9 July, 2006

Politics
President orders to prepare documents on death penalty abolishment
A.Azizkhodjaev appointed press secretary to President of Uzbekistan
Second ministerial conference on Routes of delivering drugs from Afghanistan: Only concerted efforts can halt drug offensive
Uzbek military prosecutor notes drop in army crime rate
Uzbekistan, China sign memorandum of cooperation in jurisprudence

Economics
1.75mln mobile users, 1.2mln Internet users in the country
Unitel introduces changes to its tariff policy
Electricity Output Up 4.0 pct Jan-May 2006
Uzbektelecom announces ambitious projects, plans to pay 2.7bn soums as dividends
Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan to discuss economic cooperation
Increase of grain harvest forecasts to 6m tonnes
Uzbek Airways delegation attends IATA Conference in Vancouver
Round-table discusses preparation to ICT week in Tashkent
Uz-Texaco opens technical service centre in Tashkent
Lukoil Begins Development of Khauzak Block in south-west of the country

Society
Second Congress on Family Education opens in Uzbek capital
Uzbek university teachers prepare new book on journalism
Russian embassy hands over computers to Uzbek education centre


PRESIDENT ORDERS TO PREPARE DOCUMENTS ON DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHMENT

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed order "On additional measures to prepare legislative and normative-legal acts that are subject to adoption in virtue of abolishment of death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan" on 29 June.

The document was approved in order to intensify works to prepare the legislative and normative-legal acts that are necessary for realization of the provisions of the Decree No.UP-3641 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 1 August 2005 "On abolishment of death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan", and their timely submission for consideration by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The order said to establish a working group for preparation of the legislative and other normative-legal acts that are subject to adoption in virtue of abolishment of death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

According to the presidential order, the working group shall to elaborate in a one month period a schedule of preparation of the legislative and normative-legal acts, which ensure implementation of the provisions of the Decree No.UP-3641 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 1 August 2005 "On abolishment of death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan" with regard for the necessity of their step-by-step submission for discussion in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan till the end of 2006.

While elaborating a schedule mentioned, it will base on "the list of normative-legal acts that are subject to adoption, amendments and additions for the purposes of implementation of the Decree No.UP-3641 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 1 August 2005 "On abolishment of death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan", approved by the Order No.P-2310 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 19 August 2005.

While preparing the suggestions on amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedural Codes of the Republic of Uzbekistan related to the elimination of the death penalty from the system of criminal penalties, special attention shall be devoted to elaboration of clear definitions of such newly introduced types of penalties as "life imprisonment", "long-term imprisonment", as well as crime compositions (enumeration of articles), which stipulate their prescription.

The order shall ensure effective coordination of work of the Ministries and Departments for the development of normative legal acts indicated in the present Order, involvement of the high skilled specialists in the activities related to drafting of these legislative acts, as well as involvement of the leading experts and scholars from research and education institutions of the country.

M.Ataev, the Secretary of the National Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is responsible for monitoring of implementation of this order. (UzReport.com)

A.AZIZKHODJAEV APPOINTED PRESS SECRETARY TO PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov appointed Alisher Azizkhodjayev press secretary of the President of Uzbekistan on 7 July.

With another presidential decree on the same day, A.Azizkhodjayev was released from the post of the minister for cultural and sports. (UzA)

ONLY CONCERTED EFFORTS CAN HALT DRUG OFFENSIVE

Second ministerial conference o¬n Routes of delivering drugs from Afghanistan concluded in Moscow.

Russian Foreign Ministry in cooperation with the UN Office o¬n Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized the conference.

Representatives of more than 50 countries and 23 International organizations reviewed the “Paris process” initiated at the similar meeting at the French capital in 2003. They have also determined priorities and main goals for the future activity.

At the roundtables the experts considered the specific ways of the struggle against the trans-border drug threat emanating from Afghanistan.

UNODC Executive Director Mr. Maria Costa presented the UN Report o¬n Security Export to Afghanistan and other countries suffering from drug dissemination.

“Afghanistan is at great risk of becoming a drug state,” the report says. “Heroin destroys not o¬nly Afghanistan. While being channeled through the poorly administered regions the Afghan drugs provoke instability in Central Asia, Baluchistan and Kurdistan, Eastern Africa, the Caucuses and in Balkans, respectively. It causes the further rise of drug abuse, as much as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Drugs also serve as a source of illegal income for organized crime and financial support for terrorism,” according to the authors of the report.

As the World Drug Report 2005 recounts, Afghanistan shares 89 percent of the world heroin produce. And 4,100 tons of drugs were produced in the country for over the last year. There are about 11 million heroin addicts throughout the world. About 104,000 hectares of poppy was planted in Afghanistan o¬nly in 2006, according to the UN. Mr. Costa underscored that the state with drugs in Afghanistan is still very bad and even some positive trends can change there due to the mass poverty, security threats and lack of control throughout the country. Mr. Costa warned that situation in Afghanistan could deteriorate yet this year.

“We should admit that Afghanistan is still at risk for becoming a drug state,”- the Russian Foreign Minister Mr. Sergey Lavrov said while speaking at the conference, “all of us must stay united in the struggle against threats coming from drugs and terrorism, drug routes that cross many countries”.

“Everywhere they cross they bring degradation, corruption and exhaustion of genetic fund,” Mr. Lavrov added. Thereupon Russian minister called for establishment of security belt around Afghanistan.

Head of Uzbek delegation, First Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Ilkhom Nematov talked about the broadening and toughening of traditional and transnational threats and challenges, which could destabilize the situation across the world. Mr. Nematov underscored that “narcomafia has practically been established as a global power with a huge economic potential whose financial capabilities exceed budgets of many states and biggest transnational corporations”.

“These powerful financial flows are ruled by destructive forces that defy norms and principles of the international law”, according to Mr.Nematov. “These forces pursue the creation of the so-called “controlled destabilization”, undermining the socio-political stability and imposing their own model for development”, he added.

Considering all of the danger and complexity of the fight against narcomafia Uzbekistan’s representative expressed the confidence that the international activity in this sphere would be propelled with the start of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center (CARICC). It is worth noting that establishment of the center was initiated by the President of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov during the visit of the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan to Uzbekistan in October 2002. (“Jahon” Information Agency)

UZBEK MILITARY PROSECUTOR NOTES DROP IN ARMY CRIME RATE

The military prosecutor of Uzbekistan, Shuhrat Uzoqov, has said that there was a drop in the crime rate among servicemen in the first five months of this year, compared with the same period of 2005.

Sh.Uzoqov said that as a result of measures carried out in the first five months of this year, the crime rate fell by 5.8 per cent. He also said that fighting crime among servicemen and ensuring the supremacy of law was the focus of the attention of the military prosecutor's office.

The Uzbek military prosecutor also noted the efficient work of appeal courts. He said 91.1 per cent of servicemen's appeals against the verdicts were satisfied by appeal courts. "In all, 91.1 per cent of all appeals were satisfied over the review period," he said.

Uzoqov said that the Uzbek military prosecutor's office was taking measures to tighten the discipline in military units in line with the Uzbek president's decree issued on 23 February 1998. He said the number of checks of military units to this end had increased.

The military prosecutor also said that his office was cooperating with media outlets to prevent crime and increase servicemen's awareness of laws. He said that various seminars and round tables, involving MPs and prominent writers, had been regularly arranged by the prosecutor's office for this purpose. (BBC Monitoring Central Asia)

UZBEKISTAN, CHINA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION IN JURISPRUDENCE

Association of Judges of Uzbekistan and the Society of Lawyers of People's Republic of China signed a memorandum on mutual beneficial cooperation.

The delegation of the Society of Lawyers of People's Republic of China led by its chairman Han Jubin paid visit to Uzbekistan from 29 June to 3 July and held negotiations in Uzbek ministries and departments.

Nuriddin Tashmatov, First Deputy Judge of Uzbek Supreme Court and Acting Chairman of Association of Judges of Uzbekistan, and chairman the Society of Lawyers of People's Republic of China Han Jubin signed the memorandum.

The memorandum directed to establishment and support of long-term friendly relations in jurisprudence. The document envisages exchange visits of judges and staff of courts, organisation of researches, educational programmes, seminars, exchange of information and others. (UzReport.com)

ECONOMICS

1.75MLN MOBILE USERS, 1.2MLN INTERNET USERS IN THE COUNTRY

Complex for information system and telecommunication of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan held a session to sum up the results of the sector’s development in the first half of 2006.

During the six months the volume of services in the sphere of information system and telecommunication amounted to 262.1 billion soums. That exceeded the last year’s parameters for 38,9 percent.

The number of Internet users in the country made up 1.2 million people.

The number of cell phone users increased to 1.75 million people. (UzReport.com)

UNITEL INTRODUCES CHANGES TO ITS TARIFF POLICY

Unitel, the second largest Uzbek mobile operator, said it is introducing changes to its tariff policy from 1 August.

The company said it is abolishing 5-second free limit of call duration to all incoming and outgoing calls for all tariff plans.

The calls with duration of more than 1 second shall be rounded up to a full minute, those with duration of more than 1 full minute – shall be rounded up to the next one. (UzReport.com)

ELECTRICITY OUTPUT UP 4.0 PCT JAN-MAY 2006

Uzbekistan's electricity output increased by 4.0 pct year-on-year to 21.963 billion kWh in the period January to May 2006, it was reported on July 5, 2006.

According to data of the State Statistic Committee, the country's thermal power plants produced 19.517 billion kWh of electricity, up by 6.5 pct year-on-year, while hydropower plants produced 2.446 billion kWh.

Uzbekistan's power plants also generated 9.6 million GCal of heating power.

State energy company Uzbekenergo accounts for over 98 pct of the country's electricity output. It controls 16 enterprises, including seven thermal power plants, six hydropower plants and three combined heat-and-power plants.

Uzbekistan's energy system consists of 42 power plants with a total capacity of 11,580 MW, of which 11 thermal plants with a capacity of 9,870 MW and 31 hydropower plants with a capacity of 1,710 MW. (Energy and Commodities Digest)

UZBEKTELECOM ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS PROJECTS, PLANS TO PAY 2.7BN SOUMS AS DIVIDENDS

Hakim Muhiddinov, the Director General of Uzbektelecom, said at the company's annual general meeting on June 30 that 2005 was successful for the company and 2006 should see further development and improvement of financial, production and other figures.

The Uzbektelecom joint-stock company held its annual general meeting of shareholders on Friday, June 30 to sum up the financial-economic activity of the company for 2005 and set tasks for 2006.

The company is involving itself in in several large projects, extensively cooperating with China in reconstructing a telephone network in several regions. The project envisages construction of an automatic telephone system (ATS) with capacity of 319,668 numbers.

Overall, the Uzbektelecom network comprises 2,000 ATS with a capacity of 1.98 million, of which 47.8% or 948,000 numbers are digital. The total number of phone numbers in Uzbekistan is 1.72 million.

Uzbektelecom Mobile, CDMA-450 mobile communication arm of Uzbektelecom, launched its stations in NAvoi, Khorezm, Bukhara regions and Karakalpakstan in 2005.

Muhiddinov noted that the project on mobile communication on CDMA-450 standard is very perceptive. He said Uzbektelecom Mobile is planning to launch its network in all territories of Uzbekistan and added that the CDMA-450 is useful for regions, which are difficult to access. He said the tariffs of Uzbektelecom Mobile will decrease gradually based on the growth of the number of subscribers.

The company also noted significant steps in international cooperation and development of its data transfer network. The capacity of data transfer networks reaches 122 Mbit/second.

It was said that tariff incomes of the company increased by 26% year-on-year in 2005 withincome for international and long distance calls rising by 28% and local calls by 12%. The volume of rendered services increased by 11.8% and net income comprised 4.01 billion soums, of which 2.7 billion soums will be directed to pay dividends.

Muhiddinov said the company plans to further broaden international channels of Internet and data transfer, modernize and expand its data transfer network capacity, strengthen security and increase the number of users of multimedia services. (The Times of Central Asia)

UZBEKISTAN, AZERBAIJAN TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan get ready for next meeting of intergovernmental economic cooperation commission.

The preparation measures are being held for the next VIII meeting of the intergovernmental commission for commercial-economical and scientific-technical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Trend reported quoting the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

The agenda of the intergovernmental commission includes wide spectrums of interrelations. The sides will discuss five documents covering commercial-economical sphere, the report added.

The previous meeting of the commission was held in 2004. Besides, within the upcoming meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Baku, Azerbaijan, a business forum will be held with the participation of businessmen of the two countries. (UzReport.com)

INCREASE OF GRAIN HARVEST FORECASTS TO 6MLN TONNES

Uzbekistan harvested to date 2.4 million metric tonnes of grain, and this year's grain harvest is likely to be 6 million tonnes, not 5 million tonnes as expected earlier, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said the damage inflicted on crops by the severe frosts of the last winter wasn't as great as previously thought.

The reduction in this year's expected harvest when compared to last year's is mostly due to reduced planted areas, which amount to 1.286 million hectares, compared with 1.615 million hectares in 2005.

Uzbekistan increased its grain harvest in 2005 by 8.5% from the year-earlier to 6.51 million tonnes.

In 2005, the wheat harvest was 6.047 million tonnes, 9.8% more than in 2004, the corn harvest increased by 4.1% to 162,800 tonnes, while the rice harvest fell by 14.7% to 160,400 tonnes. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK AIRWAYS DELEGATION ATTENDS IATA CONFERENCE IN VANCOUVER

The staff of the Commercial Department of Uzbekiston Havo Yullari (Uzbekistan Airways) National Airline Company attended the conference of the International Air Transport Association in Vancouver (Canada).

Conference participants discussed the issues regarding the 2006-2007 winter schedule of aircraft movement. Delegates from 250 airline companies and 50 airports from 38 countries of the world, as well as representatives of aviation organizations participated in the event.

The delegation of the National Airline Company of Uzbekistan met the coordinators of the airports of Frankfurt, London, Paris, New York, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala-Lumpur, Athens, Rome, Tel-Aviv, Osaka (Narita), Moscow (Domodedovo), Kiev, and Birmingham. In the course of negotiations parties agreed on the mutually acceptable slots.

UHY and OAG Company's delegations discussed the issues of preparation of Timetable promotional booklets, organization of a training workshop for the company's staff, and effective use of available media-related opportunities to expand the client base. The schedule of Uzbekiston Havo Yullari's flights will be published through the retail systems in the next few days. (UzReport.com)

ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSES PREPARATION TO ICT WEEK IN TASHKENT

The round table on ICT Week InfoCom-2006, which will take place on 25-29 September, preparation was held at the Communication and Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzACI). Organizers of the Week and representatives of IT companies in Uzbekistan participated to discuss basic moments of the forthcoming Week and organizational issues.

The National Summit on Information and Communication Technologies – ICT SUMMIT 2006, which will open the ICT Week, is considered as the main event of the InfoCom-2006. UNDP Uzbekistan is contributing to the organization of the National ICT Summit through its "ICT Policy" Project (ICTP). The ICT SUMMIT 2006 will have plenary sessions and group sections. General topics to be discussed at the Summit include issues of ICT policy, progress in implementation of national programmes on ICT development, infrastructure development and other important areas.

Another important part of the ICT Week is the National Exhibition of Telecommunications and Information Technologies - InfoCom 2006. The exhibition will take place at the Republican Center of exhibition trade Uzko'rgazmasavdo on 26-28 September. National and foreign IT companies, suppliers of the telecommunication equipment are invited for participation.

ICT Week includes International conference "Asian Language Processing and Information Technologies" (ALPIT 2006), which is being organized by Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT), Korean Information Processing Society (KIPS) and Internationalization Research Center (ITIRC) and is planned to be held on 27-29 September.

The Youth Internet-Marathon, which started on 24 June and will last until 28 September, was also presented during round table. The Marathon for youth is dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence and consists of five nominations. The winners of competitions will be declared by the end of ICT Week, and official awarding ceremony will take place on 28 September at the National exhibition of information technologies - InfoCom 2006 ". (UzReport.com)

UZ-TEXACO OPENS TECHNICAL SERVICE CENTRE IN TASHKENT

Uz-Texaco, a joint venture of Texaco and Uzbekneftegaz, opened a technical service point on change of engine oil in Tashkent on 7 July. This is first point of Uz-Texeco, which was opened at fuelling station of UzGasOil.

Robert Horton, director-general of Uz-Texeco, said: "Our company is only producer of lubricant materials in Central Asian region, which produces and trades over 30 types of import replacing oils of world quality, including Texaco HAVOLINE and Texaco URSA brands. Uz-Texeco annually expands its export potential and broadens marketing outlets in all Central Asia."

Uz-Texeco operates in Uzbekistan for almost ten years and now it is carrying out third stage of its activity – work with retail market. In future, the number of points will be increasing in all territory of the country and Uzbek people will get high quality service on oil, change of engine oil and technical services.

"Uz-Texaco" is a joint venture, established in 1997, consolidating the resources of two international oil companies, including Uzbek National Corporation Uzbekneftegaz (through its subsidiary GPO Uzneftepererabotka), and international oil corporation Texaco (through its subsidiary Texaco Overseas Holding Inc.). The venture was founded to supply Central Asian region with high quality lubricant materials.

Uz-Texaco imports products from Europe and manufactures high-quality motor oils for the developing industrial complex of Uzbekistan. Uz-Texaco is the safe source of lubricant supply for the agricultural, construction and mining industry of Uzbekistan.

Earlier there were three strong competitive companies: Chevron, Texaco and Caltex. On 9 October 2001, Chevron and Texaco completed their merger. Chevron Corporation today is a single, powerful force. This transformation brought many challenges. The combined company – Chevron – is active in approximately 180 countries and has about 25,700 branded service stations. Products marketed under the Caltex, Texaco and Chevron brands hold top-tier rankings worldwide.

Chevron has combined enterprise market value of more than US$100 billion, assets of US$83 billion, net proved reserves of 11.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), daily production of 2.7 million BOE and operations throughout the world. Its sales and other operating revenues make up US$150.9 billion. (UzReport.com)

LUKOIL BEGINS DEVELOPMENT OF KHAUZAK BLOCK IN SOUTH-WEST OF THE COUNTRY

LUKOIL Overseas has drilling development wells in accordance with the field development plan of the Khauzak contract area of Dengizkul gas field (southwestern part of Republic of Uzbekistan).

Development of this field makes part of the Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad PSA project. The PSA on the project was signed on June 16, 2004 in Tashkent in the presence of the presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan and came into force on November 24, 2004. The project is being implemented by a consortium of investors, which includes LUKOIL Overseas (90%) and Uzbekneftegaz (10%). The consortium's share in profit production is 50%.

The duration of the PSA is 35 years. The volume of approved original gas in place in the contract area totals 329 billion cubic meters. Commercial production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2007. Peak annual production of natural gas will exceed 10 billion cubic meters, while cumulative production under the project could reach 207 billion cubic meters of gas.

An operating company, LUKOIL Uzbekistan Operating, has been established for project management purposes. In the future LUKOIL will also create a marketing company for joint sales of production (including the share of the Uzbek party).

To date, a 3D field seismic survey has been completed on the Khauzak block, group designs for construction of development wells has been drafted, and construction of power lines, access road and preparation for the workover of three wells is in progress.

China drilling company TUHA, the winning bidder at the corresponding tender, is the drilling contractor. Horizontal well's depth - 3000 m, drilling time – 4 months. 37 new development wells will be drilled on Khauzak.

In total, Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad project involves drilling of more than 180 development wells and construction of over 1,500 kilometers of pipelines. Two compressor stations, gathering points, shift camps, high-voltage power lines, a 40-kilometer railway line, motor roads and access roads will also be constructed. The project also involves construction of a modern gas processing plant in the Kandym area with a capacity of 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year. In total, investment under the PSA to date is around $100 million. (Rigzone.com)

SOCIETY

SECOND CONGRESS ON FAMILY EDUCATION OPENS IN UZBEK CAPITAL

The Second Congress on Family Education, co-organised by the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan and UNICEF office in Uzbekistan, opened in Tashkent on 7 July. Two-day event directed to strengthening the collaboration among government representatives, ministries and government agencies, international organizations and local communities.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and chairwoman of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan Svetlana Inamova underlined importance of congress, which should access carried out work and develop further strategy and direction of the Family Education Project.

Nuriya Tureeva, deputy chairwoman of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan, said in her report that the Family Education Project has some positive impact, in particular number of women, who improved skills on baby care and baby nutrition with help of programme.

She said the Family Education Project aimed at increasing children health in Uzbekistan, level of knowledge on health among population in regions, cut prevalence among children and death among mothers.

In 2003-2004 FEP was pilot-tested in a few communities on a small scale basis. In July 2005, there was a first FEP National Congress held which served as an excellent advocacy and communication tools for further project development and expansion.

It has been expanded to 14 districts of 6 regions, covering all the communities in those districts and now each region has their own consultants. She said the expansion of the project to all regions of Uzbekistan is considered now.

Andro Shilakadze, UNICEF programme coordinator in Uzbekistan, said the first congress was held in 2005 and it allowed to objectively access carried out work. The evaluation on programme was presented to UNICEF headquarters and this evaluation has been considered as one of top five evaluations in the entire region.

He said the programme is giving fruits despite it operates only in several districts and regions. He added that the second congress will allow to determine further strategy and directions of the programme. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK UNIVERSITY TEACHERS PREPARE NEW BOOK ON JOURNALISM

A group of teachers of Journalism Department of National University of Uzbekistan prepared and published a book entitled "Modern journalism".

The book, prepared by professor Nesterenko, doctor of historical science Irnazarov and candidate of philological sciences Mamatova, was published due to grant of UNESCO office in Uzbekistan.

The book tells about examples of violation of ethics, necessity of knowledge on media legislation, etc.

The book pays attention to genres in journalism and Internet, its appearance and development up today. (UzReport.com)

RUSSIAN EMBASSY HANDS OVER COMPUTERS TO UZBEK EDUCATION CENTRE

Public Education Minister hosted a ceremony on handing over sets of computer equipment. Embassy of Russian Federation in Uzbekistan handed over computers.

The set of computers will be used at the newly created Centre on testing and introduction of pedagogic technologies and general schools in Uzbekistan.

Speaking at the ceremony, Public Education Minister Turab Juraev noted upbringing of new generation healthy and developed set as one of the priorities of the country. He said the National Programme on Training Staff and State National Programme on Development f School Education for 2004-2009 are evidence for that.

Attraction of foreign investments in education system set in National Programme on Training Staff as important direction. Uzbek Public Education cooperates with South Korea, Japan and China.

Cooperation of Uzbekistan and Russia in education sphere is strengthening. The Russian side is assisting to re-train teachers, organizing visit of youth to Russian camps, supplying books and manuals to libraries of the schools. (UzReport.com)