3 July, 2006

Politics:
Uzbek Foreign Minister visits Russian embassy to express condolences
SCO RATS head expresses condolence to Russia over death of diplomats
Uzbekistan is strategic partner of Kazakhstan - envoy

Economics:
International automobile communication between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
Eriksson searches for talents in Uzbekistan
Cellular communications in Uzbekistan

Society:
With exam season in schools over, prospective students knock at the university doors
Medical services improve as facilities refurbished, modernized
Uzbekistan-based computer emergency response team plans to hold roundtable on information security
Jewish Day Camp Opens in Tashkent

POLITICS

UZBEK FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS RUSSIAN EMBASSY TO EXPRESS CONDOLENCES

Uzbek Foreign Minister Elyor Ganiev visited Russian embassy in Uzbekistan and wrote down his condolences in the Condolences Book, opened in the embassy in connection with murder of Russian diplomats in Iraq. (RIA-Novosti)

SCO RATS HEAD EXPRESSES CONDOLENCE TO RUSSIA OVER DEATH OF DIPLOMATS

On 29 June, Director of Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO RATS) Vycheslav Kasimov visited Russian Embassy in Tashkent to express condolence to government and people of Russia in connection with murder of four diplomats in Iraq.

Vycheslav Kasimov expressed his condolences to relatives and families of diplomats, who were cruelly murdered in war-torn Iraq.

The SCO RATS also made statement and expressed condolences to relatives and families, peoples and government of Russia. The SCO RATS called international community, civilized Islamic world to denunciation such actions of terrorists and join all efforts to eliminate this evil.

The structure urged in its statement resolutely reject flirting with killers and abolish so called double standards.

Murder of Russian diplomats once more proves conclusion that international terrorism organizations will try to destabilize situation in various regions of the world, including in territory of the SCO.

The statement noted that international terrorism organizations is and will be counted as criminal whatever "generous" targets they announce. The structure noted that terrorists, saying that they are fighting occupants in Iraq, are committing genocide against own people, including women, elder people, children. (UzReport.com)

UZBEKISTAN IS STRATEGIC PARTNER OF KAZAKHSTAN - ENVOY

Uzbekistan occupies priority place in foreign policy of Kazakhstan and is strategic partner of Kazakhstan in Central Asia, newly appointed Kazakh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Askar Myrzakhmetov said in an interview.

As earlier reported, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan Askar Myrzakhmetov handed over credentials to President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov last week.

Results of state visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev to Uzbekistan in March of this year proved absolute importance and mutual priority of Kazakh-Uzbek relations. Myrzakhmetov said friendly and warm relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan play important role in development of all region and strengthening of regional stability and security in view of geo-politics.

He welcomed agreement between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on eternal friendship, which is highest form of allied relation in international practice. Kazakh diplomat said Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were one of the first countries in CIS, which signed agreement on delimitation of borders. He said the Uzbek-Kazakh border should remain borders of friendship and cooperation.

Myrzakhmetov also noted successful cooperation within many international organizations, including the SCO, CICA, CIS, EurAsEC, etc.

Kazakh envoy noted that economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are developing stably. Trade turnover between states comprised US$479 million in 2005 and increased by 15.8% year-on-year. Kazakhstan is the fourth largest trade partner of Uzbekistan.

Over 48 joint ventures with Kazakh capital are operating in Uzbekistan and over 24 Kazakh firms and companies opened their offices in Uzbekistan. Some 106 business with Uzbek capital works in Kazakhstan.

Askar Myrzakhmetov said accession of Uzbekistan to EurAsEC opens perspectives to expand economic cooperation between two states within this organization. He noted that one of the main tasks of the organization is to harmonize markets, implement coordinated economic policies and measures on expansion of trade-economic relations.

Kazakh diplomat expressed hope that the rational use of water-energy resources and transit potentials will be effective solved within the EurAsEC.

Kazakhstan actively supports work within initiative of Uzbek President Islam Karimov on creation of common market in Central Asia. Myrzakhmetov said Kazakhstan is sure that the realization of this initiative will create favourable conditions for deepening regional cooperation in all spheres of life, ensure economic growth and security of all states in the region.

He said that currently new stage in development of bilateral relations determined and added that he will do his best to realize agreements, reached by leaders of two states, and promote further rapprochement of two nations. (UzReport.com)

ECONOMICS

INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN UZBEKISTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN

Uzbek-Kazakh intergovernmental «Agreement on the international automobile communication» is on ratification in the Kazakh Parliament. This document regulates transportation of cargoes in the international automobile communication between both republics, as well as transit through their territories.

Regulations of the document provide introduction of the non-permissive system on the international auto transportations of cargoes in the bilateral communication and on transit passage on territories of the states of the parties. As authors of a legislation state, ratification of the agreement will result in decrease of a transport component in the cost of the fruit-and-vegetable and agricultural production exported from Uzbekistan. (Business Partner Uzbekistan)

ERIKSSON SEARCHES FOR TALENTS IN UZBEKISTAN

The representative office of the company «Ericsson International AB» in Uzbekistan announces a contest for students and post-graduate students of higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan on development of the idea of the original multimedia service on the basis of the minutes of SIP (IMS).

The task, which contestants are supposed to face is to develop an original idea of the multimedia appendix on basis of SIP (the minutes for the telephony and Internet conferences) and IMS (platforms of support of multimedia appendices).

Besides innovational methods and originality of execution, projects of participants of the contest should be precisely focused on the certain segment of subscribers in Uzbekistan. The Ericsson contest will be carried out in Uzbekistan for the first time and will pass on an annual basis.

The best project elaborated by a student or a post-graduate student will be awarded the money prize at a rate of 2 400 000 sums. For the second and third places participants will receive money prizes at a rate of 1 200 000 sums.

Choice of the IMS platform, as the basis for the task of annual contest is conditioned by the fact that behaviour of people in the modern world is more defined by such factors as individuality, an belonging to the certain class of the population (so, and to a segment of communication subscribers) and mobility.

Day by day the importance of the mobile multimedia services convenient in use, allowing to emphasize individuality of the user and accessible both for the mobile phone, and for PC - terminals, constantly grows.

IMS platform of Eriksson Company gives more opportunities for such convergent decisions creation and granting. (Business Partner Uzbekistan)

CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS IN UZBEKISTAN

“Uzbek-American joint venture “Coscom” plans to make investments of about 100 million in 2006-2007 in development of a network of cellular communication in Uzbekistan”, Alexey Stepanov, the general director of the joint venture has informed journalists.

As he said, it is planned to master investments in the volume of about $40 million (as for now it is already mastered about $15 million) in 2006, about 60 million in 2007. Basic volume of investments will be directed on expansion and modernization of a network of cellular communication.

“So, in August of the current year delivery of Alcatel equipment will be finished on the basis of NGN technologies within the framework of the contract at the cost of 16 million euro made in summer of 2005”, the general director has specified.

As it was earlier informed, the Company will deliver 100 base stations, as well as the equipment on the basis of Alcatel Spatial Atrium decision: the program switchboard, the mobile call-server managing distributed media-sluices, calls of voice communication and sessions of data transmission within the framework of the contract. The project is supposed to be realized up to the end of 2006. In August, 2005 American MCT, owning the control share of the joint venture, has made the frame contract with American company “Motorola” on delivery of 300 base stations Horizon II with support of technologies of data transmission GPRS and EDGE in cost about 10 million for “Coscom” within three years.

«We are finishing one part of the contract, delivery and installation of 40 base stations has been carried out this year, and we renew the new contract on terms of the frame agreement», Stepanov - has noted.

In 2005 within the framework of this agreement there were put 59 base stations. Besides, in June of this year the joint venture will place in operation a program switchboard Soft switch made by the Chinese company Huawei at the cost of about $1,5 million. He also has noted, that now in the Surkhan-Darya region there is a check-up in the form of a test of the equipment of radio access within the framework of the contract made with the Chinese firm ZTE at the cost of about $1 million. « With its placement in operation the company can declare, that all important objects of this region are provided with mobile communication», A. Stepanov said.

«According to the perspective business - plan up to the end of the current year the user’s base of the joint venture should make not less than 550 thousand subscribers, and this figure is completely confirmed with the made contracts and financing », - the head of the company has declared. According to his data, the number of subscribers of the operator in January - May of the current year was doubled - from 146 thousands up to 300 thousands. «In 2007 we consider to have one million subscribers, and it is confirmed by true calculations of investments, reasoning from $75-100 per a subscriber, - A.Stepanov has added.

Coscom joint venture was created in 1996 by American MST - 51 %, “ Uzbekkosmos “ agency - 35 % and” Davr-conversion “ Joint-Stock Company - 14 %. Now share holding of partners in the joint venture has changed. MST holds 85 % of share, 15 % are in the property of top-managers of ?oscom joint venture. The JV owns the license for rendering of services of cellular communication of GSM standard on the territory of the Republic.

Cellular communication in Uzbekistan appeared in August, 1992. The amount of subscribers of cellular communication in Uzbekistan in 2005 increased more than twice and has made 1,15 million of subscribers for January 1, 2006.

In view of the population of Uzbekistan in 25 million persons the level of penetration of cellular communication in republic makes 4,6 %, thus the majority of subscribers is concentrated in Tashkent and the Tashkent province (49 %) where the level of penetration makes about 20 %. At the same time the level of penetration in the majority of regions does not exceed 1-2 %.

Now services of cellular communication in the republic are rendered by six operators - Uzdunrobita, Unitel, Coscom, Perfectum Mobile, Buztel and Uzbektelekom Mobile - the branch Joint-Stock Company “ Uzbektelecom”.

Four operators render services of GSM standard. All six companies have licenses for their activity on the territory of Uzbekistan.

Uzdunrobita, Unitel and Coscom are the three leaders of the cellular companies on the share of which more than 70% of the local market of mobile communication accounts for. (Business Partner Uzbekistan)

SOCIETY

WITH EXAM SEASON IN SCHOOLS OVER, PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS KNOCK AT THE UNIVERSITY DOORS

Students have passed the state examinations at the nation’s academic lyceums and professional colleges and the young men and women, who stand ready to continue their education, now are knocking at the doors of higher educational institutions in the country, the leading national newspapers reported.

Nukus State Pedagogical Institute named after Ajiniyaz is o¬ne of such institutions in the Republic of Karakalpakstan for the young prospective students to file their applications.

All contemporary conditions are in place for the students at the institute to obtain the in-depth knowledge in line with their chosen fields of education. Also, they use the services of the local library, equipped with computer technology with an Internet access.

“This year we are going to enroll 1,490 prospective students,” – deputy chairperson at the institute’s registrar’s office Mr. Jetes Jaluasbaev has been quoted as saying, “and 590 from them will receive the state scholarships with rest of the 900 being expected to pay for their education”.

And, the institute will accept yet another 355 students for the part-time studies, Mr. Jaluasbaev added. (“Jahon” Information Agency)

MEDICAL SERVICES IMPROVE AS FACILITIES REFURBISHED, MODERNIZED

In keeping with the Year of Charity and Medical Workers announced for this year a profound work is now under way, Uzbekistan National News Agency Ferghana correspondent M.Suleymanov reported July 1 this year.

In particular, the report says, the Central Hospital at the Baghdad District (Ferghana Province, Uzbekistan) and other 13 countryside medical stations (CMS) provide the qualified medical services.

“We enjoy a profound attention to this sphere in our country,” – Abdumajid Yunusov, the head doctor at the district department for healthcare, said, - “at the moment the modern CMS are now operating even in faraway village areas”.

This year the total refurbishment works were undertaken at the local maternity house. By late this year the house will be supplied with the cutting-edge medical equipment based o¬n the ADB project, according to the report.

Also, other maintenance works are under way at the infectious deceases department of the central hospital.

CMS at the Amirabad District is o¬ne of the modern medical facilities in the area. Here 8,800 people utilize the medical services provided by the facility. Also, the doctors often go out to the patients in their places with carrying out the o¬nsite medical tests and check-ups. The facility is supplied with the latest necessary equipment based o¬n the “Salomatlik - 1” project (“Health -1”).

This year according to “Salomatlik - 2” (“Health - 2”) project, the seven additional CMS are expected to be refurbished. At the moment, the active work is being accomplished in the sphere, the report also said. Besides, the maintenance works are close to conclusion at the CMS in Akhunbabaev District.

Sponsor organizations and number of entrepreneurs in the area are contributing much for the cause, the report further added. (“Jahon” Information Agency)

UZBEKISTAN-BASED COMPUTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PLANS TO HOLD ROUNDTABLE ON INFORMATION SECURITY

In the coming two months Uzbekistan-based Computer Emergency Response Team (UZ-CERT) plans to hold a roundtable with participation of service providers to address ensuring the information security of the local information resources and coordination of the activity in the sphere.

According to the Uzbekistan National News Agency Russian-language website, the roundtable will discuss the aforesaid issues under the topic “Establishing UZ-CERT interaction with service providers to ensure the information security of national information systems”.

In line with report, other issues o¬n the agenda include the elaboration of mechanism for the timely discovery and addressing the weaknesses and threats at the servers, which host the on-line resources of the state administrative bodies, prevention of computer emergencies and violations of current legislation in the sphere, discussion and conclusion of several arrangements on mutual beneficial cooperation, and other.

The report also says that those who wish to participate at the roundtable may fill in the application forms at the UZ-CERT website on the global net.

Computer emergency response team is an only center for the national information systems and Internet users, which focuses its operations in gathering and analyzing information on computer emergencies.

The Response Team also provides consultancy and technical support for the net users in preventing the threats of computer security, the report further indicated. (“Jahon” Information Agency)

JEWISH DAY CAMP OPENS IN TASHKENT

The Jewish School of Tashkent has launched a summer day camp. Children from throughout the city are bused to the camp every morning for activities including health and sports, competitions and educational programs focusing on Jewish traditions. The camp session will last for three weeks.

Recently, this day camp, along with other Jewish institutions in Tashkent, welcomed Israeli Knesset Deputy Amnon Cohen.

Rabbi Gurevitch and Amnon Cohen visited the Central Synagogue of Tashkent, as well as the Beit Chana Jewish School, Ohel Menachem Kindergarten and the Uzbekistan Museum of Jewish History.