March 26, 2015
Tashkent hosted the Central Asia’s largest annual Industry Exhibition BankExpo-2015. 2
elections OF THE PRESIDENT of the republic of uzbekistan.. 3
People started early voting. 3
An interim report of CIS on the election of the President of Uzbekistan published. 3
FINANCE
Tashkent hosted the Central Asia’s largest annual Industry Exhibition BankExpo-2015
Last week, Tashkent turned into a site of banking technologies, equipment and services. For the eighth time in a run the capital has hosted the Central Asia’s largest annual Industry Exhibition BankExpo-2015.
It stands to reason that many experts call the banking system the lifeblood of the economic system. It ensures the accumulation of free funds of individuals and legal entities, their inter-sectoral reallocation, as well as national and international payments between different economic entities.
Over the past decade the domestic banking system has made a huge step forward. Uzbekistan introduced a two-stage banking system, headed by the Central Bank, and put the national currency into circulation. Uzbekistan was the first in the CIS to establish a payment system in full compliance with international requirements. The progress has been especially remarkable over the last years. In 2008, the banking system protected the economy from the negative effects of the global financial and economic crisis, and today it continues mitigating the effects of the global economic instability and geopolitical risks.
Today, banking services cover the entire adult population of the country. 49.7 banking institutions account for 100,000 adults. Around 1,028 bank accounts per 1,000 people have been opened, which is graded high by international standards.
High technologies enable domestic banks to increase the level of services provided, anticipating customer needs. Therefore, the exhibition accentuated advanced banking and financial technologies and interactive services that strengthen mutually beneficial partnership between the banking and financial institutions and their customers.
Electronic payments were in the spotlight as well, owing to their boosting popularity. To date, the number of plastic cards has exceeded 13.44 million. In early 2000, there were only 32,000 cards, against 11.06 million in early 2014.
“Today, the banking system of Uzbekistan ranks among the region’s fastest growing,” shared Chief of Plastic Card Department at Qishloq Qurilish Bank, Javohir Alimov. “We strive to be on the fore front of modern trends and introduce new technologies. SMS- and Internet banking is not a new thing for our customers. Our bank has issued 370,000 cards, including about 40% of online cards, and installed 8,000 mobile terminals.”
Experts say that for many years of experience the BankExpo has become a significant event in terms of further reformation and enhancement of stability of the financial and banking system of the country. It has become a platform for effective dialogue between the participants of the Uzbek banking sector, demonstrating the significant progress made in the years of independence.
As experts say, the exhibition has grown into the largest regional event, which effectively highlights the ways of accessing a higher level of organization of the banking activities in the country. The participants have a chance to share their experience, information on the tools, technologies and solutions that ensure the development of the banking system, particularly through the effective use of modern information technologies.
2015 is no exception. The experts spotlighted the draft law on electronic commerce, which is currently being developed by the Central Bank. It is expected to contribute to the creation of additional conditions for the development of entrepreneurship and improvement of the business environment, as well as the arrangement of the technological market infrastructure in line with international standards.
The exhibition presented some know-how of domestic banks. For instance, the Trust-Mobile news program is aimed at streamlining relations between the banking and financial institutions and customers.
“The program promises to be a new trend in the mobile banking for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs,” said Director of Trastbank’s Information Technologies Department, Kozimjon Domashikov. “With the help of mobile terminals and the Trust-mobile the customers can manage their own personal accounts. To use the application, one needs to sign an agreement on the use of this banking service and then download the software to his mobile phone.”
The assessment of the outcomes of the exhibition suggests its success and consumer demand. According to statistics of the organizers, this year’s exhibition has left the most positive impressions in its participants and visitors, providing an opportunity of effective dialogue between all participants of the banking sector in Uzbekistan.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
elections OF THE PRESIDENT of the republic of uzbekistan
People started early voting
In accordance with the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan, voters who cannot come to the polling station on the polling day may vote in advance. For this purpose, the elector applies to the precinct election commission with a statement specifying the reasons for the absence on the day of election, receives the ballot and makes his choice.
Rahbar Qodirova living in Afrosiyob mahalla in the city of Samarkand, taking advantage of this opportunity, took part in the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ahead of time and gave her vote for the most worthy candidate.
“I am happy that in the Year of Care for the Senior Generation, I had the opportunity to perform Holy Umrah pilgrimage,” she says. “On the polling day, I will be away. That’s why, having heard about the possibility of early voting, appealed to the 20th precinct election commission. Reading my request, they gave me a ballot. In the polling booth, I gave my vote for the most worthy candidate. So, using my constitutional right voted for the bright future of my Motherland, prosperous life of our people.”
According to the information received from the 7th Samarkand district election commission, on elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, all the necessary conditions for early voting of voters have been created in all polling stations of the region. By now, more than 200 voters took part in the elections in advance.
(Source: UzA)
An interim report of CIS on the election of the President of Uzbekistan published
On March 24, observer mission from the Commonwealth of Independent States published an interim report on the observation of the preparation and conduct of elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The organization of monitoring
Following an invitation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter – the Central Election Commission, CEC) CIS Observation Mission (hereinafter – the Mission) monitors the preparation and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter – the election) from March 12, 2015.
The election day – March 29, 2015 – was established by Resolution of the CEC “On announcement of the election campaign for the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” in accordance with article 117 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, article 2 of the constitutional law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the next elections to the representative bodies of state power and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and article 8 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.
72 accredited observers of the Mission, represent the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the CIS Executive Committee.
The mission operates in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, universally recognized norms of international law on the organization and conduct of elections, without interfering in the election process and the sovereign affairs of a state.
The CIS observers held meetings and exchanged views on the election campaign in the CEC, the Ministry of foreign affairs, Supreme Court, General Prosecutor’s office of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Meetings were held with representatives of headquarters of political parties that nominated candidates for the Presidency: the movement of entrepreneurs and businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish”, Social-democratic party of Uzbekistan “Adolat”.
Within the framework of the monitoring of the election campaign, long-term observers from the CIS got acquainted with the work of district and precinct election commissions in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and regions of Bukhara, Navoi, Khorezm, Andijan, Jizzakh, Namangan, Samarkand, Syrdarya, Fergana and Tashkent city. In tote, members of the Mission visited more than 120 precinct election commissions.
As in December parliamentary elections, the Mission is working in open and transparent manner, all activities are covered in the press, TV and radio programs. The Mission headquarters released three informational messages.
The legislative base for holding of elections
The legislative base for elections are: the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter – the Constitution), the Law “On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” (hereinafter – the Law), the Law On guarantees of electoral rights of citizens”, as well a number of other legislative acts regulating the preparation and conduct of elections and decisions of the CEC.
In the period following the presidential elections in 2007, the Law was amended, according to which the nomination of candidates is carried out only by political parties, and the President’s term of office was reduced from 7 to 5 years.
Formation of election commissions and their activities
The organization and conduct of elections are made by:
– The Central Election Commission;
– District election commission on elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter – the district commission, DEC);
– Precinct election commissions for the election of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (hereinafter – the precinct commission, PECs).
The Central Election Commission was formed by the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and is currently comprised of 17 members.
In accordance with adopted in 2014 amendments to the Article 117 of the Constitution, the CEC was given the status of a permanent independent constitutional body.
The district election commissions are formed by the CEC, and comprise of a chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and at least 6-8 members.
Precinct election commissions are formed by the district commission composed of 5-19 members, including the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary.
According to the CEC, for the activities of election commissions about 90,000 people are involved. Among the commission members – representatives of education, health, science, culture and the production sector, public associations. More than 80% of PEC members have previously been involved in the preparation and conduct of elections.
In tote within the legal deadlines 14 district and 9058 precinct election commissions have been established, including 44 abroad.
Information on the structure, location and contact telephone numbers of district and precinct election commissions are published in the local press.
The CEC within its adopted Program of the substantive preparations for and conducts of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan defines the principles, objectives, priorities and activities for the preparation and holding of elections.
Until March 13, 2015, the CEC held regional workshops for members of district commissions, aimed at further raising of awareness of the commissioners on the electoral law and its practical application, improving the activity of DEC and PEC during the election campaign.
Precinct commissions received the necessary methodological literature, informational materials and visual aids on elections. Each polling station contains information about presidential candidates.
Electoral Commissions are allocated with the most adjusted for voting premises, equipped with means of communication and office equipment.
The CEC operates in a transparent manner. Its meetings are held with the participation of international observers, representatives of political parties and the media.
Nomination and registration of presidential candidates
The right to nominate a candidate for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan belongs to political parties, provided that they are registered by the Ministry of Justice no later than 6 months prior to the date of announcement of the election campaign.
Citizens of at least 35 years of age, with an excellent command of the Uzbek language and having resided in the country for at least 10 years before election day, are eligible to stand as candidates.
For registration of presidential candidates, political parties had to pass petitions with signatures of at least 5% of the total number of voters in Uzbekistan, representing not less than 8 administrative-territorial units of the country.
Political parties within the statutory period held their congresses, in the course of which nominated their candidates, and provided to the CEC the necessary documents and signature sheets with voter signatures in support.
As in the recent parliamentary elections, in order to inspect documents submitted by political parties, a working group composed of members of the Central Executive Committee, members of the public, experts of the Interior, Justice and other institutions which keep records of the population was formed.
According to the conclusion of the working group, the collection of signatures in support of presidential candidate are carried out in accordance with the requirements of the electoral law.
The CEC, having considered the documents submitted by political parties, adopted a resolution on the registration of candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Four candidates, each nominated by a parliamentary party, are: the incumbent President Karimov, nominated by the LDPU; Hotamjon Ketmonov, nominated by the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (PDPU); Akmal Saidov, nominated by the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (DPU Milliy Tiklanish); and, Narimon Umarov, nominated by the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (SDPU Adolat).
The voter lists
The list of voters includes all citizens of the Republic who have attained to the day of or on the day of the election 18 years, permanently or temporarily residing at the time of drawing up the list on the territory of the polling station.
Lists are compiled by PECs by involving members of the public on the basis of information provided by the local executive authorities and local self-government.
Citizens are given an opportunity to familiarize with lists and check their correctness inside the PEC 15 days before the election.
Every citizen has the right to appeal against non-inclusion, incorrect inclusion in the list or exclusion from the list, and admitted inaccuracies in the voter in the precinct commission. The commission’s decision may be appealed to the court in due course.
Final conclusions and assessment of the Mission will be presented at the end of observing of the presidential elections.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
Exhibiton
Tutor’s Paintings
Musavvir Ulmasova’s solo exhibition “When Dreams Come True”, has opened at the Central Exhibition Hall of the Academy of Art of Uzbekistan, bears this title not accidentally but for one good reason that it sums up the results of the artist’s creative activity in recent years.
Displayed at the Exhibition are more than 50 art paintings, mostly still lives and landscapes. Flowers are represented most – starting with magnificent lilacs and gentle tulips and ending up with bright gladioli and irises. Musavvir Ulmasova had come to art painting not in one day. She got the profession of a theatrical and cinema scene-painter, worked initially at the Uzbek-Film studios as an animated cartoon artist. She was inclined, however, to work in the field of pedagogical activity – for many years she taught at the Republican specialized Lyceum of Fine arts, and currently – at the Republican Design College.
“She is a rather modest and profoundly thoughtful mentor. She successfully shares her skills and experience with a younger generation and simultaneously creates her own wonderful paintings,” said the Director of the Republican Design College, Shonasir Muradov.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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