September 25, 2007
Politics:
Newly Appointed Tajik, Italian, and U.S. Envoys Grant Credentials to President
Conference on government and legal system reforms held
Economics:
Delegation of Intel Corporation visits Uzbekistan
Power Uzbekistan 2007 opens new horizons for Uzbek power industry
"Honey festival" trade fair underway at Tashkent markets
Society:
Koreans Mark 70 Years of Stay In Uzbekistan With Solemn Events
Uzbekistan marks International Day of Peace
POLITICS
NEWLY APPOINTED TAJIK, ITALIAN, AND U.S. ENVOYS GRANT CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT
On September 20 the newly appointed ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Italian Republic and the United States of America in Uzbekistan – Babakhan Makhmadov, Giovanni Riculli and Richard Norland granted their credentials to President Islam Karimov at the Oksaroy Residence, the newspapers reported.
The Uzbek Leader congratulated the diplomats on their appointment to the honorable and responsible post and wished them success in their missions in Uzbekistan. The President said that the cooperation of Uzbekistan with the countries, which they represent, is developing.
The relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are based on the traditions of friendship and neighborhood. The leaders of the two states meet within the framework of bilateral visits, summits of such international organizations as SCO, EurAsEC, CIS, and exchange views on bilateral cooperation, regional integration and security.
The sides adopted over 150 documents related to bilateral relations. Agreement on eternal friendship signed in 2000 has a special significance in this context. The commercial, economic and humanitarian cooperation are now developing in the spirit of this agreement. Both sides are also reported to have established the Joint Uzbek-Tajik commission on trade and economic cooperation. In 2006 the volume of mutually beneficial trade rose by 19,8%.
“The history of relations between our ties traces back millennia,” – Ambassador of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan Babakhan Makhmadov said, “Uzbekistan is our main trade partner. I consider it as a priority part of my mission to comprehensively strengthen the cooperation between our countries and people”.
Italy is one of the reliable partners of Uzbekistan in Europe. The official visit of President Islam Karimov to Italy in 1996 commemorated the launching of bilateral political dialog. During the visit the Agreement on partnership and cooperation has been signed between Uzbekistan and the European Union. The Uzbek-Italian summits were held in 1997 in Tashkent and in 2000 in Rome.
The bilateral economic cooperation, apart from commercial ties, includes holding various forums, including the weeks of Italian technologies in Tashkent, presentation of the economic potential of Uzbekistan in Rome and Milan. With an aim to encourage the commercial, economic ties, cooperation in the sphere of industry and technologies the Working group on cooperation on trade, economy and industry has been established. In Uzbekistan 49 joint enterprises with participation of Italian investments are now operating and 7 Italian companies opened their representation offices in the country.
Ties on humanitarian sphere, in particular, between the higher educational institutions and scientific-research establishments of the two countries have also been established.
The cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States embraces many spheres. The cooperation of the two countries on strengthening the security and elimination of transnational threats is developing.
It should be underscored that the United States is one of the largest partners of Uzbekistan. The U.S. investments worth USD $1,4 billion are channeled to implementation of more than 20 industrial projects in Uzbekistan.
CONFERENCE ON GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL SYSTEM REFORMS HELD
A conference on the "State governance and legal system reforms in the process of democratization and modernization of the country: practice and efficiency" was held at the Academy of State and Public Construction under the President of Uzbekistan, UzA reported.
The event was organized by the Senate Committee for Legislation and Judicial-Legal Issues in close cooperation with the Academy of State and Public Construction.
In his speech at the joint session of Oliy Majlis, Cabinet of Ministers and the Apparatus of the President held on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the country's independence, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov called the second phase of Uzbekistan's development as a period of active reforms and modernization of the country, and emphasized that "the main and key task for this period of reforms in the state governance should be sequential and gradual transition from a powerful state, which was obviously needed in the conditions of economic transition and state establishment, to a powerful civil society."
During the conference it was noted that as the tasks aimed at democratization and modernization of the country were being implemented, special importance was given to the intensification of reforms in the sphere of state administration and legal system. With the establishment of a bicameral parliament in the country, real opportunities were created for improving the quality and justification of the legislative acts being passed, for creating an effective balance of powers system, for ensuring that both general state and regional interests are taken account of, and for expanding the participation of the population in the public and political life. With the aim of ensuring the general balance of powers between the legislative and the executive branches, a part of the President's authority has been transferred to the Senate, and the rights and authority of the Prime Minister have been expanded.
In the intensification of the democratic reforms, the adoption of the Constitutional Law "On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of the state governance and modernization of the country" was of key importance. The law defines the status of the parliamentary majority and parliamentary opposition, the election of the heads of fractions by the deputy Speakers of the Legislative Chamber.
The formed legal base is intended to make political parties an important instrument of political and social activity of citizens, raise their role in the activity of the country's parliament. It is also intended to assist the formation of the representative and executive government branches, and execution of control over them.
In the course of the intensification of the state government reforms a number of responsibilities and functions of central agencies were re-delegated to local government bodies, citizens' self-government bodies, particularly in the issues concerning the solution of economic and social problems, the financing of budget organizations, municipal administration and welfare, employment and protection of the population's interests.
Participants of the conference noted that over the past period, the country has implemented a new concept of deep reforms and liberalization of legal system: in the process of the assignment of the specialization to courts, courts for civil and criminal cases were created; courts were freed of the functions they are not purposed to perform, such as execution of the court decisions. Measures were implemented to liberalise the system of criminal punishment; starting from 1 January 2008, courts will have the right to issue arrest sanctions; and capital punishment has been replaced with life sentence. According to the results of liberalization and humanization of criminal legislation, about 75% of crime types have been transferred from the category of grave, and enormously grave to the categories of crimes not representing significant public danger or less grave. The share of sentences in the form of imprisonment decided by courts in 2006 has dropped by almost 20% compared to 2000 level.
In the course of discussion participants of the conference emphasized the need to further improve the regulatory framework for the intensification of reforms in state governance and legal system, sequential and gradual transition from powerful state to strong civil society. They also exchange opinions and shared practical recommendations and suggestions on the solution of tasks to raise the efficiency of reforms being implemented in the spheres of state and public construction at this new stage of country's development.
Senators, representatives of the Supreme Court, Higher Economic Court, General Prosecutor's Office, Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs, and the teachers and students of the Academy of State and Public Construction under the President of Uzbekistan, scientists and specialists of the Institute for Monitoring Existing Legislation under the President of Uzbekistan, higher educational institutions, as well as the representatives of NGOs participated in the conference.
ECONOMICS
DELEGATION OF INTEL CORPORATION VISITS UZBEKISTAN
On September 21 Intel Vice President Ravi Jacob and CIS General Manager Dmitry Konash met with Director General of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information (UzACI) Abdulla Aripov, UzA reported.
According to UzACI website, the sides considered issues of cooperation in education, e-government and introduction of ICT in various spheres in Uzbekistan.
During the visit to Uzbekistan, the company delegation presented Intel vPro processor technology for business and corporate IT infrastructure.
POWER UZBEKISTAN 2007 OPENS NEW HORIZONS FOR UZBEK POWER INDUSTRY
The Second Power Uzbekistan International Exhibition will open on September 25 in Tashkent. The event will take place at UzExpoCentre, and will be open for the professionals of the energy sector until 27 September, Uzreport.com Business Information portal reported.
The organizer of the Power Uzbekistan 2007 is ITE Uzbekistan international exhibition company, a leader in the expo-market of Uzbekistan.
In an interview with the World Energy magazine, the Director General of the ITE Uzbekistan Iskander Yakubov commented on the importance of the exhibition to the development of the fuel and energy complex of Uzbekistan.
- On 25 September, the Second Power Uzbekistan Exhibition will open in Tashkent. What projects in the power industry have already been implemented by ITE Uzbekistan?
- Power Uzbekistan 2007 Exhibition will be our second project. The first and a very important experience was the Oil and Gas Uzbekistan Exhibition. In fact, the success of this event inspired the idea of organization of this new project, Power Uzbekistan. The exhibition will be organized for the second time this year and will be conducted as an independent event. The need for this gradation was determined by the nature of the exposition and the desire of the participants. We clearly distinguished two segments – oil and gas, on one side, and electric energy (power industry) on the other.
Power Uzbekistan 2007 is intended to provide an opportunity for the demonstration of the scientific and industrial technology and equipment that could be potentially used in the power industry of Uzbekistan, an opportunity to find clients and partners, expand the sales market for domestic and foreign producers, expand the cooperative contacts between different sorts of enterprises, organizations, firms and investors. ITE Uzbekistan's projects in the electrical energy sector are organized with the support of Uzbekistan's state structures, which naturally reflects on the status and level of the event. Power Uzbekistan 2007 has received the support of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, UzbekEnergo State Company, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent city khokimiat (authorities) and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Uzbekistan. Organisational assistance was provided by our old and constant partner – UzExpoCentre.
- What will be the main sections of the upcoming Power Uzbekistan 2007?
- Today, our country – a state with an intensively developing infrastructure, has a huge fuel and energy complex. The content of the exhibition includes a wide range of products, highly demanded in the power sector of Uzbekistan. This includes generator machines and component parts, low-voltage equipment, high-voltage equipment, cables, wires, accessories, insulating materials and insulators, transformer technology, electronics and electric components, controlling and metering devices and automated technology, wiring equipment and electric tools, energy saving technology and equipment, alternative energy sources, etc. A separate specialized section of the exhibition will be given to lighting technology.
- What measures is ITE Uzbekistan taking to create a business atmosphere at the exhibitions?
- Our exhibitions are united by the business model of the ITE. The power industry exhibitions are organized and conducted by the ITE's partner offices in six countries of the world. In Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, these exhibitions are conducted under the general brand "POWER". With an extensive experience in the expo-market of Uzbekistan, it is extremely important for us that the quality of Power Uzbekistan corresponds to international standards, and the requirements of the participants.
We hold on to the "business for business" principle. The organizational work involves attracting participants, as well as specialists to whom these exhibitions represent any interest. The venue is a business centre in Tashkent, the developed infrastructure of which provides an opportunity to the participants to use to use the exposition area to the maximum benefit, and the visitors' time and power are used efficiently.
- What, in your opinion, are the attractive aspects of the energy component of the fuel and energy complex for investors?
- Energy sector is fast developing segment of the economy, which corresponds to the general dynamic economic development of the country. The Presidential decree "On intensification of economic reforms in the energy sector of the Republic of Uzbekistan", definitely is of interest to potential investors. According to the decree one of the priority areas of reforms in the energy sector is wide attraction of foreign investments in the existing enterprises of the industry. The investment attractiveness is determined by the opportunity to expand production in correspondence with the growth of internal and external demand for electric energy (power), and the mutual interconnectedness and mutual dependency of the power systems of the countries of Central Asian region. Located in the geographical centre of the united energy system of Central Asia, the energy system of Uzbekistan plays an noteworthy role in maintaining uninterrupted power supply to the consumers in the region, as well as the transit of electric power and export supplies to the neighbouring states.
- What would you like to say about this year's exhibition?
- We are convinced that the very fact that the Power Uzbekistan 2007 exhibition is being held is a sign for the world community, reminding companies of the opportunity to expand business together with the ITE Uzbekistan. I am sure that Power Uzbekistan 2007 will be a platform for business communication of the specialists of the power industry, and will speed up the expansion of the areas of cooperation, the establishment of new business contacts, and the integration of Uzbekistan with the world economy. I wish all participants of the exhibition successful business in Uzbekistan, prosperity and wellbeing in the future.
"HONEY FESTIVAL" TRADE FAIR UNDERWAY AT TASHKENT MARKETS
"Honey festival" trade fair started at Tashkent markets. The fair has been organized by the Association of Beekeepers of Uzbekistan with the assistance of Tashkent city administration, UzA reports.
Members of beekeepers' unions from Syrdarya, Jizzakh, Tashkent regions and Tashkent city are taking part in the fair with their products.
"Our organization totals almost 200 beekeepers," the head of Tashkent city Beekeepers' Union Zakir Mirkhodjaev said. "Every beekeeper keeps up to 50-150 beehives and produces nearly 200 tonnes of honey annually".
"This year we have produced plenty of honey as never before," a beekeeper Tursunkhodja Tadjikhodjaev says. "This season we kept bees in the mountainous areas of Jizzakh region and brought to the fair 5 tonnes of mountain honey".
SOCIETY
KOREANS MARK 70 YEARS OF STAY IN UZBEKISTAN WITH SOLEMN EVENTS
On August 22 this year the Korean Diaspora marked 70 years of its stay in Uzbekistan. Representatives of national cultural centers, state, non-governmental and international organizations participated in the solemn event, which was, according to Uzbekistan National News Agency, held in Tashkent.
Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov read out the letter of greeting by President Islam Karimov to the participants of ceremony, according to the report.
Among the guests of the ceremony there were the State Advisor to President B.Abdukhalimov, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Women’s Committee S.Inamova and Ambassador of South Korea to Uzbekistan Kyong Je-min.
A concert program with participation of national cultural centers was presented at the event, the report also said.
A number of other events were held in Tashkent to mark the 70 years of ethnic Koreans’ stay in Uzbekistan. Those were presentation of books, photo albums, documentaries, exhibitions and sport tournaments, in keeping with the report.
UZBEKISTAN MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
Uzbekistan, along with other nations of the world, marked the International Day of Peace on Friday 21 September. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country office in Uzbekistan partnered with local and international agencies to celebrate this day.
Special Olympics Uzbekistan organized celebratory events to mark the International Day of Peace in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan, Women's Committee, the International Charity Foundation "Mehrjon Sport", the UN office in Uzbekistan, UNDP, and UNICEF.
In line with the recommendations of the UN, the main event of the day was observance of a minute of silence at schools and universities at noon Tashkent time. Local youth were addressed with presentations "World Without Conflicts", prepared with the support of UNDP in Uzbekistan.
Babur Park of Tashkent hosted several events dedicated to the International Day of Peace on Friday. The events, held under motto "Peace in Your Hands", were opened with performances of children, representing charity houses and cultural centres.
Following the opening ceremony, the organizers invited children to participate in various contests and educational activities, including painting contest on asphalt, sport contests and others. About 250-300 children participated in these events.
Origami lessons were one of the most popular events of the day. Origami (literally meaning "folding paper") is the art of paper folding. Children enjoyed making various figures, sharing them among each other, and learning the most famous origami story – the paper crane of the little girl Sadako.
The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace in recent years as a result of its connection to the story of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki born in 1943. Sadako was two years old when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. At age 11 Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia, "the atom bomb" disease. Sadako's best friend told her of an old Japanese legend which said that anyone who folds a thousand paper cranes would be granted a wish. Sadako hoped that the gods would grant her a wish to get well so that she could run again. She started to work on the paper cranes and completed over 1000 before dying on October 25, 1955 at the age of twelve.
Another popular event of the Peace Day celebrations was painting contest at asphalt. The most frequent themes of paintings included doves as symbols of peace and family and the Sun.