October 8, 2007
Politics:
President of Uzbekistan attends CIS summit
President of Uzbekistan attends EurAsEC, CSTO meetings in Dushanbe
Citizens' initiative group nominates candidate for President's post
Economics:
MPs, company managers, experts discuss mandatory insurance of auto-civil liability
Uzbekiston Havo Yullari (Uzbekistan Airways) takes part in Top Resa 2007 Exhibition in Deauville
UzbekInvest Hayot holds talks with Munich Re Life EECA
AgroHizmat (Agro service)-ShingDong Uzbek-Korean JV opens in Surkhandarya region
Society:
Contest for journalists announced
Talented Students Scholarship Programme winners announced
POLITICS
PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN ATTENDS CIS SUMMIT
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov took part in the next summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that was held in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, on October 5, UzA reported.
CIS member states know well each other, have great experience of joint cooperation political, humanitarian and especially economic, in which they are reliable partners.
The last CIS summits discussed actively the issue of the Commonwealth reforming. It is not occasionally. Today it is necessary to lift this structure to a higher level. CIS was formed with the aim of keeping traditional political, economic and humanitarian ties. And now it should be adapted to the requirements of international relations based on new principles.
The cooperation among CIS countries, based on traditional friendship, should develop in the spirit of mutual understanding, confiding and mutually beneficial economic partnership.
Taking into account these aspects at the summit held in November 2006 in Minsk, the CIS Executive Committee was entrusted to create an interstate working group to work out a Concept of the Commonwealth's further development. The Saint Petersburg summit held in June this year considered the process of its preparation.
The Dushanbe summit started with the meeting of presidents and discussed the issues of CIS reforming, improvement of its executive bodies' activity, expansion of integration processes. In particular, the meeting considered the Concept of further CIS development and Action Plan on its implementation.
Integration is directly connected with the strengthening of security and stability. It is necessary to strengthen the cooperation of customs and border bodies for control over the movement of goods and services, investments and manpower along with the work of law-enforcement bodies and special services.
The summit participants exchanged views on elaboration and implementation of the programme on development of multilateral collaboration in fight against terrorism, extremism and crime, legalization of criminal incomes and terrorism financing, illegal drugs circulation.
The Dushanbe summit once again showed that the role of the Commonwealth of Independent States is growing and integration processes are strengthening on its territory.
PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN ATTENDS EURASEC, CSTO MEETINGS IN DUSHANBE
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has taken part in the session of Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) and the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), UzA reported.
During the EurAsEC summit in Dushanbe, the presidents of Uzbekistan, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan discussed issues connected with completion of work on formation of a Customs Union (it consists of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, while other states are still adapting their legislations), creation of single energy market of the Community, and water and energy consortium.
The presidents discussed also issues of pursuing mutually coordinated economic policy, joint formation and development of energy market, full operation of transit potential of member states, cooperation in agro-industrial complex, creation of a single market of finance and services, expansion of ties in social sphere.
At the CSTO session, the heads of Uzbekistan, Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan considered issues of strengthening security and stability, further development of cooperation in fight against terrorism, extremism, narcotics trade, organized transnational crime.
CITIZENS' INITIATIVE GROUP NOMINATES CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT'S POST
Pursuant to the Law "On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan", the right to nominate the candidates for the post of the President is given not only to the political parties functioning in the country, but also to the citizens directly through the establishment of initiative groups of voters, Jahon Information Agency reported.
On 5 October, a meeting of one of such voters' initiative group intending to nominate a candidate for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held. The group included the representatives of different strata of the population.
During the meeting it was noted that the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to be held on 23 December 2007, are an integral and important part of the mechanism of democratic construction, renewal and modernization of the country. Its results will determine the future intensification of the socio-political and economic reforms being implemented in the country. This was the reason for granting the right to nominate the candidates for the post of the President not only to political parties, expressing the interests of social groups and the population as a whole, but also directly to the citizens supporting the programmes of social, political reforms of individual candidates.
The members of the group of voters decided to nominate Akmal Saidov the Chairman of the Committee for Democratic Institutes, Non-Governmental Organisations and Citizens' Self-Government Bodies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a candidate for the post of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
ECONOMICS
MPS, COMPANY MANAGERS, EXPERTS DISCUSS MANDATORY INSURANCE OF AUTO-CIVIL LIABILITY
On September 28, the Committee for Legislation and Judicial-Legal Issues of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted a roundtable meeting on the practice and problems of mandatory insurance of civil liability of vehicle owners in the country.
The members of Oliy Majlis, scientists and the management of the leading insurance companies of Uzbekistan participated in the discussion.
Among the issues discussed during the meeting were the legal aspects of civil liability insurance, modern practice of this type of insurance and the associated problems that the insurance companies of Uzbekistan are currently facing.
Discussion participants reached the conclusion that there is an urgent need to bring this type of insurance to compliance with the international practice.
UZBEKISTON HAVO YULLARI TAKES PART IN TOP RESA 2007 EXHIBITION IN DEAUVILLE
Participation of the Uzbekiston Havo Yullari (Uzbekistan Airways) National Airline Company in the Top Resa 2007, an annual key travel show in Deauville (France), has become a good tradition, the airline company's press service informed.
Top Resa Travel Market is one of the largest tourism exhibitions in Europe. Every year it gathers over 26,000 visitors - all major actors of the Tourism and Travel industry, including tour operators, cruise and airline companies, tourist boards, services, and technologies. In three main sections of Top Resa 2007 located on 22,700 square meters of exhibition space, along with tourism companies and hotels, were Lufthansa, Turkish Airline, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Emirates Airlines, and other airline companies.
Uzbekistan Airways' exposition introduced the company's geography of flights, its aircraft fleet, service classes, as well as new offers on routes to popular destinations and tours to the participants and guests of the show. Uzbek national music and dances were demonstrated to the visitors of the company's stand by the participants of the folk ensemble from Uzbekistan.
UZBEKINVEST HAYOT HOLDS TALKS WITH MUNICH RE LIFE EECA
On October 2 the senior management of UzbekInvest Hayot (life insurance) Subsidiary Company met with the Account Executive of the Munich Re Life Reinsurance Eastern Europe/Central Asia (Munich Re Life E.E.C.A.) Pavel Krasnov, Uzreport.com Business Information portal reported.
Munich Re Life E.E.C.A. is a subsidiary of the Munich Re, the world's second largest reinsurance company with over 5,000 customers in 160 countries. The Group provides both direct insurance and reinsurance services to clients in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Australia.
During the meeting, the parties discussed potential cooperation within the frame of reinsurance of the OzbekInvest Hayot's life insurance risks. In this context, they reviewed the draft reinsurance agreement proposed for signing, and discussed its main provisions and terms.
Among other issues raised during the meeting were the improvement of staff qualifications, and participation of the OzbekInvest Hayot's specialists in the seminars and trainings organized by Munich Reinsurance Group.
AGROHIZMAT-SHINGDONG UZBEK-KOREAN JV OPENS IN SURKHANDARYA REGION
AgroHizmat-ShingDong, an Uzbek-Korean joint venture specialized in the processing of cottonseeds has opened in Sherabad district of Surkhandarya region.
The capacity of the factory employing 100 people exceeds 60 tonnes cottonseeds yearly.
The JV's Director-General Boymurod Abualimov said: "The product manufactured by AgroHizmat-ShingDong is intended mainly for the internal market. In the future we plan to start exporting a part of the output."
SOCIETY
CONTEST FOR JOURNALISTS ANNOUNCED
UNDP Uzbekistan and the State Tax Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan have announced a contest among the media reporters for the "Best story elucidating the tax reforms in Uzbekistan".
The competition for the honourary prize is open to the journalists of Uzbekistan working for the media outlets of any form of ownership (state or private) and territorial location (district, city, region, and republic).
The honourary prize of the UNDP's "Improving tax administration" Project will be awarded as a recognition of the journalists' achievements in preparation of the materials and elucidation of the urgent issues of the tax reform, and the use of innovative approaches in their activity. Among the jury will be reputed journalists, specialists in the issues of tax policy and administration, UNDP representatives, State Tax Committee members, as well as the representatives of the Centre of Economic Studies and the International Training Centre for Journalists.
The prizes of the UNDP projects will be assessed by the following criteria: the degree of uncovering, social importance and content of the issues elucidated; competency and clarity of the material presentation; brightness and originality of the material presentation; the presentation of at least four works; the diversity of the topics (problems) covered in the sphere of tax policy and administration.
The main nomination of the contest the best material. Here the prizes will be awarded in four categories:
- for the best presentation of the tax reform related issues on television;
- for the best presentation of the tax reform related issues on radio;
- for the best presentation of the tax reform related issues in press;
- for the best presentation of the tax reform related issues on the Internet.
In addition, the organizers have prepared some nominations to reward not the winner, but outstanding works. An honourary prize of the UNDP will be awarded by the decision of the jury. The winners of the contest will be awarded a prize and a diploma to certify the award.
The organizers are accepting only the printed publications, video- and audio-broadcast materials, which have already been published in newspapers, magazines and on Internet or broadcasted on television or radio in Russian, Uzbek or Karakalpak languages from 1 March to 1 December 2007. The results of the contest will be summed up by the jury on 1 December 2007.
TALENTED STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The winners of the "Talented Students Scholarship Programme of 2007-2008" were announced in a special ceremony on October 5, at Turkiston Concert Hall.
The scholarship programme is aimed at providing financial support and motivating the students of higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan toward high academic and other achievements.
The programme was launched by the Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan and Mehr Nuri foundations in April this year. It was not accidental that the founders chose the third and fourth year undergraduate students as potential applicants for the scholarships.
The programme's target group are students who have already decided on the field of study they want to major in, and have set clear professional goals for the future.
In total 1,153 scholarship applications were received from the students of Tashkent city and regional higher education institutions. The candidates were shortlisted by competent jury and 218 semi-finalists were invited for the second phase of the competition interviews.
The semi-finalists were identified based on the ideas stated in the application, the reference letters, academic performance and social status (financial need).
The names of those who passed the interviews and won the scholarships are to be published on the programme's website later.