December 26, 2007
Politics:
Russian leader congratulates Islam Karimov on his victory
President Receives CIS Executive Committee Chairman
CIS Mission: ‘Elections Were Important For Further Democratization of Public Life In Uzbekistan”
SCO Mission: ‘Elections Were Legitimate, Free & Transparent’
Economics:
New high speed train to commute between Tashkent and Karshi
To the market on elevators
UzPromStroyBank to issue 4bn soums to young families every month in 2008
Society:
The SISF has summed up results
Asaka-Based School 9 Wins Province-Wide ‘Best School’ Contest
POLITICS
RUSSIAN LEADER CONGRATULATES ISLAM KARIMOV ON HIS VICTORY
President of Russia Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
The Russian leader congratulated Islam Karimov on his victory in the 23 December presidential election in Uzbekistan.
According the Russian President's press service, both leaders assessed highly the level of cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan in a wide range of areas and reiterated their readiness to continue to resolve all issues as allies and partners.
Putin and Karimov exchanged New Year's greetings and discussed planned bilateral contacts, including at summit level.
The conversation took place on Russia's initiative.
PRESIDENT RECEIVES CIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
On December 25 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev, Jahon Information Agency quoting the national newspapers reports.
President has said that he respects Mr. Lebedev not only as a chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, but also as the head of the CIS Observer Mission.
As the largest group to have been present among observers the CIS Observer Mission has taken an active part at the presidential elections of December 23 in Uzbekistan. It has laid out the objective conclusions on the results of observing over the preparation and holding the elections.
The CIS Observer Mission started its work in Uzbekistan from December 10. Its headquarters operated in Tashkent with the branch offices to have functioned in Bukhara, Samarkand, and Ferghana.
The CIS observers visited more than 1000 polling stations in the capital city and several provinces nationwide. The Statement of the Mission has said that all necessary legal, organizational and logistical conditions for international and domestic observing over the preparations for and holding of presidential elections have been created in Uzbekistan. The observers have had an access to the documents, which regulate the election process, were able to meet with the heads of campaign headquarters of presidential nominees, as well as the voters. Besides, they visited the polling stations and all district elections commissions around Uzbekistan and had gained the necessary information. They have received the comprehensive assistance to implement their functions on the part of all structures to have taken part in organization of elections.
The CIS observers have positively assessed the very fact that not only the political parties, but also directly the citizens – by way of creating the initiative groups of voters – have had a right to nominate candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Mission has underscored in its Statement that it recognizes the elections free, open and transparent and that the elections have become as an important factor in further democratizing the public life in Uzbekistan and stable social and economic development of the country.
President has highly assessed the activity of the CIS Observer Mission.
In his turn, Sergey Lebedev has thanked the President for the sincere welcome and congratulated him on his victory in the elections.
CIS MISSION: ‘ELECTIONS WERE IMPORTANT FOR FURTHER DEMOCRATIZATION OF PUBLIC LIFE IN UZBEKISTAN”
On December 24 the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Observer Mission at the presidential elections in Uzbekistan of December 23 held a news conference at the Press Center of Central Election Commission, according to the national newspapers.
The local and foreign journalists, international observers and representatives of diplomatic corps in Uzbekistan participated at it, according to the reports.
The head of the CIS Observer Mission, the Chairman of Executive Committee – CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev has read out the Statement of CIS Observer Mission on the results of observing the preparation and holding of presidential election.
According to the Statement, 79 international observers, who have represented the executive, election bodies of the CIS participating states, as well as the Eurasian Economic Cooperation Organization (EurAsEc)and the CIS Executive Committee, have been accredited to participate in the elections as observers.
Observing the election processes began from December 10. The Mission headquarters has operated in Tashkent with the branch offices to have functioned in Bukhara, Samarkand and Ferghana provinces. For over the entire period of monitoring the election campaign the observers attended 1207 polling stations, including 703 on the day of voting in Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Tashkent, Ferghana provinces and the city of Tashkent.
In keeping with the Statement, the necessary legal, organizational and logistical conditions for the international and domestic observing the preparation for presidential elections and voting have been created in Uzbekistan. The CIS observers have had an access to the documents, which regulate the election process, were able to meet with the heads of campaign headquarters of presidential nominees and voters, attended the precinct and district election commissions in the country and gained the necessary information.
Mission has worked alongside with the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan and attended the meetings of candidates with the voters. Observers have received the comprehensive assistance by all local structures in accomplishing the work. The CIS Observer Mission is reported to have noted that the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan were free, open and transparent.
As a part of his stay, on December 25 this year Sergey Lebedev has been received at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, in which the Uzbek leader has highly assessed the work of the Mission in Uzbekistan.
Mr. Lebedev is reported to have thanked the President for the frank welcome and congratulated him on his victory in the elections.
SCO MISSION: ‘ELECTIONS WERE LEGITIMATE, FREE & TRANSPARENT’
On December 24 this year the Press Center of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted the news conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Observer Mission dedicated to the presidential elections in Uzbekistan on December 23, the newspapers reported.
The local and foreign journalists, international observers, representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Uzbekistan are reported to have participated at the news conference.
The head of the SCO Observer Mission, the SCO Secretary General Bolat Nuraliev has read out the text of the Mission’s Statement on the presidential elections in the country. The document reads that based on the analysis of national election legislation with regard to the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan carried out by the experts of the SCO Secretariat the elections were held in correspondence with universally accepted international election standards and democratic norms. According to the Mission, the Uzbek legislation creates the necessary legal conditions for the voters for the free expression of their will and secret voting.
All candidates registered by the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan as nominees for President have had equal opportunities to hold the pre-election campaign and familiarize the voters with their own programs. The SCO Observer Mission has met with the heads of campaign headquarters of nominees and learned about the preparation process to the elections at the district and precinct election commissions in the cities of Bukhara, Tashkent and Kagan, the Bukhara Province.
The Mission is also reported to have attended numerous polling stations during the voting and voting counting. The Statement of the Mission has underscored that the organization and holding the voting have been in full correspondence with the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan” and “On guarantees of suffrage of citizens”.
According to the Statement, the complaints and remarks from the observers of the elections process have not been filed with the Mission. It is also said that during the counting of votes the observers did not reveal any violations of provisions of the Law “On elections of President of Uzbekistan”.
The SCO Observer Mission believes that the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan were legitimate, free and transparent and fully corresponded to the requirements of the national legislation and international election standards, the Statement read.
ECONOMY
NEW HIGH SPEED TRAIN TO COMMUTE BETWEEN TASHKENT AND KARSHI
Uzbekiston Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways) state joint-stock railway company has prepared a special New Year's present for its passengers. A new high-speed train "Nasaf" has been launched en route Tashkent-Karshi, UzA reported.
The train conducted the first trip and arrived in the city of Karshi on December 25. The management and specialists of the company, representatives of local khokimiats (authorities) and public officials participated in the special event organised on this occasion.
They noted the advantages created by the new high-speed train, that delivers passengers from the capital to Karshi quickly and comfortably.
Nasaf's comfortable cars were produced at the UR's plant for repair of passenger cars. Its internal and external design and equipment corresponds to the international standards. Particular attention should be given to the favourable micro-climate, noise insulation, and safety conditions in the new train.
Nasaf's passengers will have the opportunity to watch movies and concerts and listen to FM-radio channels on their way.
The Khokim (mayor) of Kashkadarya region N. Zayniev participated in the event.
TO THE MARKET ON ELEVATORS
The Samarkand Elevator Production Plant has launched the production of passenger and freight elevators of new series. The current boom in construction in Uzbekistan will allow the company to increase its output in future.
In the beginning of 2007 the Russian CSC “Peresvet-Invest” has purchased 75% of the Samarkand plant worth US$ 1.3 million. This big investor will invest US$ 7.5 million within five years in the technical modernization of the Samarkand Elevator Production Plant and increase its output. The Russian company has invested US$ 2.5 million since the beginning of the current year. “If this year we intend to produce 300 elevators, next year the ratio will reach 750 with integration of new technologies”, said Abdulla Karimov, Director-General of the Samarkand Elevator Production Plant.
The construction of dwellings and offices aside with building of concrete frames and overlaps includes a wide range of peripheral components connected with electric wiring, sanitation, internal decoration, elevator supply and other things. The problem of elevator is urged one. It is quite specific and expensive equipment whose installation is connected with wide-scale work.
In recent two or three years construction of big trading establishments, hotels and business buildings has activated in Uzbekistan.
“Big projects with wide and diverse range of equipment have appeared. Orders for elevators have grown in number. Taking into consideration this fact, in Samarkand we have started to manufacture series of elevators which used to be imported. Elevators must be set and modernized in all multistoried constructions and our presence is obligatory here”, notes A. Karimov.
The problem of modernizing the elevators has been realistic in recent years. Most of old elevators are disabled. Besides, old-type elevators have no attractive appearance and comfort. “The elevators having capacity of 400 and 630 kg are highly demanded now. However, freight elevators with capacity of 630 kg are becoming more popular. In future they will namely occupy two third of the output”, experts think.
Partnership with more than 20 elevator manufacturers is established under the localization program. In turn, it will result in increase of production efficiency and reduction of production cost. The Samarkand Elevator Production Plant will manufacture three types of passenger elevators and seven types of freight elevators and its output will allow satisfying not only the internal demand but also exporting its product. Particularly, it is intended to export product of US$ 3.5 million in 2008. Elevators produced in Samarkand were highly appreciated at the “Liftexpo 2007” exhibition in Moscow in May this year. It testifies to good perspectives of the plant.
UZPROMSTROYBANK TO ISSUE 4BN SOUMS TO YOUNG FAMILIES EVERY MONTH IN 2008
Pursuance to the presidential decree "On additional measures to support financially and morally the young families", UzPromStroyBank (Uzbek industrial construction) joint-stock commercial bank issued preferential credit worth 8.3 billion soums to 1,725 young families in 2007.
The bank is planning to allocate credits to young families for at least 4 billion soums every month in 2008. The proclaiming by the President Islam Karimov of 2008 as the Year of Youth will stimulate the bank's intention.
Moreover, one of the bank's priority directions is support of small business entities. As of 1 October 2007, UzPromStroyBank issued credits to small businesses worth a total of 80 billion soums, including for implementation of investment projects worth 61.6 billion soums. Out of the total amount of credits 5.5 billion soums fell on micro credits.
SOCIETY
THE SISF HAS SUMMED UP RESULTS
The Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF) conducted a final conference on summing up the results of its activity in 2007. Representatives of NGO, executive branch of the Uzbek government, business circles, international organizations and diplomatic missions participated in it.
Exchanging their views on implementation of the SISF’s projects and programs this year, participants of the conference discussed further steps of the SISF’s development in 2008.
The SISF is a nongovernmental nonprofit organization that was established last year. Its main goal is to unite efforts of participants of the “third sector” to improve life of Uzbek people who need social support. One of its basic tasks is develop and implement national social programs and finance them by offering various grants in both regional and national scales. The priority aspects of the SISF’s activity are to assist in the development of healthcare, education, social infrastructure and environment and support the socially vulnerable levels of the population.
During the conference a report was made on those projects which were implemented this year.
“It is very important for us to participate for the first time in the State Program on the “Year of Social Protection” as a public nonprofit organization”, noted the SISF’s Director Bahodir Umarov. “Neither Uzbekistan, nor foreign countries of the world have experienced a case where nongovernmental nonprofit organizations are involved in the implementation of state programs and directly in the process of implementing them. This year we had a good opportunity to participate worthily in this program and be partners for governmental and business structures”.
The SISF’s programs and projects basically focused on issues of education for women of reproductive age and intermediate schoolchildren, prevention of anemia and endemic goiter and hygiene. Therefore, seminars and consultations for over 12.5 thousand people were organized in Andijan, Namangan and Ferghana regions. “We are only for healthy life style!” campaign was held in Tashkent under the project on “Preventing and fighting the HIV/AIDS and drug addiction among the youth”.
Another pilot project of the SISF on establishing kindergartens and schools with mixed groups was implemented in children’s institutions in Navoi, Termez, Karshi, Jizzak, Samarkand and Kokand. Here 40 disabled children are educated alongside their peers. Eighteen trainers for holding seminars and consultations for parents, children and teachers were trained as well. Its main goal was to make more natural the process of integrating disabled children into normal society.
ASAKA-BASED SCHOOL 9 WINS PROVINCE-WIDE ‘BEST SCHOOL’ CONTEST
The School No.9 in the city of Asaka in the Andijan Province has become the winner of the province-wide contest “School of the Year 2007” and secured the right to represent Andijan at the nationwide stage, the Uzbekistan National News Agency Russian-language website reported.
The teaching in school is carried out in the Russian and Uzbek languages. It has the computer class. In an effort to raise the teaching skills in using the information and communication technologies last year the school faculty members were trained on computer literacy.
It is not by chance that the school faculty members have embraced such success this year. For over the past three years the school has been securing the top place in the City Department for Public Education’s rating and the pedagogues have not once been victorious at the city-wide contest “Best teacher of the year”.
Also, the schoolchildren are strong in terms of their studies, according to the report. They actively participate at the Olympiads on such subjects as the Uzbek language and literature, Russian language and literature, mathematics and computer-literacy class.