Brazil.

On May 27 the official ceremony of welcoming the top-level guest took place at the airport with the guard of honor to have lined up in honor of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The national anthems of Uzbekistan and Brazil sounded in the accompaniment of 21 volleys that have been fired in honor of the Uzbek Leader.

On May 28 the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Brazil held official talks. At them the two leaders have exchanged views on the Uzbek-Brazilian relations, problems of regional and international nature of mutual interest.

President Islam Karimov said that Uzbekistan stood for a comprehensive development of cooperation with this leading country in Latin America. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also underscored that Brazil considered Uzbekistan, the leading state in Central Asia, to be its reliable partner.

During the Brasilia talks Presidents Islam Karimov and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have comprehensively discussed the development of the Uzbek-Brazilian relations. They have exchanged views on the problems of consolidating security in Central Asia, the situation in Afghanistan, as well as processes now undergoing in Latin America. The two leaders have also discussed the global financial-economic crisis, as much as the opportunities of lowering its impacts and mitigating its consequences.

Uzbekistan and Brazil occupy an important place in their respective regions. As a matter of fact, Uzbekistan has come forward with an initiative of establishing the common Central Asian market. Brazil is the most developed and economically powerful state of the South American common market of Mercosur, also known as the Common Market of the South.

Uzbekistan acts as an initiator of the establishment of the Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia. At the same time, Brazil has joined Latin America’s nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Both Uzbekistan and Brazil stand for reforming the United Nations, increasing its role and significance in addressing the international problems. The two states also support the principle of ‘multi-polarity of the world’. President Islam Karimov and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are unanimous in the issues of preventing such threats as terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, organized transnational crime, and stand for a close international cooperation in combating them.

Uzbekistan and Brazil enjoy profound opportunities to extend cooperation in aircraft building, machinery, petrochemical production, textile branch, and leather industry. Apart from that, the two states have good opportunities of cooperating in such spheres as processing of agricultural products, tourism, transport, geological exploration, and manufacturing of construction materials.

Uzbekistan may turn for Brazil into a connecting link not only with the states of Central Asia, but also with many countries of the CIS. The scheduled transcontinental inter-modal logistics center in the city of Navoi may serve as a good example for the aforesaid. The Center – by the way, the only of its kind in CIS area – is being established along with cooperation with the Republic of Korea.

The South Korea is a strategic partner of both Uzbekistan and Brazil. From this point of view, it is fully logical that on early May this year Tashkent hosted the Uzbek-Korean summit, and now the Uzbek-Brazilian top-level negotiations took place in Brazil.

On the outcomes of talks in the city of Brasilia the sides adopted the Joint Declaration between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Federative Republic of Brazil. Also, on the outcomes of negotiations the two governments signed the agreements on technical cooperation, economic and trade cooperation, cultural cooperation, relieving the diplomatic passport-holders to seek visas, cooperation in the area of agriculture and memorandum of cooperation in the area of tourism. The sides also signed a number of bilateral documents on cooperation between the ministries and agencies of the two countries.

On May 29 – the third day of his stay in Brazil – President Islam Karimov arrived in Rio de Janeiro and met with the Mayor of the city Eduardo Paes.

During the talks the sides have exchanged views on extending cooperation between Uzbekistan and Brazil in the sphere of city building, protecting and bettering the historical monuments, attracting tourists, improving the city infrastructure, as well as establishing the direct contacts and exchanging experience between the cities.

On the outcomes of the meeting the sides have signed the agreement of cooperation between the cities of Tashkent and Rio de Janeiro.

As a part of his stay in the city the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited the Maracana Stadium, considered to be the largest one in the world.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov ended his official visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil. The arrangements secured during the visit, including over ten signed documents of cooperation in the trade-economic and technical spheres, in the area of culture, agriculture, tourism and sport, will take the relations between Uzbekistan and Brazil to a qualitatively new level.

On the way to the Federative Republic of Brazil the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has made a stop in the capital city of Kingdom of Spain – Madrid, where he had met with the King Juan Carlos. During the talks the sides have exchanged views on bilateral relations and international problems of mutual interest.

Islam Karimov and Juan Carlos highly assessed the current state of bilateral relations. At the same time, they have said that the indicators of economic cooperation did not meet the opportunities available to both countries. The two states reached an agreement to enhance the ties in this direction, as well as consolidate the legal basis of the mutually beneficial partnership.

The Republic of Uzbekistan expresses concern with regard to holding by the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea of the nuclear tests, which represent a serious threat to the regional and international security.

Uzbekistan, as an initiator of establishing the nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia, stands for the nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula, resuming the process of the six-party talks on nuclear disarmament and resolving existing problems by peaceful diplomatic tools.

The International specialized fair and sale of mini-technologies and compact equipment for the agro-industrial complex, namely Karshi agrominitech ЕХРО-2009, took off at the central stadium in Karshi, the administrative capital town of Kashkadarya Province.

According to the report posted at the June 3 edition of the Narodnoye slovo newspaper, it hasn’t been for nothing that fair drew a keen interest on the part of visitors and enthusiasts. Since, over 70 companies from 20 countries of the world are reported to have presented the cutting-edge technologies on processing of raw.

The Kashkadarya – and Surkhandarya-based farmers have had a broad choice of equipment to see and assess on producing and processing the fruit and vegetable as well as meat and dairy products, production of flour and mixed fodder.

The farmers have also learnt about packaging and pre-packing equipment, new technologies on protection of plantation, currying, compact construction for establishing the greenhouses, as well as the wide spectrum of agricultural techniques – ranging from gardening inventory to grain harvester combines.

The residents of Tashkent and visitors of the capital city of Uzbekistan, who regularly use the services of the city passenger transport, have already been able to assess the smooth move and comfort of the Mercedes-Benz Conecto Low Floor urban buses that are by the way environmentally effective compare to their predecessors.

According to the report by Narodnoye slovo newspaper, the city fleet of motor vehicles acquired two hundred modern Euro-3 buses delivered on the contract between the Toshshakhartranskhizmat Association and German EvoBus GmbH.

As the sides continued to engage in the mutually beneficial cooperation they have signed a new contract for the purchase of yet two hundred more new low-floor urban buses Mercedes-Benz Conecto.

According to the association officials, the first consignment of such buses will arrive in the town in July, which will serve as a good gift for the city dwellers by the celebration of the 2200th anniversary of Tashkent due this year.

UzA

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited Rio-de-Janeiro on the third day of his official visit to Brazil on 29 May.

Here he met with the city mayor Eduardo Paes to consider issues of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Brazil in the field of town-building, protection of historical monuments, attracting tourists, improvement of the city infrastructure and others.

The cooperation on agreement between Tashkent and Rio-de-Janeiro was signed.

The head of the state visited the world’s largest stadium Marakana. Built in 1965, the construction is called the national stadium of Brazil.

Islam Karimov completed his three-day official visit to Brazil. As reported earlier, during the visit, more than 10 documents were signed between the two countries.

They will serve to expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and Brazil in various areas.

Information agency “Jahon”

Brasilia, Brazil - On May 27 this year on the invitation of the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in this country on an official visit.

On the arrival at the airport President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has been given an official welcome in the company of delegations led by top-level officials of the two countries.

Twenty-one volleys have been fired in honor of the Uzbek Leader, who has later passed by the guard of honor specially lined up at the airport to meet the high-level incoming guest.

On May 28 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov had talks with his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

During their negotiations in the city of Brasilia, the capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the two presidents exchanged views on the issues of the Uzbek-Brazilian relations, problems of regional and international nature of mutual interest.

Also, the same day President Islam Karimov has had talks with other Brazilian officials.

Following the negotiations the two sides have signed a considerable package of bilateral documents aimed at laying the foundation for the successful cooperation in the days to come as well as consolidating the ties in the spheres of socio-political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian relations.

The senator of the Kingdom of Belgium, the chairman of the “Belgium-Uzbekistan” parliamentary cooperation group Yves Leterm is visiting Uzbekistan, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.

On May 27 Mr. Leterm had talks at the Upper House of national bicameral parliament – the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The sides have said that the relations between Uzbekistan and Belgium were consistently developing in all spheres, including in the area of parliamentary relations. They have also said that the arrangements secured during the top-level meetings of heads of two states served as a major legal basis along such process.

The cooperation between the lawmaking bodies of states is important in terms of consolidating the legal basis of bilateral relations. At the Upper House Mr. Yves Leterm has been told about the activity of bicameral parliament of Uzbekistan.

“We are glad that the relations of Belgium and Uzbekistan are consistently developing in all directions,” Mr. Leterm has said. “While visiting Uzbekistan we have been convinced that the reforms in Uzbekistan were considerable and successful in terms of renewing and modernizing the society. We stand for further strengthening of the mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries.”

The same day Mr. Leterm has had negotiations at the Tashkent State Institute of Law, according to the news agency report.

These days the delegation led by Prince Michael of Kent is visiting Uzbekistan, according to the Narodnoye slovo national newspaper. On May 27 the delegation members visited the Westminster International University in Tashkent and met with teaching faculty and the students.

This university established on the resolution of President Islam Karimov in 2002 is a practical outcome of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom in the sphere of education, according to the newspaper.

The main goal of establishing such prestigious higher educational establishment in Tashkent is to create all necessary conditions for unveiling the intellectual potential of the Uzbek young men and women, raising the efficiency of the contribution they make to the social and economic development of the country, as much as expanding the international cooperation in the system of higher education.

Seeing around the university, the British delegation is reported to have highly assessed the educational process, as well as the conditions created for the students to get into an depth learning and studies. Also, the delegation members participated in inaugurating the new sporting complex at the university, according to the report.

UzA

All three football clubs, Neftchi, Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor from Uzbekistan won away matches at AFC tournaments.

Neftchi advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup after beating Syria’s Al Maged 3-1 on penalties after holding on for a goalless draw at Al Abbassiyin Stadium on Tuesday.

The home side continued their early pressure and again went close four minutes later when Al Zino curled a free-kick just over the crossbar.

The pressure continued and Al Maged had further chances to take the lead after 15 minutes when Mouhanad Asaad was denied by Neftchi goalkeeper Tsoy.

Neftchi almost snatched a late winner against the run of play with 13 minutes remaining as Islom Tuhtahujaev headed over before Akmal Kholikov also headed over for the visitors in the last minute of normal time.

Extra-time failed to yield a real chance for either side and in the shoot-out Neftchi prevailed as Tsoy saved from Al Zino and Asaad and Al Kaddour missed from the spot.

Uzbek champions Bunyodkor beat Iranian giants Persepolis 1-0, courtesy Brazilian Rivaldo who rolled back the years to slot the ball from the spot and advanced into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.

The contest began at a frantic pace with Bunyodkor and Rivaldo enjoying early dominance and after eight minutes Server Djeparov crossed for Ulugbek Bakaev to head over at the far post.

The visitors continued to dominate and had another chance as Brazilian full-back Edson Ramos was denied by the legs of Persepolis goalkeeper Misagh Memarzadeh after Rivaldo’s shot from the edge of the area deflected into his path on the edge of the six yard area.

After injured Bunyodkor centre-back Gochguly Gochguliyev had to be replaced by the towering figure of Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov, Rivaldo guided a header wide midway through the first half before Timur Kapadze tried his luck from the edge of the area.

Captain Ali Karimi had the home side’s first real chance as his dipping free-kick from the edge of the area just failed to find a way under the crossbar.

But four minutes before the break Bunyodkor broke the deadlock as Rivaldo calmly converted from the spot after going to ground while under pressure from Sepehr Heydari and Nabiollah Bagheriha as he looked to turn on the edge of the area.

A minute before the break Murotjon Zukhurov preserved his side’s lead as he produced an athletic dive to turn away Bagheriha’s header which looked destined for the bottom corner from Karimi’s inviting cross before beating away the defender’s shot in first half stoppage time.

Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht headed wide for the home just after the break as Persepolis made an encouraging start to the second half with Bunyodkor happy to threaten on the counterattack to preserve their slender lead.

With 20 minutes remaining Persepolis still had failed to create a clear-cut opportunity and Rivaldo had a chance to seal the win minutes later following another Bunyodkor counterattack but was blocked out as he attempted to shoot despite Jasur Hasanov being unmarked inside the area.

Memarzadeh denied Bunyodkor’s Azizbek Haydarov with six minutes remaining, while Persepolis had only Karimi’s blocked shot in the closing stages to show for their efforts as Iran’s last surviving representatives in the AFC Champions League bowed out tamely.

ACL ever-presents Pakhtakor, however, had to come from behind to notch up a creditable 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Ettifaq.

Ettifaq, who had a 100% home record in winning Group D, dominated the first-half but despite having several clear cut chances the home side had only Prince Tagoe’s 33rd minute strike to show for their efforts.

And after failing to reproduce the dominance in the second-half as Pakhtakor took control, first-half substitute Zaynitdin Tadjiyev equalised with 11 minutes remaining before second-half substitute Geynrikh sent Pakhtakor through to the last eight.