October 19, 2007
Politics:
Uzbek, Turkmen leaders ink several interstate agreements in Ashgabat
President of Kazakhstan Makes A Pit Stop In Tashkent En Route From IRI
New Uzbek Envoy To Bishkek Grants Credentials To Kyrgyz Leader
Cooperation of Uzbekistan with international organizations on human rights discussed
Economics:
‘Tourism Along Silk Road’ International Tourist Fair Ended In Tashkent
“SamAuto” expands the production
The “Pakhtabank” was awarded an international rating
Insurance companies' obligations up 23.5%
Society:
“The Uzbek Language And Humanity Values”
Health professionals introduce WHO recommendations
Time Signs: Moment and Eternity
POLITICS
UZBEK, TURKMEN LEADERS INK SEVERAL INTERSTATE AGREEMENTS IN ASHGABAT
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in the Turkmen capital city of Ashgabat on October 18 with an official visit at the invitation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. After talks the two presidents signed a number of interstate agreements.
During the face to face talks, Islam Karimov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the cooperation between the two countries was developing gradually and the visit of Uzbek leader would serve as a new impulse to bilateral mutually beneficial partnership based on mutual trust and respect, UzA reports.
The presidents exchanged opinions on the issues of present state and perspectives of relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and regional and international problems interesting both sides. They discussed issues concerning political, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as strengthening regional security and stability.
The fuel and energy complex opens new opportunities for Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the presidents said. Our countries have abundant deposits of energy sources. In current conditions, when the world is experiencing raising demand for oil and gas, naturally, this circumstance can serve as a perspective basis for joint projects.
In particular, there are capacities for successful implementation of the agreement reached in May this year among Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia and Kazakhstan on construction of new Caspian gas pipeline and reconstruction of existing oil and gas pipelines from Central Asia to Russia. These countries are reliable partners well knowing the capacities and potential of each other. Undoubtedly, the cooperation in such conditions has mutually beneficial character not only from financial and economic, but also political and humanitarian standpoints.
On results of negotiations, the Presidents Islam Karimov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed Interstate Agreement on economic cooperation, Interstate Agreement on further strengthening of friendship relations and all-round cooperation, Joint Uzbek-Turkmen Communique.
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on admission points through state border.
Ministry of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan and Ministry of Culture and TV-Radio Broadcasting of Turkmenistan inked an Intergovernmental Programme of cooperation in cultural and humanitarian sphere for 2007-2010.
Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of Uzbekistan and Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan reached an Interdepartmental Agreement on mutual cooperation in pest control.
Interdepartmental Agreement on cooperation was signed between the Uzbek and Turkmen chambers of commerce and industry.
Customs committees of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan signed an Interdepartmental Protocol on the organization of exchange of information.
At a press conference, Islam Karimov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the talks were constructive and passed in the spirit of mutual respect and trust, while the agreements reached during the Uzbek president's visit will serve to raise the Uzbek-Turkmen interrelations to new quality level.
"During the talks we have reached agreement on further expansion of bilateral relations," said President Islam Karimov. "Both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan enjoy vast potential for the increase of the volume of mutual commodity turnover and the number of joint ventures".
"We know the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov as a close friend of Turkmenistan, who has contributed greatly in the development of relations between our countries," Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted. "The documents signed today will serve to further expansion of the scales of interrelations, and a new impulse in the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation".
PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN MAKES A PIT STOP IN TASHKENT EN ROUTE FROM IRI
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev en route from the Islamic Republic of Iran made a pit stop in Tashkent on October 16 this year, according to reports.
In Tehran President Nazarbaev is reported to have attended the Caspian states summit with participation of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and the IRI as the host.
At the Tashkent Airport President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev met with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
As the reports have said, the sides exchanged views on the development of cooperation between the two countries and other issues of mutual interest.
NEW UZBEK ENVOY TO BISHKEK GRANTS CREDENTIALS TO KYRGYZ LEADER
The newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kyrgyz Republic Ziyadulla Pulatkhojaev granted credentials to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Kurmanbek Bakiev.
President Kurmanbek Bakiev is reported to have expressed an interest in further development of bilateral relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic based on the Treaty on eternal friendship and comprehensive cooperation in the framework of international organizations.
COOPERATION OF UZBEKISTAN WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS DISCUSSED
National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan, Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan, Human rights commissioner of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan (Ombudsman) with support of UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan organized an international conference on "Improvement of interaction of the Republic of Uzbekistan with international organizations on human rights and freedoms", Uzreport.com Business Information Portal reported.
The conference was attended by representatives of diplomatic missions, international organization, law enforcement bodies of Uzbekistan, NGOs, members of parliament, civic society and others. The participants considered issues on cooperation of Uzbekistan with international organizations, including with the UN and its agencies, in human rights and freedoms, as well as efforts of Uzbekistan in improvement of legislation in this area.
Briefing moves of Uzbekistan in human rights direction, Akmal Saidov, director of National Human Rights Centre, said: "I hope that today's conference will give new impulse to our cooperation with foreign partners and international organizations." He, as an example, told about cooperation of the centre with UNDP in promotion and protection of human rights.
Kyoko Postill, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, said: "Significant improvement is only possible if mandates of the institutions entrusted with the promotion and protection of human rights are effectively implemented, as well as international mechanisms that the States ratified or signed are followed."
UNDP supports the work of the national human rights' institutions in Uzbekistan to strengthen their capacity, including the National Human Rights Centre, Uzbekistan Bar Association, the Parliament, the Women's Committee and others, she said.
The event was supported by UNDP's "Development of Capacities of the National Human Rights Institutions in Uzbekistan". The main objective of the project is to strengthen capacities of the national human rights institutions and relevant bodies to effectively fulfil their mandates for promotion and protection of human rights in Uzbekistan.
The project focuses primarily on activities relating to human rights matters that form part of the mandate and day-to-day work of operational national human rights institutions, which would consequently improve the promotion and protection of human rights.
ECONOMICS
‘TOURISM ALONG SILK ROAD’ INTERNATIONAL TOURIST FAIR ENDED IN TASHKENT
The 13th Tashkent International Tourist Fair “Tourism along Silk Road” has been ended, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency. Almost 80 firms and companies from about 30 countries, such as Russia, Spain, Greece, Czech Republic, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, participated at the two-day event.
The main goal of the traditional event is widening of the opportunities for the development of tourism in Uzbekistan. The participants got an opportunity to get acquainted with the successes achieved in the sphere of tourism in the international scale, as well as gained experiences.
The representatives of the national and international tourism organizations, hotels and restaurants, museums, bank structures, insurance companies and sanatoriums participated at the event.
The current fair distinguished with its great number of participants and presented projects, as well as with new tourist routes.
Tourism is an important factor of stable development and serves to increase the level of life of the population, create additional work places and strengthen the mutual relations. At the moment the hotel economy and all branches of tourism infrastructure are developing in Uzbekistan. The number workers who engaged in this sphere is rising up, as well as the number of zones of rest is enlarging. According to the specialists, a number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan will increase to 3,5 times until 2010. Conveniences for the foreign investors, tax advantages, strong competitive and business environment must promote for that.
“SAMAUTO” EXPANDS THE PRODUCTION
The Samarkand Car Factory (“SamAuto”) operatively reacts to the increase of demand and intends to assemble heavy trucks and buses having large capacity in near future in its acting production lines.
The “O’zavtosanoat” informs the UT that the “SamAuto” has signed a contract with the Itochu Corp, a main partner of the “SamAuto”, and Chinese State Car Import and Export Company to deliver vehicle models for organizing output of Isuzu big trucks and Chinese Golden Dragon buses of 12 meters long in the Samarkand Car Factory.
The Itochu and Chinese company are to deliver models of the Isuzu CYZ51KLD dump-trucks, Isuzu EXZ51K prime movers and Golden Dragon tourist buses of 12meters long for technical diagnostics in the “SamAuto”.
The “O’zavtosanoat” stresses that the resolution of technical issues of this project is on-going now. Therefore, the nature and volume of modernization as well as investment are not determined yet. “Assembly lines of the “SamAuto” will install the dump-truck bodies on the chasses of Isuzu trucks. The major part of body components will be brought from China and Japan. Preliminary estimations show that the line is capable of assembling hundreds of new models of trucks and buses a year and at the same time, the distribution of industrial resources between assemblage of buses and trucks will differ in regard to portfolio of orders”.
The car factory plans to test the new models by the end of 2007 and as a result, make final decisions on parameters of their assemblage.
In January this year the “SamAuto” began to assemble vehicles, powered by the Japanese Isuzu Motors. The Program on developing production in 2007 states that the company aims to manufacture 1.5 thousand vehicles having bodies of various modifications, reaching gradually the capacity of four thousand cars a year by 2010. At present the “SamAuto” manufactures medium-class trucks with the capacity of seven tons, passenger buses with the capacity of 37 persons, shuttle buses of 22 places and trucks having tonnage of 4-5 tons.
The vehicles are assembled on the basis of agreement on technical assistance, signed between the “SamAuto” and Isuzu Motors who transfers technologies of manufacturing Isuzu buses and small trucks.
Today the Samarkand Car Factory that is promoted to satisfy the demand for this class of vehicle on the country’s roads manufactures Isuzu buses meeting modern ecological standards. The decision on potential assemblage of big-capacity trucks and buses is expected to take a new perspective position in this class of motor-car construction. An integrated network of guaranteed services in the “SamAuto” is promoted to play its role in the advancement of these vehicles in the home market. Its structure includes the Samarkand Car Factory’s repair enterprises in Samarkand and production bases of dealers in regions. In addition, it is intended to involve powers of local enterprises for guaranteeing repair of complicated units.
THE “PAKHTABANK” WAS AWARDED AN INTERNATIONAL RATING
The International “Fitch Ratings”, one of the world’s three leading rating agencies, monitored the activity of the Stock Commercial “Pakhtabank” and awarded it concerning rating.
The Director of “Fitch Ratings” Agency’s Department for Finance Institutions Gulchin Orgun informed the UT that one of the biggest credit establishments of Uzbekistan, SCB “Pakhtabank” was awarded a long-term rating of issuer default “B (B minus)”, “Stable” prognosis, short-term rating of issuer default “B”, individual rating “D/E” and support level of long-term rating of issuer default “B (B minus)”. The “Fitch Ratings” also confirmed the support rating of “Pakhtabank” worth “5”.
G. Orgun stated that practically all rating, given to the “Pakhtabank”, is due to its potential of external support, taking into consideration the bank’s role as one of the state financial agencies in the Uzbek economy, particularly, in the implementation of agro-industrial projects and tight contacts of the bank with industries who are its stockholders as well.
The potential of increasing the individual rating is not high now but favorable factor for the bank’s credit paying capacity might be the further diversification and expansion of its client base, considerable increase of profitability and improvement of operation conditions in the country.
The “Pakhtabank” is the second financial and credit institution in Uzbekistan that obtained a rating from one of the most prestigious international rating agencies. In summer this year the Russian rating company “Expert RA” awarded the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity the “A” rating class (high reliability level) which is an example of recognizing the Uzbek banking system on the international arena.
INSURANCE COMPANIES' OBLIGATIONS UP 23.5%
The volume of the insurance obligations of Uzbek insurance companies totaled more than 25.3 trillion soums as of 1 October 2007. This exceeds the results of the corresponding period of the previous year by 23.5%, according to the Uzreport.com Business Information Portal.
SAIPRO analysts note that in the reporting period the companies' premium revenues grew faster than their insurance obligations 1.8 times. To compare, in the third quarter of the year 2006, the growth rate of insurance premiums was actually falling behind the growth of insurance obligations by 0.5%.
Analysts also say that if the volumes of insurance obligations for January-September 2007 are reviewed, it can be noted that 55.9% of all insurance obligations belong to the segment of voluntary liability insurance, 37.2% - to voluntary property insurance, 4.5% - to voluntary personal insurance, and 2.3% - to obligatory insurance.
SOCIETY
“THE UZBEK LANGUAGE AND HUMANITY VALUES”
The scientific and practical conference “The Uzbek language and common humanity values” was held in Tashkent upon the initiative of the Ministry of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the republican Center for Education in Tashkent, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
The philologists, methodologists as well as teachers of the primary schools participated at the event. It was organized in connection with the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the Law “On official language”.
Thanks to the consistent reforms, undertaken in the educational system of the country, the process of teaching of Uzbek language at the infant schools and primary schools has been raised to the new level by quality and substance. The large-scale works on enhancement the methodology of education on the given subject, renewal maintenance of the textbooks have been implemented. The textbooks on Native language and literature for 5-11 classes in primary schools, and the textbooks of the Uzbek language for all forms, the teaching of which lead in other languages have been issued, as well.
The participants of the conference made reports on such topics as “Literary education and the Uzbek literary language” and “New principles in teaching the Uzbek language”. They have also discussed the issues related to the preservation the purity of the Uzbek language, keeping it for the upcoming generation in its original view, to bringing up of upcoming generation in the spirit of love for the mother language.
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTRODUCE WHO RECOMMENDATIONS
New methods of prophylaxis and treatment of allergie nasale and asthma bronchium are in the process of introduction in Uzbekistan. These methods are developed under the recommendation of WHO. The country enjoyed the international movement on decrease the quantity of these diseases’ evolution fatale.
“In order to render harmless asthma and rhinite as well as improve patient’s living standards it is enough to diagnose on early period and prescribe the course of treatment which meets international standards and WHO recommendations. In New Zealand, Finland, Germany and other countries that introduced such ways of patients’ care and evolution fatale is excluded from the list of widespread consequences. Uzbekistan is also following this way”, - said chief allergist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Azadbek Nazarov.
Do we have enough resources for the realization of plans? Answering the question, professor Nazarov noted that concurrently in Republican scientific specialized centre of allergology in each sphere as well as in Karakalpakstan and Tashkent function the cabinets of allergists. All medications, needed for treatment are sold in drugstores. In eight regions are organized so called “the schools of asthma bronchium “ where the patients are taught the tactics of behavior. The problem of organization a wide propaganda of these establishments’ activity among the population is in the process of solving. In a view to improving the quality of diagnostics on studies in medical institutes of higher education and the courses of doctors’ qualification raise a special attention is paid to the examination of abundant mistakes.
TIME SIGNS: MOMENT AND ETERNITY
The International Exhibition titled “Time Signs: Moment and Eternity”, organized by the “Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan”, opened in the Center of National Arts.
The exposition includes works of various genres of contemporary art: video art, video installation, performance, environment, conceptual photo and objects of artists. Eleven artists from Uzbekistan, France, Great Britain and Kazakhstan had their works on display.
According to the exhibition’s curator, doctor of art critique Nigora Ahmedova that the project’s main idea is to describe the philosophical problem of time and opportunities of interpreting it in new digital technologies. Considering this problem wider, foreign artists such as Robert Cain (France), Shauna Illingworth, Roof McLennan (Great Britain) and Alma Menlibaeva (Kazakhstan) presented various principles and opportunities of contemporary art in the context of the project. “Contemporary art has engaged numerous countries and attracted people with its innovation manner and intensive expansion of visual art’s boundaries. Thinking of universal problems of the present, artists create the most unexpected installations, original performances and intellectual video.
The participants were offered to fill up the exposition “field” in the context of ultramodern building and create their special zones and screens for seeing video and interactive situations with the audience and move out the vision platforms in front of the Center’s building, preserving and developing the general dramatic composition of the project. Judging by visitors’ reaction, artists have successfully accomplished this task”, emphasized Nigora Ahmedova.
It should be noted that this international exhibition united the best representatives of Uzbek contemporary art. These were such modern artists as Elena Kambina, Alexander Nikolaev, Sergey Tichina, Jamol Usmanov, Yuri Useinov, Muhammad Fozily and Zoir Mansurov. A group of these masters creates contemporary art that is a new thing for Uzbekistan, taking in heritage and synthesizing it with elements of modern art. Today they successfully present the national vision of modern art on the international art stage.
For instance, photo artist Yuri Useinov states that time wipes everything off like numbers of our houses and flats which are wiped off in the course of time. He showed time in this manner. A person can be described young or old in order to show the time that make them so.
“This is my first time in Uzbekistan and it is a key event and much joy for me to participate in this exhibition. I have demonstrated my video installation called “Intersection”. The idea of my work is intersection of time; past and future”, said Robert Cain in an interview with UT. “I like artists’ works which are of high level. They have deeply impressed me. I hope that in the future I will have an opportunity to visit Uzbekistan once more and familiarize myself with all its riches”, he French artist added.
One of the young representatives of Uzbek contemporary art Zaur Mansurov participated in the exhibition with his work “Man-city-nature”. According to him, in his photo art work he used three topics which were reflected in the project: people, city and nature. “The idea of this project appeared long ago but to make photo art from this idea appeared suddenly. I wanted to contrast the original with copy. Therefore, I used photo originals and the same pictures, processed with a computer. I was curious to see what was more interesting: original or copy. People are different; some of them may like the originals and the others can be interested in copies”, stressed Zaur Mansurov.