November 16, 2007
Politics:
Registration of candidates for upcoming presidential elections in Uzbekistan is to reach its end
International roundtable discusses security, human rights and cooperation
Economics:
Uzbek farmers using leasing actively
On development of banking system
New credit unions registered, licensed
Society:
International Conference Was Ended In Bukhara
Health Ministry, UNFPA work on strengthening emergency obstetric care
UWED Legal Clinic assists to raise awareness among children
POLITICS
REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES FOR UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN UZBEKISTAN IS TO REACH ITS END
The Uzbek Central Election Committee (CEC) is considering documents of four candidates for presidency of Uzbekistan. Within seven days the CEC will check the documents and come up with conclusions regarding their compliance with the necessary requirements, Uzbekistan Today newspaper reported.
As of today, the Central Election Committee of Uzbekistan has already accepted application documents for elections from candidates of “Adolat” (Justice) Social Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessman: Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and voters’ initiative group.
The Law “On Presidential Elections of the Republic of Uzbekistan” states that political parties and voters’ initiative group must collect signatures of no less than 5% of the total number of voters in support of the candidates nominated. Taking into account the fact that the number of voters totals 16,297,400 people, 5% of them must comprise 814,870 voters. That said, the law states that in one administrative territorial area political parties or voters’ initiative group may collect no more than 8% of the total number of signatures.
“All the four candidates whose applications have been forwarded to the Central Election Committee for consideration have collected a sufficient number of signatures. The Central Election Committee has set up two working groups for the purpose of verifying the sufficiency and authenticity of the collected signatures. The working groups are comprised of experienced specialists from criminal investigation establishments, lawyers and representatives of the public. In accordance with conclusions which will be provided by the working groups, at its regular session the CEC will consider the issue of registering the candidates for presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, said Kuchkar Togayev, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Committee of Uzbekistan.
The Law “On Presidential Elections of the Republic of Uzbekistan” states that the registration of candidates for presidency ends thirty five days before the actual presidential elections. Within five days after the registration of candidates for presidency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Committee will publish a statement on the registration, including candidates’ full name, date of birth, party membership, position, place of employment and address as well as those of a political party and voters’ initiative group that has nominated a candidate for upcoming presidential elections.
To date, the process of setting up district electoral commissions that number 8,250 across the country has been completed. Also, the samples of voting bulletins and sheets have been approved by the Central Election Committee.
INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND COOPERATION
A two-day roundtable meeting took place in Tashkent on November 15-16 where international and local experts discussed the issues of security, human rights, and the development of democratic institutions.
The conference had four plenary sessions during which experts on security, human rights and democracy, and political scientists discussed the role that civil society and political parties play in the process of developing democratic government institutions that protect security and promote human rights.
The Foundation of Regional Policy (FRP) conducted the roundtable in cooperation with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan and the Representative Office of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Uzbekistan.
Experts and political scientists at the conference represented countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and the United States of America, and Uzbekistan.
The participants of the forum summed up the discussions held during four plenary sessions over two days and collaborated on developing joint recommendations for the future cooperation.
ECONOMY
UZBEK FARMERS USING LEASING ACTIVELY
In Uzbekistan over 15 thousand farms enjoy leasing services. As a result of constant attention paid to the country’s agrarian sector, farmers turn into landowners as well as integrate modern technologies and equipment. Here they widely use leasing, a profitable method of purchasing agricultural machinery.
A resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of November 2, 2000 “On measures of supplying rural areas with agricultural machinery on leasing basis” is the main manual in this sphere. A fund for governmental promotion of supplying the rural areas with agricultural machines was established under the Uzbek Ministry of Finance for the purpose of supporting financially the leasing operations. At present the “O’zqishloqxo’jalikmashlizing” functions for supplying the agricultural enterprises with machines and equipment on leasing basis.
“We enjoy benefits and preferences offered in purchasing agricultural machines on leasing basis”, said Abdumutal Ismoilov, the head of the “Oltinoy” farming household of Akkurgan district of Tashkent region. “For instance, the seven-year term of leasing is very convenient for farmers. It is also comfortable for farmers to pay in advance only 15 percent of machine price and the rest during six months, at the same time, annual leasing rate does not exceed 7%. Therefore, we have bought the “TTZ-80.10” tractor and cotton seeding-machine on leasing basis. At present we conduct all field work, using our own machines. We pay back leasing due to our stable incomes.
President Islam Karimov’s Resolution of November 5, 2007 “On measures of supporting farms growing agricultural produce for governmental needs on low-yield lands” has provided the Uzbek farmers with additional opportunities. The resolution has prolonged the leasing terms from 7 to 10 years from January next year for purchasing agricultural machines”.
Today farmers enjoying leasing services grow in number. For instance, the “Tolkuduk-97” farming household of Yazyavan district of Ferghana region has purchased “MXM-140” and “TTZ-80.10” tractors, several trailers, totally over 10 machines and equipment, on leasing basis. The “A. Hujaev” farming household of Syrdarya region’s Havast district has also bought two “TTZ-80.10” tractors, four trailers and a cultivator on this method. If in 2000 only six farmers used leasing services, now the ratio is over 15 thousand.
The “O’zqishloqxo’jalikmashlizing” states that this year its regional offices offered the agricultural manufacturers 4 thousand machines worth 40 billion soums on leasing basis. More than one thousand of them were tractors and other types of agricultural machinery. This is 17.6% more than that of last year.
The company makes a weighty contribution to the activation of leasing operations in Uzbekistan. For these purposes it is developing contract relations between plants and agricultural enterprises to deliver agricultural machines. A great number of contracts, signed between agricultural manufacturers and plants to purchase machines worth around 50 billion soums on leasing basis witness it. The majority of these contracts fall on the share of farmers from Andijan, Surkhandarya and Ferghana regions.
ON DEVELOPMENT OF BANKING SYSTEM
Pursuant to the Presidential Resolution of 7 November 2007 "On measures to further develop the banking system and attract idle funds into the banking circulation", the interest earnings of corporate entities received from the deposits and interest securities of commercial banks with the period of more than one year shall be exempt from taxes for the period of three years starting 1 January 2008.
Moreover, according to the Resolution, the Republican Association of Cash Collection, has been exempted from the tax on value added and property tax, with the purposeful direction of the tax exempt funds into the material-technical servicing of the cash collection service.
NEW CREDIT UNIONS REGISTERED, LICENSED
Pursuant to the Article 17 of the Law "On Central Bank" and the Article 4 of the Law "On credit unions", and the decision of the Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, licenses have been issued to three credit unions, the CB's press service informed.
The charter capital of the Platinum Invest credit union has been formed through monetary contributions. It makes up 65 million soums.
The statutory capital of the Katta Shahar CU constitutes 62.5 million soums.
The third new credit union – Aloqa Sergeli Invest was formed through monetary investments comprising some 181.7 million soums.
The activity of the new credit unions will be aimed at the provision of financial resources for the business projects of the members – representatives of small business and individual entrepreneurs, as well as provision of leasing services to them.
Today the number of credit unions in operation in Uzbekistan makes up 49.
SOCIETY
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE WAS ENDED IN BUKHARA
On November 14 the International scientific and practical conference “Uzbekistan – Homeland For Great Thinkers of Islamic world”, which has started in Samarkand, continued its work in Bukhara, the “Pravda Vostoka” newspaper reported.
The main goal of this forum, which organized jointly with the ISESCO, is to show the profound contribution of great ancestors of the Uzbek people in the development of Islamic culture and science, studying and scientific analysis of the consistent and large-scale works, which are now underway in the country on preservation and enrichment the Islamic heritage and its monuments.
It is not accidental that the conference also held in Bukhara. This land brought up such outstanding thinkers as Ibn Sino, Abdulkholik Gijduvoni, Bakhauddin Nakshband, who have made an enormous contribution to the world science and Islamic civilization.
The participants of the conference noted the fact that for over the years of independence a profound work on reviving the national values and studying the heritage of ancestors underway in Uzbekistan.
The professor Abdulvahhob Bakr from Egypt has underscored the expansion of ties of Uzbekistan with the world community. The reports of the Uzbek and foreign participants of the conference were dedicated to such topics as Uzbekistan and League of Arab states, modern miniature arts in Uzbekistan, religious tolerance and intercultural dialogue in Uzbekistan.
Jamal Hojar, the dean at the Alexandria University, Egypt:
“The Muslim world is interested in heritage of outstanding thinkers, scholars, born at the Uzbek land. We must strengthen further the cooperation in studying this heritage, which has invaluable significance”.
The participants of the event have also said that the further expanding of cooperation in studying the heritage of the great thinkers will serve for broadening the relations between the nations and cultures. They have visited the sightseeing and glory places of worship in Bukhara.
HEALTH MINISTRY, UNFPA WORK ON STRENGTHENING EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC CARE
On November 2007, the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan with financial and technical support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Uzbekistan, continues the series of trainings on building up and upgrading skills of health care providers involved in emergency obstetric care.
This training is an integral part of the joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and UNFPA on strengthening the system of emergency obstetric care that started earlier this year in Andijan region and at this stage targets Jizzakh region, which is one of four UNFPA programme areas (other three include Andijan, Khorezm and Namangan regions).
The part of training courses is conducted in the Republic Prenatal Centre in Tashkent for 60 health care system representatives including staff of the managerial level, obstetricians-gynecologists and anaesthesiologists. The major stake of training is taking place in Jizzakh with participation of 112 doctors and midwives.
The training sessions are delivered by national trainers from Andijan and Tashkent prepared by the international consultant during the training of trainers (ToT) that was jointly organized by UNFPA and the Ministry of Health in July 2007.
The training aims at discussing ways of improving the management of obstetrical emergencies, which may help standardize the skills of practicing maternity care providers and review the importance of utilizing regional maternity care services. It is expected that all obstetric care specialists of Jizzakh region will be trained on new concepts in this area during this activity.
In addition, UNFPA and the Ministry of Health continue their effort on introduction of contraceptives logistics management information system (LMIS) in Jizzakh and discuss the perspectives for further cooperation on LMIS. 200 health care providers will be trained on LMIS issues in the framework of this ongoing effort.
UNFPA believes that this activity is a significant contribution in the efforts of the Ministry of Health on further strengthening maternal health in the country and achieving Millennium Development Goal 5.
UWED LEGAL CLINIC ASSISTS TO RAISE AWARENESS AMONG CHILDREN
Legal Clinic under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) organized training on labour rights for children of SOS Children's Village in Tashkent on November 12.
Legal Clinic students together with training specialists and legal expert conducted the training on children rights at SOS Children's Village in Tashkent. The training aimed at raising legal awareness and providing knowledge on labour law of the SOS Children's Village inhabitants.
The training was organized based on interest of children from the SOS Children's Village in improvement their knowledge in legal sphere, including labour legislation. The staff of the SOS Children's Village said that it is important for children to know their rights in labour sphere as they want to work during holiday periods.
Five clinicians were involved in the preparation process of the training, which also helped them to deepen their knowledge in labour law.
About fifteen children at the age of 14-16 from SOS Children's Village participated in the work of the training, which was part of the serious of trainings at the Village.
This training was organized within the UNDP project "Legal Aid and Legal Literacy for Better Access to Justice". The main objectives of the project are to improve access to justice for people who cannot afford or have limited access to legal services, such as women, children, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities and to increase quality of legal services through training of law students.