25 June, 2006

Politics
Islam Karimov attends EurAsEC Summit and CSTO meeting
Uzbekistan ready to speed up accession to EurAsEC documents – Karimov
Uzbek president comments on decision to rejoin CIS security body

Economics:
EurAsEC members may finalize Customs Union regulations by 2007
Meeting of EurAsEC central banks' chiefs
National Television and Radio Company receives tax benefits
Incentives created to stimulate flow of Uzbek tourist to Bulgarian beaches
Uzbek ICT exhibition to take place in mid-September
Railway passenger communication between Almaty and Nukus restored
International forum discusses business incubators, internet

Society
Book about Mamun Academy of Khorezm in Arabic


POLITICS

ISLAM KARIMOV ATTENDS EURASEC SUMMIT AND CSTO MEETING

The leaders of EurAsEC countries have convened for the Interstate Council of Eurasian Economic Community on Friday, 23 June. The Summit was attended by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev and the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmonov.

The Summit reviewed the issues on the organization`s economic policy, the establishment of a customs union and adaptation of documents on bolstering the reputation of EurAsEC on the international arena.

In future the organization should become a progressive association of economically and politically stable states. It will be a reliable instrument for boosting efficiency of comprehensive cooperation of member countries of the Community.

Then leaders of Uzbekistan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan also attended the meeting of the Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Uzbekistan has lifted the moratorium on its active participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The six countries signed the Collective Security Treaty in 1992 months after the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Ten years later, in May 2002, the treaty was transformed into the CSTO.

Its key goal is national security and the territorial integrity of every member state.

The participation in the CSTO also envisions political cooperation of the member states. The CSTO has the obligation to provide necessary help, including military one, in case of emergence of a threat to any of its members. (National Information Agency of Uzbekistan -UzA )

UZBEKISTAN READY TO SPEED UP ACCESSION TO EURASEC DOCUMENTS – KARIMOV

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov confirmed readiness of Uzbekistan to speed up accession to documents, adopted within the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) on Friday, 23 June.

Uzbek head said that the Uzbek side informed Integration Committee of EurAsEC that the country joined 20 preliminary documents of the community.

Islam Karimov said the remarks on adherence of terms to joining of the documents of the EurAsEC are correct.

Uzbek leader said the formation of Customs Union within the EurAsEC is important issues. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON DECISION TO REJOIN CIS SECURITY BODY

Uzbek President Islam Karimov has said that a change in the situation has made Uzbekistan rejoin the CIS security body, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). His remarks made at the 23 June Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) summit in Minsk were featured in a special Uzbek TV programme on 24 June.

"Uzbekistan, having become a fully-fledged member of the Eurasian Economic Community, cannot stop halfway. We are deeply convinced that the EAEC and the CSTO are two interlinked structures. They are carrying out the same common tasks, if we take into account their peculiarities, which have been assigned to the countries that are members of both organizations. Besides, there is one more factor. The situation both in the world and in the region, especially in Central Asia, obliges Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan thinks it necessary, to restore its membership of the CSTO," President Karimov said.

ECONOMICS

EURASEC MEMBERS MAY FINALIZE CUSTOMS UNION REGULATIONS BY 2007

The member-states of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) are going to finalize the regulatory framework of the Customs Union by the end of the year, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov told reporters after a meeting of the Integration Committee of the EurAsEC on 22 June.

The secretary general of the community, Grigory Rapota, added there were about 15 documents to be signed to establish the Customs Union. "These issues mostly pertain to the tariff and non-tariff regulation regarding trade with third countries," Rapota said.

It is also necessary to continue unifying customs tariffs. "So far 62% of tariffs have been unified, but we need to bring the number up to 80%. We will have to compromise," Kobyakov said adding there was a good reason behind the differences in tariffs. Besides, the Integration Committee addressed transport tariffs in the community, but no progress was reached, Kobyakov said. So far EurAsEC working groups have create a concept of the common transport space. "In December the committee will consider the concept, so some progress should be expected late this year," Kobyakov added. There are certain problems with other key agreements of the EurAsEC, especially in the common energy policy of the community, the vice-premier of Belarus said. (UzReport.com)

MEETING OF EURASEC CENTRAL BANKS' CHIEFS

Heads of Central Banks of member-states of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) met in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on 23 June.

Heads and representatives of Central Banks of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Interstate Bank and Secretariat of the EurAsEC Integration Commission took part in the event.

The participants discussed issues on policy on currency rates and currency exchange regime of member-states of the EurAsEC, development of single figures of financial markets and formation of single information database.

The sides signed protocol on changes and amendments to Agreement on Council in connection with accession of Uzbekistan to the organisation. (UzReport.com)

NATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO COMPANY RECEIVES TAX BENEFITS

"Changes introduced to the Tax Code of the republic, regulate the issues of taxation of certain categories of companies. In particular, amendments introduced to the Article 71 of the code exempt National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan, as well as companies and organisations included in its structure from the tax on value added," President's press service said Thursday.

It is noted that the law adopted by the Legislative Chamber and approved by the Senate of the republic had been signed by the President of Uzbekistan the day earlier and published by local media.

The press service reminded that the amendments were developed in accordance with the Presidential Resolution of 27 December 2005 "On the forecast of key macroeconomic indicators and parameters of State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the year 2006" and the Decree "On measures on reformation and development of independent television and radio broadcast channels."

Meanwhile, it was noted that the additions introduced to the Tax Code do not exempt microfirms and small companies from the payment of taxes on value added.

However, the payers of single tax payment are given the right to independently reduce the amount of the single tax payment by the amount of VAT paid to the budget. At the same time, the size of the amount deducted should not exceed 50% of the total amount of the single tax payment due to payment to the budget.

Press service said that the law on introduction of additions to the law "On population's employment", housing and tax codes also signed by the head of the state also entered into force.

"Additions introduced will allow to involve unemployed population in the production activity, increase the income of families, raise the profitability of the large industrial objects through the organisation of the production of certain types of component parts, and finished products and services using home-based labour. Moreover, amendments will improve the conditions for the attraction of a wide range of companies to the development of cooperation with home-based workers through provision of benefits and preferences, eliminate bureaucratic barriers in the use of housing space for home-based labour," press service emphasised.

The law was prepared in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 5 January 2006 "On measures to stimulate the expansion of cooperation between large industrial objects and services production on the base of development of home-based labour."

For the purpose of legislatively support of the new tax benefits introduced, Article 92 of the Tax Code is expanded with the provision envisioning the fact that legal entities that transfer their equipment, tools and other facilities for non-refundable use to the citizens engaged in the home-based labour in accordance with the established order to fulfil works based on orders will be freed from tax on property for the period of their utilisation. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that if the home-based labour is performed in the living quarters, this does not require such space to be transferred to the category of non-living quarters. (UzReport.com)

INCENTIVES CREATED TO STIMULATE FLOW OF UZBEK TOURIST TO BULGARIAN BEACHES

Good news for the Uzbek tourists leaving for the splendid beaches of Bulgaria.

The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tashkent has officially informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Uzbektourism National Company that in view of the decision of the Ministerial Council of this Balkan country, the citizens of Uzbekistan heading for Bulgaria as members of the organized tourist groups will be subject to temporary beneficial consular fees.

Thus, for the period from 1 June to 30 October 2006, tourist groups will not be charged the visa fee of 30 euros for entering Bulgaria, provided paperwork is done through tourist firms accredited by the Embassy of Bulgaria in Tashkent. Tourist will only have to pay for the consular fees charged for the paperwork. This fee constitutes 20 euros. The Head of the Trade and Economic Service of the Bulgarian Embassy Petr Atanasov said this measure was intended to stimulate tourist flows from Uzbekistan to the seashores of Bulgaria. That is why applications for such group tours will be accepted from local tourist firms accredited by the diplomatic office. According to Atanasov, there were ten such firms in Uzbekistan, including Dolores Tour, Uzintour, Congress Tour, Etti Dengiz Sayohat, Lux Tour, Planet Tour, Atlantida Tour, Silk Road Tour, Jannan Oromi, and Avto Olami. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK ICT EXHIBITION TO TAKE PLACE IN MID-SEPTEMBER

The seventh Uzbek international exhibition "Telecommunication and information technologies - InfoComExpo 2006", place for demonstration of latest achievement of telecommunication sphere of Uzbekistan, will be held in Tashkent on 19-21 September.

The largest international exhibition on telecommunication and information technologies in Uzbekistan will take place at Uzexpocentre. ITE Group Plc (Great Britain) and ITE Uzbekistan are organizers of the event.

ITE Uzbekistan told that some 100 companies from 18 countries of the world will participate in the event this year.

InfoComExpo 2006 will collect largest producers of systems and communication, information security, operators, producers of specialized equipment and software under one roof.

ITE Uzbekistan said over 400 international companies, which assist to development of information-communication technologies in Uzbekistan, participated in the event since its foundation. (UzReport.com)

RAILWAY PASSENGER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALMATY AND NUKUS RESTORED

The absence of railroad passenger communication complicated the movement of Kazakh citizens to Uzbekistan for a long time. Passengers from Kazakhstan could get to Uzbekistan only by the flights from Almaty or Astana. The revival of the railroad

According to the information provided by the office of Kazakhstan Temir Joly (Kazakhstan Rialways) the first passenger train No. 321 left Almaty for Nukus, Uzbekistan on 9 June. The route passes through Tashkent, and the frequency of communication of the train No. 321 and the returning route No. 322 Nukus-Almaty is once a week. Undoubtedly, the restoration of this railroad route will stimulate the expansion of cultural-humanitarian contacts between the two states.

The representatives of the Kazakh Embassy in Tashkent said the revival of the passenger communication is one of the steps in fulfilling the tasks given by the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the results of the state visit of Nursultan Nazarbaev to Uzbekistan in March 2006.

Today, some 1.5 million Kazakh people live on the territory of Uzbekistan. Nearly 500,000 reside on the territory of Tashkent region, and almost 55,000 in the city of Tashkent. Over 400,000 ethnic Kazakhs live in Karakalpakstan, the capital of which is Nukus, final destination of the route 321. (UzReport.com)

INTERNATIONAL FORUM DISCUSSES BUSINESS INCUBATORS, INTERNET

A three-day international forum entitled "Internet and Business Incubation" is being held at Grand Mir Hotel. The event opened on 21 June.

The Association of Business Incubators and Techno-Parks of Uzbekistan (ABIT) organized the meeting with the support of the State Committee for Demonopolisation, Support of Competition and Enterprise in Uzbekistan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the World Bank's InfoDev Programme.

The forum is envisioned to provide an opportunity to the representatives of local and international institutions for support of enterprise, the government of Uzbekistan, NGOs, domestic and international donor orgnaisations, as well as international experts in the spheres of ICT and business incubation to discuss the programme and initiatives on active use of the capacity of information technology in business incubation.

The top objectives of the forum are to exchange experience and knowledge in using Internet for the development and support of business at the initial stage of its formation, official launch of information port for entrepreneurs bir.uz, as a business incubation tool.

The manager of the UzDG Project Nazar Talibjanov said, "it is hard to overestimate the importance of small and private enterprise to the economic development of any country. World experience shows that it is this sector that provides the necessary flexibility to the economy in response to the changes in business conjuncture. The dependency of the private sector's development on Internet-access is becoming increasingly apparent, because access to information resources creates unique opportunities for financial growth and human-resource development. These may affect the formation and raise the effectiveness of a wide circle of application technologies: from e-commerce, to access to financial markets; from creation of jobs to provision of investment conditions to entrepreneurs; from raising labour productivity in agriculture and processing industries to expanding the rights and opportunities available to all strata of the society; from distance learning to telemedicine; and from nature protection activity and monitoring to prevention and overcoming of the consequences of natural disasters". During the forum it was noted that business incubation is the process of public and/or private entrepreneurial, economic and social development, envisioning the development of business ideas and companies at the initial stage of their development through the comprehensive programme of business support, assisting them in formation, growth and achievement of success. Continuing this line of thought, the Manager for Development of the ABIT/InfoDev Portal Zahir Rasulov said, "Business incubators are recognized as one of the most effective elements of the support of enterprise in the world. Their main advantage is assistance in development of business at the initial stage of their formation and up to the point of profitability. This assistance is provided through provision of facilities, training, provision of consultations, and other services. Business incubators speed up the development of small companies 7-22 times, reducing the fraction of business failures by 20%".

In the course of the forum, the guests will be given the opportunity to visit one of the rural business incubators for the purpose of familiarization with its activity. Also, Central Asian Business Incubators Networks (CABIN) seminar will be conducted to address the issues of future joint activity of the network members and its development.

Further plans on the development of the integration of Internet and other instruments to support and develop business in the course of business incubation will be developed based on the results of the activity of sessions and work groups. (UzReport.com)

SOCIETY

BOOK ABOUT MAMUN ACADEMY OF KHOREZM IN ARABIC

The book entitled “Al-Mamun Academy of Khorezm” published in Kuwait in the Arabic language.

The “Al-Bobtain” Kuwait Central Library of Arabic Poetry, Institute of Oriental Studies of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, as well as the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kuwait contributed the edition, which is devoted to millennia celebrations of the Al-Mamun Academy.

The book starts with the dedication of the President Islam Karimov which goes “As the world showed its appreciation and high respect for distinguished scientists and thinkers like Al-Bukhari, Al-Farghoni, Al-Khorezmi, Al-Beruni, Ibn Sina, and Ulugbek in the ninth and fifteenth centuries, it is of great importance for us to achieve that the world shows its high respect for our people and nation in the twenty first century, as well. And we should recover in the modern form those schools, which were founded by our great ancestors and become famous all around world”.

The head of the Central Library of Arabic Poetry Mr. Abdulaziz al-Bobtain noted o¬n the preface of the book that well-known Khorezm had played a significant role o¬n dissemination of science and education throughout the Islamic world.

Priceless works of o¬ne of its representatives - Abu Rayhan al-Beruni, revival of the world-known Al-Mamun Academy comes not o¬nly as a bridge between the past and present, but also a wise step along the development of future science and education.

The book includes information about life and activity of number of scientists, who devoted their lives to the academy and present days of this scientific center. “Al-Mamun Academy of Khorezm” allows a reader to get a closer look at great heritage of Uzbek encyclopaedists and scientists, get in touch with the rich history of Uzbekistan.

Kuwaiti community showed unfeigned interest in the book. The lecturer of political sciences department at the Kuwait University, head of the division for Persian Gulf and European studies, Ms. Heyla al-Mukaymi has underscored that thanks to the great scientists such as Abu Rayhan Beruni and Abu Ali Ibn Sina the Al-Mamun Academy is well known in the Western scientific circles.

Ms. Suad al-Akiki, the Director at the Central Library of Arabic Poetry noted that she read the book with a great interest. “Peace and social-economic growth, respectful attitude of rulers to the scientists and their overall encouragement was a substantial aspect that have brought the prominent thinkers of those times to Khorezm and created a basis for successful activity of Al-Mamun academy,” she said. The Associate Director of Kuwait National Council o¬n culture, literature and art, a member of UNESCO’s committee o¬n restoration of ancient monuments Mr. Ali Husseini al-Yuha in his interview to Information Agency “Jahon” emphasized that Uzbekistan was famous as a center of science, culture and education which contributed to the development of human civilization from the earliest times.

Also, he has highly appreciated the Uzbek authorities’ policy o¬n preservation and development of national values of Uzbek people. “The revival of the Al-Mamun Academy shows that the government pays a great attention to the scientific and spiritual heritage of ancestors in Uzbekistan” Mr. Ali Husseini al-Yuha concluded. (“Jahon” Information Agency)