November 19, 2007
Politics:
Uzbek President meets with Isuzu Motors Company's chairman
Four candidates has registered for the presidential elections in Uzbekistan
Economics:
UzAvtoSanoat, SamAvto, Isuzu Motors and Itochu ink cooperation agreement
Paynet holds seminar on development of payment technologies in Uzbekistan
Karshi-Termez fibre-optic cable line put into operation
2007 State Budget envisages appropriation of 350bn soums for social allowances
Society:
Master’s department grows in power
Education Plus ecology
POLITICS
UZBEK PRESIDENT MEETS WITH ISUZU MOTORS COMPANY'S CHAIRMAN
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in his Oksaroy residence in Tashkent received the delegation headed by the Chairman of Isuzu Motors (Japan) Ida Yoshinori on November 16.
"Uzbekistan values highly the developing economic cooperation with Japan," the head of state Islam Karimov said. "In particular, the work carried by you in cooperation with the Uzbek partners is a worthy contribution in the development of economic relations between our countries".
The economic ties with Japan are developing intensively, according to UzA. The joint statement on friendship, strategic partnership and cooperation, signed during the official visit of President Islam Karimov to Japan in July 2002, serves as a legal basis for enhancement of collaboration up to the level of strategic partnership.
Japan supports the socio-economic reforms pursued in Uzbekistan since the first years of its independence. More than 10 large projects are being implemented in the country with participation of Japanese investments. Japan has invested around US$2 billion in Uzbekistan since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Nine joint ventures, founded in cooperation with the Japanese partners, are working in Uzbekistan. Representative offices of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) are open in the republic along with some 20 large corporations of Japan, namely Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Marubeni, Itochu, Toyota Tsusho, Kintetsu Eurasia Express, Sojitz.
Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek economic cooperation committees are dealing with the issues of effective use of high-tech and investments of Japan, favourable investment climate created in Uzbekistan for business doing along with foreign partners. The production of Isuzu busses, trucks and hoisting cranes at Samarkand automobile plant is another practical outcome of such an interaction. Motor-car construction is becoming one more important direction of bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting in Tashkent, the head of Isuzu Motors Ida Yoshinori thanked the President of Uzbekistan for sincere reception and noted that Isuzu Motors was supporting the expansion of cooperation with Uzbekistan.
In the course of the talks, the sides exchanged opinions on the issues touching the opportunities of implementing new projects jointly with Isuzu Motors, development of technical and investment cooperation among the enterprises of Uzbekistan and the Japanese company.
FOUR CANDIDATES HAS REGISTERED FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN UZBEKISTAN
On November 19 a briefing was held at the National Press Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the representatives of national and foreign media.
The Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov stated that the number of the contenders for the post of the president was reduced to four after the checking of all submitted papers.
The candidates are: Asliddin Rustamov (from the National-Democratic Party of Uzbeksitan), Dilorom Toshmuhamedova (from the Adolat Socio-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan), Akmal Saidov (from the initiative group of voters), and Islam Karimov (from the Entrepreneurs and Businessmen's Movement, Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan).
The registered candidates have been issued registration certificates. The Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and Fidokorlar National-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan could not gather the required number of voters' signatures in support of the contenders for the president they have nominated, which served as a reason for their disqualification.
Earlier, the permission for participation in the Presidential elections scheduled for 23 December 2007 had been issued to five political parties functioning in Uzbekistan and one citizens' initiative group.
The Head of the Central Election Commission informed the media on the fact that the Commission had held a meeting to discuss a number of issues concerning the course of electoral campaign. Thus, according to the agenda the members of the Commission discussed the registration of the contenders for the President of Uzbekistan, their pre-election campaigns in mass media, the preparation of printed materials with the auto-biographies and pre-election programmes of the candidates, the approval of the text of the electoral bulletin, and protection of the electoral rights of citizens for the early voting.
Within five days after the registration of the contenders for the President, the Central Election Commission will publish an announcement of their registration stating their last names, first names and patronymics, the year of birth, the membership in any of the registered parties, the position held, the place of work and residence, as well as the names of the political parties or the initiative groups of citizens who nominated the candidates.
During the briefing it was noted that as defined in the national electoral legislation, the pre-election campaign will start from the day of registration of the contenders by the Central Election Commission. In light of this, according to the Head of the Central Election Commission, the participants of the meeting discussed the issue concerning the beginning of the pre-election campaign in mass media. The contenders for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, political parties, voters' initiative groups, according to the legislation, will be given the right to use mass media in line with the order established by the Central Election Commission.
"For this purpose, guided by the Articles 5, 14 and 28 of the Law "On elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan", on September 18, 2007 the Central Election Commission passed a resolution which approves the Statute "On the order of using mass media by the contenders for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, political parties, and voters' initiative groups during the pre-election campaign."
According to this document, the weekly schedules of the contenders' speeches on radio and television channels of Uzbekistan and Yoshlar of the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan, as well as in the national papers of Halk Suzi, Narodnoye Slovo, and Pravda Vostoka have been approved. Jointly with the National Television and Radio Company, the programme on elucidation of the course of preparation and administration of the elections was developed," M. Abdusalomov said. In particular, he noted, that in order to create equal conditions for the contenders for the President to announce the main provisions of their pre-election programmes to the voters every week they will be allowed equal time of radio and television broadcasting in the evenings.
Contenders of the President independently decide on the content of their pre-election speeches on air. Regular broadcasts of video and radio clips, television and radio programmes on the contenders for the President, their pre-election programmes, and meetings with the voters are planned. It is worth noting that on the request of the contenders they will be allowed additional broadcast time on equal conditions. Moreover, the course of the pre-election campaign, measures being taken by the Central Election Commission, explanations of the provisions of the national electoral legislation will be covered in the Wednesdays' and Saturdays' "Demokratiya – Saylov Kuzgusi" television programme. The pre-election campaign will also be widely elucidated in the daily broadcasts of Ahborot and Davr programmes.
The Head of the Central Election Commission said during the pre-election period, national periodicals – Halk Suzi, Narodnoye Slovo and Pravda Vostoka will publish autho-biographies and pre-election programmes of the candidates for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. These same materials will be also published in the parties' publications. "Taking into account the fact that each political party to nominate a contender for the President has its own printed publication, and in order to create equal opportunities for the voters' initiative group participating in the elections it will be allowed to use Jamiyat Newspaper for its pre-election campaign. The newspaper is owned by a non-governmental nonprofit organization. It is worth mentioning that the principle of equal conditions for the pre-election propaganda through the media does not apply to the parties' publications and Jamiyat newspaper. They have the right to print the materials in the volume which they find necessary, Abdusalomov explained. He also informed that the next issue discussed at the meeting of the Central Election Commission concerned the publication of printed products with auto-biographies and pre-election programmes of the contenders for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
According to the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, the Commission has taken measures to publish the information and propaganda materials. Taking into account the experience of the 2000 and 2004 elections, and the number of the electoral districts formed, equal amounts of agitation materials with the autobiographies and pre-election programmes of the contenders will be published in Uzbek, Karakalpak and Russian languages. Also, in addition to this, equal circulations of brochures with the autobiographies and pre-election programmes of each registered contender will be published.
"The expenses for the preparation of the printed materials are covered from the funds appropriated by the Central Election Commission for the preparation and conduct of the elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan," the Head of the Central Election Commission said. Moreover, according to Abdusalomov, the members of the Committee approved the text of the election bulletin. "According to the existing legislation the bulletins will be printed in the state language not later than 20 days earlier of the elections. According to the decision of the district election committee, the bulletins may be printed in the languages used by the majority of the population in the area," he said.
ECONOMY
UZAVTOSANOAT, SAMAVTO, ISUZU MOTORS AND ITOCHU INK COOPERATION AGREEMENT
A delegation of the representatives of Japanese companies headed by the Chairman of Isuzu Motors Ida Yoshinori and the head of Itochu corporation Furuta Takanobu met with the Deputies Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov and Kuvondik Sanakulov on November 16.
During the negotiations, the sides exchanged opinions on the issues of strengthening ties between the Samarkand automobile plant (SamAvto) and Isuzu Motors, expansion of joint production of vehicles, development and implementation of mutually beneficial projects.
Isuzu Motors is the word's largest enterprise producing busses, trucks and diesel engines. The company sells its vehicles to more than 130 countries. Itochu corporation is largest trade company working virtually in all spheres of economy, in particular, motor-car construction, textile and food industries, as well as financial sector.
SamAvto and Isuzu Motors signed an agreement on technical assistance in January 2007. In line with the document, the Uzbek plant launched production of two bus models – city and urban type, and three models of trucks. The Samarkand plant manufactured over 1,000 Isuzu vehicles in the first ten months of 2007.
On results of the talks in Tashkent on 16 November, UzAvtoSanoat (Uzbek automobile industry) joint-stock company, SamAvto, Isuzu Motors and Itochu signed an agreement on strategic cooperation, the report by UzA said.
PAYNET HOLDS SEMINAR ON DEVELOPMENT OF PAYMENT TECHNOLOGIES IN UZBEKISTAN
On November 15 the Uzbek Agency of Communication and Informatisation (UzACI) hosted the seminar on the development of payment technologies in Uzbekistan organized by the specialists of Paynet Company.
The main topics discussed at the seminar included "The review of the functioning of electronic payment systems", "Services rendered by Paynet Company", "The role of dealership network in the payment system", "The place of IT in the development of electronic payment systems", and "The use of electronic digital signature".
As stated in the press release of the Paynet Company, during the seminar participants were updated on the main activities of the company. Also, the management and specialists of Paynet spoke of the role and importance of its services to the development of electronic commerce in the country.
Among the participants were the representatives of different organizations including Uzbekiston Havo Yullari (Uzbekistan Airways), Uzbekiston Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways), UzbekNefteGazInformatika (Uzbek Oil and Gas Information Systems), Uzbekiston Pochtasi (Uzbekistan Post), UzbekEnergo, TashGorPES, Matbuot Tarkatuvchi (Periodicals Distribution), etc.
The interest in this meeting was also expressed by the companies and organizations rendering IT services in the country, among them Softline Solutions, ALSKOM, and others.
After each of the reports time was given for questions and discussions. The seminar was intended to help the participants gain deeper knowledge on the opportunities offered by modern payment technology, which are becoming increasingly popular around the world these days.
KARSHI-TERMEZ FIBRE-OPTIC CABLE LINE PUT INTO OPERATION
Major works are being implemented in Uzbekistan to develop the country's telecommunication system. An important guide in this is the Presidential Resolution of 23 January 2007 on the development and modernization of the telecommunication systems of UzbekTelecom Corporation.
In light of this, the Uzbek Agency of Communication and Informatisation jointly with the China Development Bank and the Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd (PRC) are taking urgent measures to develop the telecommunication system in Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions, UzA reported. This work being carried out within the frame of the "Reconstruction and development of the telecommunication system of UzbekTelecom Corp." worth over US$18.3 million is already producing positive results.
In particular, UzbekTelecom completed the work on installation of more than 360km long fibre-optic main along the digital radio relay link connecting Karshi and Termez. This is intended to expand the communication system in the region. Also, the STM-16 digital data transmission system (with the speed of 2.5 Gbit/s) has been commissioned. This is expected to expand and reserve international telecommunication channels in the direction of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, support the telephone connection and data transmission through the territory of the country, and expand the Internet traffic and transit opportunities.
Today, the testing of the new equipment is being completed at the modern digital telephone stations and transmission systems installed in all district centres of these regions. Moreover, the management of the company continues the works to lay the 670km long fibre-optic cable intended for the telecommunication systems of Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions. And the areas where fibre-optic cables have already been laid are being put into service. Thus, the digital telephone stations assembled in Dekhkanabad, Kamashi, Guzar, Baysun, Kizirik, Bandihan, and Sherabad district centres are attached to the fibre-optic cable lines and are being tested.
After the completion of the works on the installation of fibre-optic cables, the residents of these regions will have more opportunities to use high quality and modern telephone and Internet services, and benefit from high speed data transmission.
2007 STATE BUDGET ENVISAGES APPROPRIATION OF 350BN SOUMS FOR SOCIAL ALLOWANCES
The People's Bank has hosted a seminar on "Enhancement of the legal norms envisaging the development of the financial mechanism to guarantee social protection", the Central Bank's press service said.
The seminar was organized by the Committee for Budget and Economic Reforms of the Senate of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan jointly with the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population and the People's State Commercial Bank.
From the first days of independence under the immediate direction of the President close attention has been given to the social protection of the population.
An important step in this direction was the Presidential Resolution of 19 March 2007 "On measures to further develop and strengthen the system of social protection of the population."
This resolution states that the appropriation and payment of allowances to the needy families with many children, child-care allowances to unemployed mothers with children under the age of two, and material support to the needy families is to be decided by the citizens' self-government agencies in strict compliance with the principles of social justice, objectivity and transparency, as well as provision of the financial support to the truly needy entities taking into account the income and financial status.
The parameters of the State Budget for the year 2007 envisages the appropriation of three types of social allowances, including to the needy families with several children under the age of 16, to unemployed mothers for caring after the child aged under two, and allowances for those who need social protection. The total sum of appropriations for these purposes makes up 350 billion soums.
Seminar participants specifically noted the importance of the process of intensification of the reforms in the sphere of social protection of the population, and increasing the role of the citizens' self-government agencies in provision of social protection to the population and the necessary financial support to needy families.
During the seminar participants discussed the measures to improve the financial mechanism to guarantee social protection, made comments and pointed out the shortcomings revealed in the process of implementation of the above-described measures. A conclusion was reached that there is a need to introduce a number of amendments and additions to the existing legislation to further liberalise the mechanism of provision of social protection to the population.
Upon the results of the discussion, seminar participants considered the recommendations on improvement of the legal norms aimed at the improvement of the financial mechanism of social protection of the population.
SOCIETY
MASTER’S DEPARTMENT GROWS IN POWER
Uzbekistan is implementing the Purposeful Program on reforming and developing the master’s department. Master’s sections which are established in all higher educational institutions now will help to realize the program successfully.
The new department will coordinate the activity of all sections of higher educational establishments on problems of training masters and monitor job placement of graduates. Sections will begin to act from January 1, 2008. At present the Uzbek Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education in cooperation with the other ministries and departments having higher educational establishments and the Ministry of Economy implements the program’s basic regulations.
The work on developing the state educational standards, curriculums and educational programs for master’s degree is about to end. Specialists are developing a program on supplying students and teaching staff with the modern teaching and methodic literature and materials. The Resolution of the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers “On measures of developing and increasing the efficiency and activity of master’s department in the higher educational system of the Republic of Uzbekistan” states that teaching literature for the second degree of higher education will be issued by the Uzbek scientists in cooperation with foreign ones.
Central and sectional libraries have all favorable conditions for students. Here special attention is paid to the organization of students’ independent working with the Internet resources, inter higher educational computer system, portals of ministries and departments and websites of higher educational establishments. The created conditions for interpersonal exchange of information, forums and discussion clubs play important role in improving the quality of training specialists.
In near two years the resource basis of master’s department will be strengthened with up-to-date teaching and laboratory equipment, computer technologies and software.
From 2008 the Uzbek higher educational establishments will begin to implement the Action Program on integrating the teaching process of master’s department with the fundamental and applied science and guaranteeing favorable conditions for teaching and conducting scientific researches with masters practicing their results. Specialists of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of Uzbekistan state that there will be a wide-scaled work on involving specialists of enterprises: potential employers of masters in the teaching process.
Much attention is paid to training and advancement of teaching staff’s qualification and re-training courses will be organized for them not only in the leading higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan but also abroad.
Uzbekistan is one of the first countries in the CIS zone to integrate two-leveled higher educational system. Within ten years of establishing the master’s department Uzbekistan laid legal foundations for it on the Law “On Education” and National Program on Personnel Training, determined and integrated bases of organizing the master’s teaching process, methodic and educational complex and new generation of software and developed its teaching staff. The implementation of the Purposeful Program on reforming and developing the master’s department has marked a new stage of developing the second degree of higher education.
EDUCATION PLUS ECOLOGY
“High Time to Practice Theory” is the subtext of a conference on problems of the youth’s ecological education, held in Kari Niyozy’s Scientific Research Institute of Pedagogical Studies.
Unusually, the conference at the Scientific Research Institute of Pedagogical Studies that is mainly busy with developing the school education gathered specialists of higher educational establishments, professional colleges and academic lyceums. They unanimously held the opinion that the country’s teaching process has to pay much attention to the problems of environmental protection, harmonic existence of civilization and wild. “Today special attention is paid to ecological education throughout the world and we must do our best to advance this education in our country”, noted Eshbay Turdikulov, a departmental head of the Scientific Research Institute of Pedagogical Studies, in an interview with the UT.
“The environmental problems must be discussed not only at lessons of natural history, biology, geography, physics and chemistry but also in the teaching process of other school subjects”, comments Sharofat Yunusova, a research worker of the Scientific Research Institute of Pedagogical Studies. “During the conference specialists of three levels of continuous education discussed the variants of rational distribution of environmental problems in the whole educational circle and they thoroughly studied the problems of integrating ecology into curriculums of compulsory subjects. I believe that the main event of this conference was that all its participants agreed with “practicing the modern methods of teaching ecology”. As a result, all of them will be involved in this process in near future”.