DECEMBER 4 – THE ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN.. 1
Mass Media and Election Campaigning. 1
Delegation of Uzbekistan to participate in SCO Council of Heads of Government 2
Meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs of India. 2
Delegation of Slovakia to visit Uzbekistan. 3
DECEMBER 4 – THE ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Mass Media and Election Campaigning
On October 31, the Republican Press Center for covering the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has played host to a videoconference workshop for journalists to discuss the participation of mass media in the electoral campaigning.
It was noted at the seminar that the media are an important element in holding free democratic elections. During the electoral season the voters are provided with access to complete information about the political parties participating in the ballot, the electoral programs of those running for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the essence and significance of the electoral process.
The current electoral season for the forthcoming presidential elections has entered a new phase. The election campaigning kicked off on October 28. Under the Law on the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, during the campaigning the presidential nominees are provided with equal access to mass media with the same amount of airtime and print space provided for them free of charge. In the non-state media, candidates can be allocated airtime and print space in accordance with the law.
The order, volume and time of use of the media for the purposes of election campaigning is defined by the Central Election Commission in consultation with the political parties. In this regard, taking into account the proposals of the latter, in order for each candidate to inform the voters about the main provisions of their electoral programs, they have been granted 638 minutes of free airtime on the TV and radio channels Uzbekistan and Yoshlar of the National Television and Radio Company, 206 minutes on 12 local TV and radio channels of the National Television and Radio Company, 286 minutes on the TV and radio channel Toshkent of the same company.
Candidates are provided with print space free of charge, in particular in the newspapers Khalq Suzi, Narodnoe Slovo and Pravda Vostoka with 6 pages each, 5 pages each in the papers Ovozi Tojik and Nurly Zhol, as well as 55.5 print space stripes in 30 local newspapers in general.
It was noted that during the election campaigning, candidates need media assistance in creating an atmosphere of openness and transparency, dissemination of any information related to their election campaigning in line with the criteria of efficiency, adequacy, equity and objectivity. When covering the electoral activities of presidential hopefuls in news programs and other information materials, the media provide for equal playing field, including the duration and amount of coverage, using the materials broadcast and published in a single information unit.
In the meantime, the relations pertaining to the allocation of paid airtime or print space shall be carried out on the basis of a contract concluded between the media outlet and political parties. The information disseminated by the media must be true, should not violate the rights and legitimate interests of candidates and political parties.
The seminar passed in the form of a free exchange of views, and the journalists received answers to their questions.
(Source: Press Service of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
ENERGETICS
Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd. have signed a contract on the turnkey construction of the second combined cycle gas turbine at Navoi TPP
Under the project, the Japanese side will supply the main components of 450 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT). Mitsubishi, in cooperation with the Turkish Calik Enerji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., will deliver other technical components, as well as be responsible for the transportation of equipment, construction and installation works.
Completion of CCP is scheduled for 2019. The project will be funded by a $332.6 million soft loan of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the $150 million loan of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan. Another $45.8 million will be allocated by Uzbekenergo.
It is planned that after commissioning the combined cycle plant will annually produce 3.27 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity, and 1,520 Gcal of thermal energy.
Exactly four years ago, the Japanese company completed construction of the first 478 MW CCGT. Since the commissioning, the new plant has generated over 12.5 billion kWh of electricity.
According to experts of the plant, the first unit has allowed increasing the generation of electricity and heat by almost half owing to advanced technologies. The production of one kilowatt-hour of electricity by conventional thermal cycle station requires 400 grams or more of specific fuel consumption, while the combined cycle plant consumes 215-225 grams. Annual savings of natural gas make up 500 million cubic meters.
Based on advanced technologies, the new equipment meets high environmental requirements, significantly reduces harmful emissions, the output of solid waste and noise.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
International cooperation
Delegation of Uzbekistan to participate in SCO Council of Heads of Government
The delegation of Uzbekistan headed by the First Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance Rustam Azimov will take part in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will held on November 2-3, 2016 in Bishkek.
The heads of governments of SCO Member States will discuss the practical issues of cooperation within the SCO framework.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs of India
On November 1, 2016 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov received the head of the Indian delegation, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India Mubashir Javed Akbar.
At the beginning of the meeting the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan expressed gratitude to the leadership of India for the condolences and support to the people of Uzbekistan on the occasion of the death of the First President Islam Karimov and paying a tribute to his memory during the visit of the Indian delegation to Samarkand.
In the conversation, the sides discussed topical issues of bilateral relations in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres as well as regional and international agenda.
It was noted that regular Uzbek-Indian political dialogue at the highest and high levels, the meetings of representatives of business circles, figures of culture and art, exchanges in science and education allow to implement the reached agreements and to actively strengthen multi-faceted cooperation, aimed at deepening the traditional relations between the two countries and peoples.
The Ambassador of India Vinod Kumar attended the meeting.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
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Minister of State for External Affairs of the Republic of India Mobashar Jawad Akbar visited Samarkand on 31 October within his trip to our country
The guest laid flowers to a burial site of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the Khazrati Khizr complex and paid a tribute of respect to his memory.
It was noted that Islam Karimov was a great statesman, who was a founder of independent Uzbekistan statehood and carried out unprecedented works on the way of its development, a great politician, who defended the interests of our country and Central Asian region in the international arena.
– The death of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov deeply saddened the Government and people of India, Mobashar Jawad Akbar said. – He was not only the leader of Uzbekistan, but also a wise politician with a high authority in the international arena. Islam Karimov has contributed greatly to strengthening cooperation in trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian spheres between India and Uzbekistan. We are willing to continue these relations consistently.
The Indian guests watched rare expositions and world-known wall pictures at the Afrosiyob museum, which tells the story of three-millennia history of Samarkand. A documentary about the city history had a lasting impression on the guests.
During a visit to the Imam Bukhari complex, the guests were informed about a history of construction of this complex, the works, carried out under the leadership of the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov during the years of independence.
The Mirzo Ulugbek memorial complex and other historical monuments in the city, an exposition of national artisans impressed the guests as well. The guests highly appraised the wisdom of our great ancestors, who built such magnificent buildings, and the attitude to the history of contemporary Uzbek people, who preserve these buildings with care for future generations.
(Source: UzA)
Delegation of Slovakia to visit Uzbekistan
On November 2-4, 2016, the delegation of the Slovak Republic headed by State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Lukas Parizek will visit Uzbekistan.
The visit program includes participation in the next round of inter-ministerial political consultations, discussing topical issues of bilateral relations in the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, a trip to Samarkand region.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
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