21 June, 2006

Politics
Uzbek head resolves to create information-resource centers
EurAsEC heads to discuss 18 issues in their upcoming summit
Head of Russian anti-drug service visits Tashkent
Ferghana region welcomes German, Pakistani envoys
UNDP supports implementation of UN Convention against torture
Uzbek border service reports cases of illegal entry into Uzbekistan
Uzbek customs officials seize counterfeited medicaments
Uzbek customs officials detain 6.5 kg of heroin
Tashkent lawyers are trained to apply international human rights standards in their work

Economics
The national ICT Summit 2006 will be held in Tashkent in September
Uzbek bank announces contest of business ideas
International conference on management system to be held in Tashkent
Gazprom announces plans to sign PSA for Uzbekistan fields in July
Transpromresurs to replace diesel locomotives of Uzbekistan

Society
International forum discusses establishing modern media field
Results of journalists contest to be announced on Friday
Christianity Museum to open in Uzbek capital
Irkutsk's theatrical life moves to Tashkent for one month
Literary soiree dedicated to Anna Ahmatova's poetry to be held
Uzbek boxer to meet American Calvin Brock this week

POLITICS

UZBEK HEAD RESOLVES TO CREATE INFORMATION-RESOURCE CENTERS

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov resolved to create information-resource centers under higher and secondary special educational establishments, as well as general schools on 20 June.

Uzbek head signed on Tuesday a resolution "On organization of information-library provision of population of the republic". The document directed to improve library network, creation of new information centers, satisfy intellectual needs of young generation, as well as provision of information of population.

The resolution said information-resource centers under higher and secondary special educational establishments, as well as general schools will be created through transfer libraries from Culture and Sport Ministry to Higher and Secondary Special Education Ministry, Centre of Secondary Special, Professional Education and Public Education Ministry.

The document also said information-library centers will be created in all regions on the basis of libraries within the jurisdiction of the Uzbek Agency on Communication and Information.

The document set tasks of information-resource centers, which include assistance to systematic education and self-education of students and population with use of modern information technologies, propaganda of national spiritual-moral values, ensure access to cultural-historic population of people.

Among tasks of the information-resource centers were also rendering of information services to population with use of modern information technologies (electronic databases and internet resources).

Information-library centers were entrusted to create new information-library services to population to meet their demand to scientific, educational, information and cultural interest with use of modern information technologies.

The document also entrusted information-library centers to create own information resources and grant access to world scientific-educational information resources, creation of electronic libraries and database, etc.

The resolution said information-resources centers and information-library centers will be financed from state budget and resources of sponsors.

Uzbek Agency for Information and Communication was entrusted to connect information-library centers to ZiyoNET information network with granting access to population to their resources.

The document also adopted measures on training of specialists on information and librarianship at Tashkent State Culture Institute and Tashkent Information Technologies Institute. (UzReport.com)

EURASEC HEADS TO DISCUSS 18 ISSUES IN THEIR UPCOMING SUMMIT

Interstate Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) in the level of heads of states will meet in Minks, Belarus, on 23 June.

It is expected that leaders of EurAsEC member states will discuss 18 issues, including accession of Uzbekistan to the organization, strategy and tactics of EurAsEC development, international activity of EurAsEC, realization of priority directions of EurAsEC development in 2003-2006 and following years.

The member states will also consider issues on budget of organization.

Uzbekistan joined EurAsEC on 25 January 2006. The organisation includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan and it was set up in October 2000 to solve economic integration of member-states. (UzReport.com)

HEAD OF RUSSIAN ANTI-DRUG SERVICE VISITS TASHKENT

A delegation led by Director of Russian Federal Drug Control Service Victor Cherkesov paid a visit to Uzbekistan and held talks with heads of a number of Uzbek ministries and departments on Tuesday.

The talks focused on cooperation issues between Russia and Uzbekistan in fight againt drug trafficking and boosting joint activities of law enforcement bodies. The sides also discussed issues on information exchange on issues related to organized crime and drug trade.

International community has so far failed to block the drug threat coming from Afghanistan, Director of Russian Federal Drug Control Director Viktor Cherkesov said in Tashkent on 20 June.

Apart from the Afghan drug threat, Russia has also encountered a drug expansion from the West, Cherkesov said. "The supplies of Afghan opiates have levelled with the deliveries of synthetic drugs from West Europe," he said.

"Without uniting efforts, it is impossible to attain significant results in fighting drug trafficking and illegal drug trade," Cherkesov said at a press conference in Tashkent.

"Russia is increasing its cooperation with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states in this direction. We are very worried by the growing number of drug users in Russia. This problem is very hard to be sold without cooperation with Central Asian states, in particular, Uzbekistan," he added.

Cherkesov highly evaluated the experience of Uzbekistan in fighting drug abuse, stressing that timely measures are giving notable results.

"Unfortunately, Russia, which recently was a transit country, missed time and allowed drug addition to spread at the speed of burning gunpowder. The firm and often severe measures taken in Uzbekistan have proven their worth," he said.

Uzbekistan's law enforcement organs revealed hundreds of crimes related to drug abuse last year. They seized 1222 kg of drugs, including 467 kg of heroin.

While in Tashkent, Cherkesov met with representatives of the Uzbek Interior Ministry, the National Security Service, the Drug Control Center and Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev. "We agreed on closer cooperation in the suppression of the drug threat. Our liaison officer will be assigned to the Uzbek Interior Ministry this year," V.Cherkesov said. (UzReport.com)

FERGHANA REGION WELCOMES GERMAN, PAKISTANI ENVOYS

Representatives of Pakistani and German diplomatic corps have visited Ferghana Region of Uzbekistan. Shermat Nurmatov, Fargona Region Governor and member of the Uzbek Senate, has received Pakistani ambassador to Uzbekistan Sajjad Kamran.

During a meeting held in a friendly atmosphere, Sajjad Kamran spoke about relations between the two countries and stressed he was satisfied with the state of bilateral ties. He also emphasized that it was possible to improve cooperation in the areas of medicine, pharmacy and light industry, which are well developed in Pakistan. In his turn, Shermat Nurmatov thanked the ambassador for his visit and stressed that good conditions for Pakistani businessmen were being created in the region's agricultural sector, which occupies a leading position in the country's economy. He said he was confident that relations between the countries will be intensified.

Hans Joachim Kiderlen, the German ambassador to Uzbekistan has also visited Fargona Region with the purpose of increasing bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany. The officials of the regional administration welcomed him in the town of Fargona. They accompanied the ambassador on the sight-seeing tour of the town. After that, a delegation headed by the ambassador visited the Al-Fargoniy regional library. The German language section of the library, which was set up with the support of the Goethe Institute within the framework of cooperation between the countries, made a good impression on the guests, who saw the conditions created at the library. (BBC Monitoring Service)

UNDP SUPPORTS IMPLEMENTATION OF UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE

Workshop on implementation of UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Republic of Uzbekistan served as platform for discussion of the process of implementation of the Convention in the day-to-day activities of law enforcement agencies, legal professionals, legal research institutions, as well as most important aspects in the further implementation of this Convention. The workshop, which was held on 16-18 June, is organized within the framework of the UNDP project "Enhancing legislative and institutional capacities of the Parliament of Uzbekistan" together with the Parliamentary Committee on international affairs and inter-parliamentary relations.

The workshop brought together parliamentarians, law enforcement agencies, courts, bar association, research institutions, and law institutes to make contribution in the implementation of this convention in the Republic of Uzbekistan which will be in line with international standards. This forum also provided parliamentarians with theoretical and practical assistance in implementation of this convention in the law enforcement practice of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Implementation of this UN Convention is one of the developments needed for compliance with international standards on human rights. This workshop may be considered as an important step towards establishment of the national mechanism which will facilitate implementation of the international standards and provisions expressed in the UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.. According to the workshop agenda discussions of the main provisions of this UN convention and review of the international experience and aspects of its implementation in work of law enforcement agencies took place.

The goal of the joint UNDP and Legislative Chamber of the Parliament project "Enhancing legislative and institutional capacities of the Parliament of Uzbekistan" launched in October 2005 is to strengthen the legislative and institutional capacities of the Parliament for better effectiveness and efficiency of legislative processes and procedures. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK BORDER SERVICE REPORTS CASES OF ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO UZBEKISTAN

"On 16 June at 3.30 a.m. local time Uzbek border duty detail saw three armed soldiers of the border troops of Tajikistan, who, being under the influence of alcohol, attempted to illegally cross the border in the area of Havast of the Bekabad frontier district of Tashkent region, Uzbekistan," the press service of the Committee for the Protection of State Border of the National Security Service of Uzbekistan informed www.press-uz.info on 16 June.

The Committee's press service said that in response to the warning of the Uzbek frontier guards about the unlawfulness of the action, Tajik soldiers made seven shots at the members of Uzbek border troops. As a result, Private Aziz Ochilov received a leg wound. In order to stop the illegal actions of Tajik military men, the head of the group on-duty Junior Sergeant Sherzod Ruziev made a warning shot in the air with a blank cartridge, after which the soldiers of the Tajik border troops escaped to the territory of the neighbouring state. The wounded Private was taken to the hospital.

According to the information provided by the press service, the day before this incident, Kyrgyz border troops had abducted a tractor driver who had been working in the area close to the border.

"On 15 June, in the Pakhtaabad border district of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz border troops illegally entered the territory of the republic, and forced a local resident, who was working on the tractor T-28 in the area of the Norin-Koradaryo Department of Irrigation Networks of Andijan region to follow them to the territory of Kyrgyzstan together with the tractor," said the message of the press service of the Committee for the Protection of State Border of the National Security Service.

Press service said the same day several Kyrgyz citizens accompanied by frontier guards illegally crossed the border of Uzbekistan, and threatening the resident of Uzbekistan Sh. Saidov, resident of Pravda village (Pakhtaabad district) with guns, took away several of his cows. In order to return his cattle, the resident of Uzbekistan crossed the Kyrgyz border, and was seized by Kyrgyz border troops.

Joint investigations are to be conducted on these incidents. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK CUSTOMS OFFICIALS SEIZE COUNTERFEITED MEDICAMENTS

Uzbek customs officials detained counterfeited medicaments worth 1.4 million soums in Andijan region.

The Uzbek Customs Committee said the staff of Harakatdagi customs point in Andijan region examined Nexia car and revealed 800 packages of Rinza medicament. Owners of the medicament do not have any documents, which proved legitimacy of import of products to Uzbekistan. Owner of cargo said she purchased medicaments in neighboring Kyrgyz Republic.

The Central Customs Laboratory examined medicaments and said the structure of medicaments is far from natural one. The medicaments had components, which it should not have. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK CUSTOMS OFFICIALS DETAIN 6.5 KG OF HEROIN

Uzbek customs officials detained 6.5 kilograms of heroin in Surkhandarya region, southern Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek Customs Committee said the customs officials detained drugs during examination of train, passing Uzbekistan in transit from Tajikistan to Russia. The drugs were hidden in platform of train.

Uzbek Customs officials detained over 90 kilograms of drugs within five months of 2006. (UzReport.com)

TASHKENT LAWYERS ARE TRAINED TO APPLY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS IN THEIR WORK

Training on "International human rights standards in the professional practice of lawyers" was held in Tashkent on 14-15 June. This event was aimed to enhance skills and knowledge of legal professionals about international mechanisms of protection of human rights and their implementation in legal practice.

Over the last decade, the Government of Uzbekistan has enacted laws and established institutional structures for the promotion and protection of human rights. An important step towards promotion of human rights was made in 2000 by establishing of the Uzbekistan Bar Association, since legal professionals play crucial role in adequate protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Training was co-organized by the UNDP Office in Uzbekistan and the Uzbekistan Bar Association and facilitated by the international expert, Dr. Carmen Thiele, assistant professor at the Europa-Universitaet Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany, and the national expert, Ms.Gulnora Ishankhanova, the President of the Board of Tashkent Bar Association.

"The training will help our lawyers to provide more effective defense to their clients, especially in the field of human rights", Ms. Ishanhanova stressed at her opening speech at the training.

During two days the participants learnt about the role of lawyers in safeguarding norms and principles of human rights; legal framework for lawyers for protection of human rights in the Republic of Uzbekistan, and other topics related to applying human rights standards in day-to-day practice. The training also developed skills and knowledge of the legal practitioners on human rights through group discussions of relevant cases and interactive sessions.

"The knowledge that I have gained during the training will help me in my further professional activity", noted Ms. Niyazmatova, a lawyer, at the conclusive evaluation of the training. "It is very important to organize such trainings for the lawyers". (UzReport.com)

ECONOMICS

THE NATIONAL ICT SUMMIT 2006 WILL BE HELD IN TASHKENT IN SEPTEMBER

Uzbekistan information and communication week "UzInfoCom-2006" will be held during the week of 25-29 September 2006 in Tashkent. The National Summit on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT Summit 2006) will be the opening event of the UzInfoCom week.

The ICT Summit 2006 is called by the Coordination Council for development of computerisation and information and communication technologies, Committee on Press and IT issues of Oliy Majlis Legislative Chamber, Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information (UzACI), ICT Policy Project of UNDP and Association of IT Companies and Organisations of Uzbekistan, a press release of ICT Policy UNDP Project said.

The ICT Summit 2006 will have plenary sessions and group sections, where plenary session will host policy dialogue and topics relevant to a broad audience and group sections will be a platform for more sector-oriented and specific discussions. General topics include trends and major changes in regulatory policy, progress and challenges in implementation of national programmes on ICT development, issues of infrastructure development and other critical areas.

Through its all-embracing programme, the ICT Summit 2006 aims to provide an outstanding opportunity for representatives of government, academic and business communities to reflect on achievements and to address new trends and challenges in exploring potential of ICT as a catalyst of development in various areas.

The press release said that topics of interest include e-governance, e-commerce, e-education, e-health, technoparks, outsourcing, copyright, free and open source software, information resources, access to ICT (telecommunication companies, mobile communication, Internet service providers, content providers and etc.).

Papers will be reviewed on the basis of two pages (A4 format) extended abstracts of sufficient detail to permit reasonable evaluation. The final version of accepted papers should be six pages long. Abstract submission is due 20 July 2006, final camera ready papers are due 4 September 2006. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK BANK ANNOUNCES CONTEST OF BUSINESS IDEAS

Capital Bank, one of the largest Uzbek private banks, announced contest "Best business idea-2006" to support development of small businesses, creation of new jobs and new perspective directions of businesses.

The contest aimed at determination of the most perspective innovative business ideas for further implementation at financial assistance of Capital Bank.

All interested people can participate in the contest. The bank said the existence of experience in that sector, in which business idea proposed, is advantage.

The project should be realistic and it should be realized into life. The maximum volume of financing is US$200,000 or equivalent in national currency. The projects directed to use of local resources with export potential will have advantage. The project's yield should be 50% per year and investments should be payback within two years. The projects will be accepted till 1 August 2006. The jury of contest will include representatives of Business Consultants Programme of EBRD, Interbank Trade System of Uzbekistan Banking Association and Capital Bank.

Finalists will be awarded with money prices and certificates, while winners will receive 1 million soums or personal computer. The second place winners will get 500,000 soums or TV-set and the third place winner will receive 300,000 soums or DVD-player. Besides, the finalists will have opportunity to realize their project into life with participation of Capital Bank. It is expected that the winners of the contest will participate in realization of the project as their heads. (UzReport.com)

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO BE HELD IN TASHKENT

International Business Centre will host the Second International Conference in Management System "Role of quality in realization of national interests of Uzbekistan" on 29-30 June.

The conference is held under aegis of the complex on economic and foreign economic relation of Cabinet of Ministers at organizational support of Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, Global Consulting Network, RWTUV and Uzbekinvest, the press release of organizers said.

It is expected that representatives of international governmental and non-governmental organizations, foreign experts and consultants in management system will participate in the event.

The participants will discuss issues on development of solutions and recommendation on creation of privileges and stimulus system to enterprises and organization, introducing management system, development and approval of national policy on quality and improvement of competitiveness of Uzbek products, etc. (UzReport.com)

GAZPROM ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SIGN PSA FOR UZBEKISTAN FIELDS IN JULY

Russia's Gazprom expects to sign a production sharing-agreement with Uzbekistan to develop jointly fields in Uzbekistan's Ustyurt region in July, the company's deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov said Tuesday.

"We are actively work on signing the agreement with the Uzbekistan government. We hope the PSA will be signed in July," he told reporters.

Ryazanov said Ustyurt to become "a significant project, with output to amount to several billion cubic meters" of gas per year. "An evaluation of the region's potential capacity is currently under way," he added.

Ryazanov also said that Gazprom was prepared to invest some $450 million on exploration and study of new fields in Uzbekistan in the next five years.

Earlier this year, Gazprom said it had agreed with Uzbekistan's government to develop the Urga and Kuanysh fields as well as the Akchalak group in the Ustyurt region under a 25-year PSA. The gas giant also agreed at the time that it would develop a stage-by-stage program to explore new blocks in the Ustyurt region. If new fields are discovered, Gazprom will have an exceptional right to negotiate their development under PSA with Uzbekistan's government.

Uzbekistan's total reserves are estimated at over 6.25 trillion cu m of natural gas, including 1.62 trillion cu m of commercial reserves. The country produces around 60 Bcm/year of gas, of which 5 Bcm is exported to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan exported around 8 Bcm of gas to Russia in 2005 and plans to raise exports to 9 Bcm this year.

As earlier reported, Gazprom is also working on expansion of Central Asia-Centre gas pipeline. The capacity of pipeline was increased to 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year. This allowed to supply to Gazprom additional 45 billion cubic metres of gas from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The Russian company plans to expand capacity of pipeline to 80 billion cubic metres per year. Bukhara-Ural gas pipeline can be also used to supply gas from Uzbekistan, if the sides do not reach agreement on expansion of Central Asia-Centre gas pipeline. (Platts Commodity News)

TRANSPROMRESURS TO REPLACE DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES OF UZBEKISTAN

Russian Transpromresurs (Industrial Transportation Resources) Company won the tender invited by Uzbekiston Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways) State Joint-Stock Railway Company to modernize the park of diesel locomotives of Uzbekistan.

A source in Uzbekistan Railways told that according to the plans of Russian company, it is envisioned to replace diesel-generator plants and accessory equipment with more modern ones both from technological and economic points of view.

The cost of the new Uzbek-Russian project is estimated at US$55 million.

The equipment of Kolomenskiy Zavod (Kolomensk Plant) Open Joint-Stock Company will be installed in the Uzbek diesel locomotives. The total budget of the project implemented under the aegis of the EBRD is US$82.5 million. Along with the loan of the European Bank, the project will be funded from the own funds of the Uzbek railway company.

The modernization of the diesel locomotives is the second project in the railway sector of Uzbekistan, funded by the EBRD. In 1999, the bank issued a loan to Uzbekistan in the amount of US$40 million for the renewal of the electric locomotives fleet.

The total railroad of Uzbekistan makes up 7,100 km, of which 4,100 km is general main-line railroad. (UzReport.com)

SOCIETY

INTERNATIONAL FORUM DISCUSSES ESTABLISHING MODERN MEDIA FIELD

International forum "Establishing a modern media field: the role of information technologies, structural approach and regional specifics in developing the informational area" was held in Tashkent on 20 June. Representatives of media-structures and organizations from more than 10 countries participated in the event.

Reputable experts from Russia, US, China, Japan, France, Germany, UK, Belgium, India, Kyrgyzstan and Korea were invited to participate in the roundtable discussion.

The purpose of the event was to build professional dialogue and exchange opinions, study the prospects of formation and development of informational areas of Central Asian states.

The issues raised covered a wide range of topics: they ranged from local to global scale. In particular, the discussion touched upon studying international experience in the development of media, primarily the experience of the countries of the West, Asia and Russia. Participants also discussed the issues concerning the strategies of the leading media outlets in the conditions of the growing speed of the formation of media fields, emergence of new problems and challenges to global political and economic security.

It is a commonly known fact that today media represents one of the most important factors in the formation of public and individual opinion. It shapes human civilization's development. Thus, media represents a key component of modern society.

"In the contemporary world, it is hard to image a day without information," roundtable forum participants noted. "Non-traditional sources of information and electronic media are growing in popularity."

In his speech Serge Sudoplatoff, the President of Almatropie Association, which encourages the use of electronic media, spoke about the priorities of Internet.

"Today Internet is the main challenger of traditional media," he said. "It is very important that people now have the opportunity not only to learn about the news or events, but also discuss the situation. And this scheme today works around the whole world, at the global scale."

The positive tendency in the development of media-space was also noted by the representatives of traditional media. Professional journalist, Deputy Director of the School of Journalism of Axel Shpinger's Publishing House Rudolf Porsche said that "while transition from the old to the new forms of media is becoming increasingly fast, newspaper remains the backbone of all media."

In the framework of the roundtable discussion, analysts, researchers and journalists addressed the topic of the prospects of formation and development of informational areas in Central Asia, as a part of the global information space. In this credit was given to the strategic interests of the Central Asian states. Particular attention was given to the interaction in the sphere of the development of digital and media spaces between the countries of Central Asia and the leading countries of the world.

Overall, at the end of the discussion it could be expected that the dialogue held would serve as a strong foundation for the formation of a media field, as well as development of practical recommendations on further development of media environment in the countries of Central Asia. The event was organized by the Centre of Political Studies, for which the roundtable forum was the second significant international project. Another project of similar scale was organised in December 2005, when the conference on "Energy market of Central Asia: tendencies and prospects" was held. (UzReport.com)

RESULTS OF JOURNALISTS CONTEST TO BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY

Results of contest "First National Award in print, television and radio of National Flour Fortification programme" summed up on the eve of Day of mass media workers, marked on 27 June.

Uzbek Health Ministry, UNICEF office in Uzbekistan and Uzbek Journalists' Union are organizers of the contest. The awarding ceremony will be held in Hotel Radisson SAS on 23 June.

The contest was launched on 22 December 2005 to increase motivation of mass media representatives on covering of prevention of anemia and stimulation of consumption of fortified flour.

Over 130 journalists of national and regional mass media participated in the contest. It is expected that the second contest will be launched in July 2006 and the results will be announced in January-February 2007. (UzReport.com)

CHRISTIANITY MUSEUM TO OPEN IN UZBEK CAPITAL

Museum of Christianity in Central Asia will open in Tashkent. It will be located at territory of Spritiual-administrative center of Metropolia of Tashkent, Ieriy Sergey, pro-rector of Tashkent theological seminary said.

He added that Central Asian metropolitan Vladimir Yakim proposed this idea and the authorities allocated land and construction of building will be started soon.

It is considered that apostle Foma brought Christianity to Central Asia. It was the most spread religion in the region before Islam came to the region.

Central Asian Eparchy of Orthodox Curch was created over 135 year ago. Metropolia unites over 160 churches in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. (UzReport.com)

IRKUTSK'S THEATRICAL LIFE MOVES TO TASHKENT FOR ONE MONTH

The State Musical Theatre Named after Nikolay Zagurskiy of Irkutsk will perform on the stage of the State Academic Bolshoy Theatre Named after Alisher Navoi on 7 June-6 August in Tashkent.

Irkutsk Theatre celebrated its 65th anniversary on 12 March of this year. From the viewpoint of eternity, this period of time is extremely small, but in terms of human-age Irkutsk Musical Theatre is an old one. Director Nikolay Zagurskiy, after whom the theatre was named, gathered the graduates of the musical educational facilities of Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Denpropetrovsk, and other cities of Russia to the theatre.

Young actors suddenly experienced all the hardships and glees of theatrical life. Those who could take it, stayed in the theatre. Today's director Vladimir Shagin together with the former director Natalia Pecherskaya changed the methods – they invite all the graduates of Irkutsk Musical College, which has "produced" many interesting actors. Along with this, every year the director of the theatre visits special vocalist fairs, selects tenors, baritones, sopranos, and alts.

Irkutsk Theatre will stay in Tashkent for a relatively long period of time. One-month summer cultural programme includes a variety of interesting concerts and plays. The opening of the tour in Tashkent will be held on 7 July with the Gala Concert entitled "We are from the shores of Baykal". It will be followed by operettas "Silva" by Calman, "White acacia" by Dunayevsky, the most popular play of the past ten years, Rybnikov's rock-mystery "Junona and Avos", a musical by F. Low "My beautiful lady", and a musical fairy tale by Baskin "Twelve months".

On 14 July, a ballet night will be conducted on the stage of the theatre entitled "Both deity, and inspiration". It will be followed by the opera "A thousand and one night of Strauss", "The Violet of Monmarter", musical "Only girls in jazz" by G. Stein, "Bayadera" by Calman, and Webber's rock-opera "Jesus Christ – superstar" and a musical by Porter "Kiss me, Kath!". On 6 August, the troupe will hold the last performance on Tashkent stage with the closing Gala Concert "See you again!" (UzReport.com)

LITERARY SOIREE DEDICATED TO ANNA AHMATOVA'S POETRY TO BE HELD

A literary soiree to mark 117 anniversary of Anna Ahmatova will be held on 24 June at the Tashkent Club-Museum of the famous poetess of the silver age of Russian poetry. The poetess spent several years of her life in Tashkent, which is reflected in her works dedicated to this land.

Eminent cultural figures, lovers of Anna Ahmatova's poetry, students and teachers of the department of Slavic philology of the National University of Uzbekistan will gather at the Tashkent Tractor Plant Palace (Community Center). They will read essays, reports about Ahmatova and her poetry. And of course participants will read the her poems. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK BOXER TO MEET AMERICAN CALVIN BROCK THIS WEEK

American Calvin Brock, a 31-year-old former Olympian, will try his skills against Timur Ibragimov, of Uzbekistan, on Saturday at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Ibragimov, 31, who now lives in Florida, meets North Carolina's Brock (28-0, 22 KOs) for the IBA Continental heavyweight title and hopes to be included among the fighters from the former Soviet bloc that has a hold on the world heavyweight titles.

"I think it's very good for us," Ibragimov (21-0-1, 13 KOs) said about former Soviet Union countries now sending heavyweights into title contention or currently in possession of a world title.

Those with belts are WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich, IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBA champion Nikolay Valuev, and fighting for the WBC against the lone American is Oleg Maskaev. He'll be meeting Hasim Rahman on 12 August in Las Vegas.

"I don't know what happened, but we're showing everybody we can fight, too," Ibragimov said during a telephone press conference. "Now there are a lot of champions coming from the former Soviet Union."

Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Croatia, Poland and the many other countries that formed after the Soviet bloc collapsed have sent athletes pouring into the professional ranks of basketball, hockey and boxing.

"Everybody knows the best heavyweights come from America. Like Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali," Ibragimov said. "But now it's changed before our eyes."

"I think the former Soviet fighters have a lot of experience from amateur school. Maybe this is a point for us," Ibragimov said. (UzReport.com)