December 7, 2007

Politics:
Islam Karimov meets voters in Samarkand region
Dilorom Tashmuhamedova meets voters in Namangan region
Akmal Saidov meets voters in Navoi region
Asliddin Rustamov meets voters in Navoi region
Economics:
First International Uzbek Textile Fair closes
Eximbank of China extends loans for US$79.3m to Uzbekistan
Oxus Gold says Amantaytau gets nod for AGF phase 2 project
Society:
Seminar discusses issues of implementation UN recommendations on human rights
Focus on social policy
Chagaev set to face Britain's Skelton

POLITICS

ISLAM KARIMOV MEETS VOTERS IN SAMARKAND REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met voters in Samarkand region on 5 of December.

Chairman of the 8th Samarkand district election commission A.Umarov opened the meeting. The participants familiarized with the program of the candidate, which envisages such issues like continuation of wide-scale economic and sociopolitical reforms, strengthening democracy, ensuring supremacy of the law and social justice, supporting farmers, small business and private entrepreneurship, improvement of the investment climate, reducing the tax burden, improving the people’s well being.

Islam Karimov made a speech at the meeting.

The reforms implemented in all spheres in Uzbekistan are giving significant results. The country’s economy is developing and the people’s well being is improving. The pension system is being improved, the sizes of pensions and social allowances are growing and the real incomes of the population are increasing. Processes of modernization and democratization of the country, liberalization of the economic and political spheres are also continuing.

Islam Karimov noted that Samarkand was famous for its rich history, prominent scholars and thinkers, architectural monuments and beautiful nature. 2750th anniversary of the city was celebrated this summer. The region occupies a special place in the development of the country with its high socioeconomic potential.

The participants of the meeting said the measures implemented to ensure social and economic stability, development of economy and strengthening Uzbekistan’s independence are directly linked with the name of Islam Karimov.

They underlined that supporting the candidature of Islam Karimov was a reliable guarantee of the continuation of the wide-scale reforms, development of the economy and increasing the people’s prosperity.

The speakers called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan, to be held on 23 December 2007.

DILOROM TASHMUHAMEDOVA MEETS VOTERS IN NAMANGAN REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the Adolat Social Democratic Party Dilorom Tashmuhamevoda met voters in Namangan region on 3 of December.

Chairman of the 7th Namangan district election commission K.Abdullayev opened the meeting. The authorized representative of the candidate, first secretary of the Adolat Party’s regional council H.Ahmadkhodjayev familiarized the gathered with the candidate’s biography and program.

The program notes that wide-scale reforms implemented in Uzbekistan in the years of independence have produced notable results. The country’s economy is developing and the people’s well being is improving. Reforms in the economic and sociopolitical spheres, science, education, healthcare and culture are deepening.

The candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan Dilorom Tashmuhamevoda made a speech at the meeting.

Those who spoke at the meeting said conduction of the elections of the President of Uzbekistan on a multiparty and alternative basis was a proof of the fact that principles of democracy were being observed in the country. They called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan scheduled for 23 December 2007.

AKMAL SAIDOV MEETS VOTERS IN NAVOI REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the initiative group of voters Akmal Saidov met voters in Navoi region on 5 of December.

Chairman of the 6th Navoi district election commission U.Mavlanov opened the meeting in the city of Navoi. The authorized representative of the candidate, chairman of Navoi regional branch of the Soglom Avlod Uchun fund B.Hamdamova presented the biography and the program of the candidate to the gathered.

The program states that wide-scale reforms implemented in Uzbekistan in the years of independence have produced notable results. Reforms in the economic, sociopolitical, legal and spiritual spheres, as well as science and education are continuing.

The candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov made a speech at the meeting.

The participants said conduction of the elections of the President of Uzbekistan on a multiparty and alternative basis, in particular, participation of a candidate from a group of voters, was a proof of the fact that principles of democracy were being observed in the country. They called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan scheduled for 23 December 2007.

ASLIDDIN RUSTAMOV MEETS VOTERS IN NAVOI REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Asliddin Rustamov met voters in Navoi region on 6 of December.

Chairman of the 6th Navoi district election commission U.Mavlanov opened the meeting. The authorized representative of the candidate, chairman of the PDP’s Navoi regional council S.Umarov familiarized the participants with the biography and the program of the candidate.

The program states that wide-scale reforms in the country have given significant results. The economic potential of Uzbekistan has strengthened, and the people’s prosperity increased. Attention to social protection of the population is increasing, and the sizes of allowances and other social payments are increasing regularly.

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan Asliddin Rustamov made a speech at the meeting.

The participants said the elections of the President of Uzbekistan were being held on the multiparty and alternative basis, in the spirit of openness and in compliance with international norms. They called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan due on 23 December 2007.

ECONOMY

FIRST INTERNATIONAL UZBEK TEXTILE FAIR CLOSES

The First International Uzbek Textile Fair was held on December 5-6 in Tashkent. More than 200 representatives of textile companies and firms from 33 countries of the world participated in the event.

The aim of this large-scale forum is diversification of the national textile production, expansion of the geographical coverage of Uzbek textile exports, development of long-term partnership relations with the world's leading producers and trade companies, and introduction of the latest achievements of the textile industry of Uzbekistan to the participants of the fair.

With a stable, solid resource base, law energy costs, and highly qualified labour resources in hands, with the assistance of foreign partners Uzbekistan is launching new modern textile production enterprises. Today, the textile producers have the capacity for the processing of some 320,000 tonnes of cotton fibre, and production of 300,000 tonnes of cotton yarn, 195 million running meters of cotton fabric, 160 million ready-made garments and 11 million pairs of hosiery.

There has been a substantial increase in the export of products by the enterprises of the textile sector. To compare, in 1995, Uzbekistan exported goods for some US$31.9 million, whereas in 2007 the indicator is forecasted to reach US$441 million.

On December 6, the second day of the event, a contract signing ceremony was held and the results of the fair were summed up. The Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiev said 190 export contracts for US$405 million were signed during the first international textile fair.

Of these, contracts for US$70 million were signed for the delivery of half-finished textile goods (yarn, fabric), contracts for US$15 million – for the delivery of silk products, and contracts for some US$320 million were signed for the delivery of ready-made cotton garments.

Most of the contracts were signed with the importers in the countries of Russia, Turkey, Korea, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, United Arab Emirates, and others.

A member of the Board of Directors the International Textile Manufacturers' Federation Herwig Strolz, the Chairman of the Board of UzbekYengilSanoat (Uzbek Light Industry) State Corporation Rahmatilla Ruzikulov and other high-ranked officials spoke at the closing ceremony.

They all pointed out that the two days of the fair were very productive, and that participants got the chance to discuss the current condition and trends in the world market for textile, as well as issues concerning the access and expansion of supplies of Uzbek textiles to the potential consumer markets.

The guests familiarized with the investment policy of Uzbekistan and its experience in cooperation with foreign investors in the textile sector. They also visited a number of textile enterprises in the country.

EXIMBANK OF CHINA EXTENDS LOANS FOR US$79.3M TO UZBEKISTAN

In 2008 the Export and Import Bank (Eximbank) of China will provide the financing for three projects in Uzbekistan, the press service of the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan announced.

The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Eximbank of China have signed a memorandum of mutual understanding, according to which the Chinese bank is to reserve credit funds in the amount of US$79.3 million for the said purposes.

In particular, the funds will be invested in the procurement of electric locomotives for the Uzbekiston Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways) State Railway Corporation (US$57.9 million), a project on reconstruction of sewerage system of Namangan city (US$19.2 million), and a project on improvement of the sanitary system of the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara (US$2.2 million).

The memorandum states the preliminary figures of credit funds. The finalized size of loans and the terms of their provision will be agreed on and specified later. The credit funds will be reserved within the frame of the second line of credit of the People's Republic of China to the member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprising US$1.2 billion.

To date the PRC Government has extended Uzbekistan low-interest and soft loans, as well as grant aid for some US$380 million for the projects in the social sphere, municipal, agricultural, chemical sectors, etc. In particular, as a part of the SCO credit line programme the Government of Uzbekistan has received some US$50.3 million for the financing of three projects on land reclamation and water supply.

OXUS GOLD SAYS AMANTAYTAU GETS NOD FOR AGF PHASE 2 PROJECT

Oxus Gold PLC said its 50%-owned joint venture Amantaytau Goldfields has received approval from the government of Uzbekistan to proceed with the AGF phase 2 underground sulphides project, Uzreport.com Business Information Portal quoting the Thomson Financial report.

The company said it plans to increase sulphide plant throughput to 1.2 million tonnes per year by 2012 from the original design tonnage of 750,000 tonnes per year in 2009.

It expects first gold production from the Phase 2 project in mid 2009, and estimates an additional 86,000 ounces of gold to be extracted from the expanded Centralny pit at a cost of US$9.6 million.

First gold production from the underground Severny mine is expected in mid-2010, and the pre-production cost for the underground development and plant modification is estimated at US$139 million.

The new base case is expected to produce about 246,000 ounces of gold annually from the existing JORC compliant Severny measured and indicated underground resources over an initial 7 year period.

Initially, a total of 1.43 million ounces of gold will be produced at an estimated cash cost of US$197 per ounce, excluding taxes.

The combined Severny and Centralny sulphide underground ore reserves are 9.71 million tonnes at an average grade of 7.71 grams per tonne, containing 2.41 million ounces of gold.

Chairman Douglas Sutherland said over 80% of the Oxus' resources are contained within the Amantaytau Goldfields project and there is significant potential to increase it further and to continue mining in excess of 300,000 ounces a year for over a decade.

SOCIETY

SEMINAR DISCUSSES ISSUES OF IMPLEMENTATION UN RECOMMENDATIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 of December. It commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its formal inception dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and interested organizations to adopt 10 of December of each year as Human Rights Day.

National Human Rights Center of Uzbekistan at support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in Uzbekistan organized a seminar-training entitled “Realization of national action plans on implementation of UN treaty bodies’ recommendations on human rights” on December 5.

The event was dedicated to Human Rights Day, which is observed worldwide on 10 of December. This year’s Human Rights Day launches a year-long commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The entire UN family will take part in a campaign to promote the Declaration's ideals and principles of justice and equality for everyone.

Over 40 representatives of state bodies, law enforcement agencies, local administrations, Uzbekistan Bar Association, Uzbekistan Judges Association and other NGOs participated in the work of the seminar.

The participants considered issues of roles of Ombudsperson, parliament, Women’s Committee and other organizations in implementation of UN treat bodies’ recommendations on human rights, problems of preparation and realization of national action plans based on these recommendations and others.

They also touched such issues as main directions of the realization of national action plans on enforcement of the recommendations of the Committee on liquidation of race discriminations and Committee on liquidation of discrimination against women, participation of NGOs in implementation of national action plans and others.

Akmadjon Ismoilov, deputy director of National Human Rights Center, said: “Uzbekistan joined several key UN Conventions on human rights and submits country reports on their enforcement in the country to UN treaty bodies on regular basis. Current seminar-training is another step towards implementation of recommendations of UN bodies.”

UNDP supported this seminar-training through project “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.

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP opened its representative office in Uzbekistan in January 1993.

FOCUS ON SOCIAL POLICY

Tashkent hosted an international conference titled “Urgent issues of enhancement of social security of the population”, organized by the Committee for Labor and Social Issues of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

The conference was attended by the deputies of the lower chamber of the parliament, specialists of agencies and organizations, scientists and foreign experts. One of the main goals of the meeting was to share experience in ensuring social security and improve legislation.

Its participants noted that strong social policy is a complex and systematic approach to a number of directions including creation of necessary legal conditions, new institutional decisions, scaled financing assignment and participation in social programs of both state and public structures. They laid special emphasis on the fact that 2007 was the most important stage of enhancing this sphere when at the initiative of President Islam Karimov effective mechanisms of supporting the destitute were launched under the State Program “Year of Social Protection”.

“Since the first years of independence the country has pursued a strong social policy for gradual and purposeful increase of people’s incomes and welfare and guarantee of social security of vulnerable segments of the population: pensioners, handicapped people, single elderly persons and financially disadvantaged families.

Today Uzbekistan is actively integrating the new mechanisms which allow us to ensure maximal social security of people in market conditions. Here one of the dominating aspects is to strengthen the resource basis in this system. In addition, we must improve the laws in this sphere”, noted Ilkhom Nasriev, Chairman of the Committee for Labor and Social Issues of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

Sectional meetings were held within the conference framework. Its participants discussed the new approaches of guaranteeing the medical and social security of the population, legislative regulation for the participation of nongovernmental organizations and issues of improving national standards.

“Uzbekistan’s legal foundation for social security of the population is a reliable mechanism operating on a high level. I think that consecutiveness in resolving social problems in the country is very important in the pursuit of a strong social policy. Uzbekistan’s experience can set an example to other countries and participation of foreign experts in such meetings helps to transmit it”, said a Russian expert Eugenie Gontmacher.

According to the participants, the conference allowed them not only to discuss urgent issues of social policy but also to determine ways of enhancing the legislation for its strengthening.

CHAGAEV SET TO FACE BRITAIN'S SKELTON

Uzbekistan's world heavyweight WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev will defend his title against Britain's veteran Matt Skelton in Dusseldorf early next year, it was revealed on December 5.

The unbeaten 29-year-old takes on Skelton - known as the 'Bedford Headbanger' - at the Burg-Waechter Castello in Dusseldorf on January 19 in what will be his first defence since winning his title against Nicolai Valuev last April.

Since winning his crown, Chagaev, from Uzbekistan, has struggled with injury, but now insists he is fighting fit.

"I am completely healthy and I am ready to fight, I want to get in the ring," said Chagaev.

"It will be a hard fight against a good puncher."

In August, Chagaev was forced to call off his first defence against Russia's Sultan Ibragimov with injury.

Skelton, 40 who only took up boxing at the age of 35 after a career in kickboxing but on becoming a boxer was crowned English, British, Commonwealth and the lightly regarded World Boxing Union titleholder, comes into the fight with 22 wins and just one defeat to Danny Williams last year - which he later avenged.