17 July, 2006

Politics
Workshop held at Oliy Majlis Senate
Cabinet of Ministers approves order on compensation for lands, seized for state, public needs
Russian experts mark Uzbek President’s Decree as historical
Uzbek officials, French diplomat discuss fight against money laundering

Economics
Presidential resolution says 102 strategic enterprises to be privatized
Uzbek head approves new localization programme
Economy Ministry to monitor realization of economic programmes
Uzbek air carrier launches new flight

Society
Second contest of National Flour Fortification Programme to be launched
“Health train” arrives in Karakalpakstan
ADB grants US$400,000 to prepare Uzbek water supply, sanitation project
Uzbek NGOs participates in international NGO forum in Moscow
Uzbek schools receive international awards
Electronic directory on Museums launched at Art and Craft of Uzbekistan web-site

POLITICS

WORKSHOP HELD AT OLIY MAJLIS SENATE

A training workshop was held at the Senate of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan. The representatives of the Active Legislation Monitoring Institute attended the event, the Senate's press service said.

The workshop was organized on the initiative of the Committee for Agrarian, Water Management Issues and Ecology. The deputies of the Legislative Chamber, representatives of ministries, regional administrations, and lawyers participated in the meeting. Participants discussed regional problems and methods of effective interaction between the regional Kengashs (Councils).

A rough work schedule of local Kengashs of National Deputies was developed and approved. Recommendations with regard to their standing commissions were provided for the purpose of ensuring their close cooperation wit the Senate Committees, participation in the preparation of the documents for the meetings, and integration of the practice of senators' regular reporting to the deputies who elected them. The finalized recommendations worked out at the workshop are intended to develop the dialogue between the Senate and the Deputies' Corps of Local Kengashs.

CABINET APPROVES ORDER ON COMPENSATION FOR LANDS, SEIZED FOR STATE, PUBLIC NEEDS

Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers approved a regulation on order of compensation of damages to citizens and legal entities in connection with seizure of land areas for state and public needs.

The regulation, which was approved by Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev, set order of payment of compensation for land areas, seized for state and public needs.

The document said the special commission, under local administrations led by deputy governors, will asses lands and set the size of compensation based on assessments. In case of, land owners do not agree with assessment, they can attract independent appraisers at their own expenses.

The regulation said that owners of flats and houses will receive similar houses or flats, on agreement of house owners and administrations. The document said the houses and flats cannot be destroyed before the agreement reached.

The owners of houses and enterprises can also request administrations to move their assets to other place and the document said local administrations will pay all expenses with movement of these assets.

RUSSIAN EXPERTS MARK UZBEK PRESIDENT’S DECREE AS HISTORICAL

Liberalization policy of judicial and legal system being carried out by Uzbek government becomes a subject for analysis and discussion for Russian scholars and lawyers.

As Mr. Sergey Mirzaev, the head of the Moscow Bar Association noted that the decree by the Uzbek President o¬n abolition of death penalty in Uzbekistan, signed in August last year and resolution adopted lately which will define measures o¬n realization of the very decree are related to decisions of significant importance in history of each country.

“Abolition of capital punishment or application of moratorium to this measure means relaxation of tempers and strengthening of humane traditions in society, as well as availability of effective punishment execution system,” – Mr. Mirzaev has said in an interview.

President of Russian Center for Strategic and Political studies Mr. Vitaliy Naumkin said that the abolishment of death penalty in Uzbekistan was a profound event in the post-Soviet area.

“Tashkent’s decision is a great step, able to prove wrongness of those, who are considering Uzbekistan as a non-democratic state,”- he added.

Ms. Natalya Davletshina, the secretary-in-chief at the «Kreml.org» political experts network website, the candidate of historical sciences, has assessed the Uzbek President’s Decree o¬n abolition of death penalty in Uzbekistan of August, 1, 2005 as an answer to the request of the Uzbek society.

«A resolution of President of Uzbekistan o¬n additional measures to prepare legislation and other documents to be adopted in accordance with the abolition of death penalty in Uzbekistan is an additional instrument oriented to intensification of actions o¬n designing the legislative and other legal documents necessary for realization of the very decree», - she added.

UZBEK OFFICIALS, FRENCH DIPLOMAT DISCUSS FIGHT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING

Uzbek officials and French diplomat discussed issues on fight against money laundering during the meeting at the Uzbek Prosecutor-General's Office on 8 July.

The attaché of the French embassy in Uzbekistan, Olivier Ordas met B. Abduvaliyev, head of the international legal department of the Prosecutor-General's Office, as well as the heads of directorates at the department for countering tax and foreign currency-related crimes and money laundering under the Prosecutor-General's Office, S. Gulomov and V. Karimov, took part in the meeting.

The meeting discussed cooperation between the Prosecutor-General's Office and the French embassy in fighting money laundering. Olivier Ordas briefed those present at the meeting on the activities of the French law-enforcement bodies in fighting these types of crimes. In addition to this, Olivier Ordas spoke about organizational aspects of boosting cooperation in this field.

For their part, those present at the meeting spoke in detail about measures being taken by Uzbek government to counter money laundering and funding terrorism, as well as about legal documents in this regard.

ECONOMICS

PRESIDENTIAL RESOLUTION SAYS 102 STRATEGIC ENTERPRISES TO BE PRIVATIZED

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a resolution "On deepening processes of denationalization and privatization in 2006-2008" on 10 July, 2006.

The document aimed at further deepening of processes in denationalization and privatization process in leading sectors of economy, directed to improve role of private ownership in economy, cardinal decrease of state share in charter capitals in economic entities, as well as attraction of direct investments, including foreign.

The presidential resolution approved list of enterprises and objects, which will be denationalized and privatized in 2006-2008. The document said unplaced state assets in 1,269 objects will be fully realized to private ownership. These objects can be realized by state tender commission on zero-redemption price if they are not realized in time.

Unplaced state shares in 105 enterprises and objects will be realized to private ownership on zero-redemption price with undertaking investment obligations.

The resolution also set list of strategic companies, the state shares in which will be realized partially to investors. The list includes 121 enterprises and objects, representing such sectors as oil and gas, textile, financial, publishing, aviation, railway, chemistry and others.

The document said Uzbekistan will sell 49% stake in Uzkimyosanoat (Uzbek Chemistry Industry), Uzbekneftegaz (Uzbek oil and gas), Uzavtosanoat (Uzbek Car Industry), Uzdonmahsulot (Uzbek Grain Products), Uzbekyengilsanoat (Uzbek Light Industry), Uzbekistan Havo Yollari (Uzbekistan Airways) and Uzbektelecom.

The country will also sell 51% stake in Asaka Bank, the second largest Uzbek bank, 25.6% shares in Tashkent Aircraft Production Plant (TAPOiCh), Central Asia's only aircraft production, 20.91% shares in Uzmetcombinat (Uzbek Metal Combine), Uzbek scrap metal processing plant.

Uzbekistan put for sale several energy assets, including regional electricity suppliers, Uzbekkomir (Uzbek Coal).

UZBEK HEAD APPROVES NEW LOCALIZATION PROGRAMME

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov approved a programme on localization of production of ready products, componentry and materials on the base of local raw materials for 2006-2008 with a corresponding resolution dated 22 June 2006.

The resolution directed to ensure dynamic and sustainable development of economy, decrease its dependency from external factors, speed up introduction of new, effective technologies in production process, wide use of local raw materials and production resources, increase based on this use of competitive products, rational use of hard currency resources and creation of new work places.

The document approved target parameters of the volume of production and level of localization of industrial products, componentry and spare parts, ready products, materials and raw materials, as well as production of sport inventory and educational equipment. The resolution granted tax holidays to enterprises, included into the programme. The enterprises, included into the programme, on localization of production of componentry and spare parts and ready products, materials and raw materials were exempted from customs payments, except fee for customs registration, to imported equipment and spare parts to them, as well as components, which are not produced in Uzbekistan and used in technologic process at production of localized product till 1 January 2009.

These enterprises will also not pay income tax, single tax payment (for entities using simplified tax system) in part of production of localized products and property tax, in part of funds used in production of localized goods.

Above-mentioned tax holidays will be also provided to producers of sport inventory and educational equipment in case they won tenders on projects, financed due to state budget, state target funds, foreign grants and credits, issued under guarantees of Uzbekistan. The resources, freed due to tax holidays, should be used to modernization of equipment, decrease production expenses, stimulation of employees, used in realization of localization programme.

The programme envisages localization of cars (at UzDaewoo Auto), aircrafts (at TAPOiCh), home appliances, textile products and others.

ECONOMY MINISTRY TO MONITOR REALIZATION OF ECONOMIC PROGRAMMES

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov resolved to create a group to monitor realization of target programmes, directed to development of sectors of economy.

The presidential resolution "On monitoring of realization of important target programmes on development sectors and spheres of economy" set that Economy Ministry of Uzbekistan is responsible body on systematic monitoring of realization of important target programmes.

Uzbek Economy Ministry in cooperation with other ministries and departments will monitor realization course of five resolutions of the Uzbek leader, including resolutions on increase number of cattle, development of services, stimulation of home labour, reformation of fruit vegetable and viticulture and road construction.

UZBEK AIR CARRIER LAUNCHES NEW FLIGHT

Uzbekistan Havo Yollari (Uzbekistan Airways) opened new flight Tashkent-Ferghana-Samarkand-Simferopol (Ukraine) and vise-versa.

The Uzbek company said flights are carried out on Tu-154 aircrafts once a week (on Thursdays).

SOCIETY

SECOND CONTEST OF NATIONAL FLOUR FORTIFICATION PROGRAMME TO BE LAUNCHED

Second national award in journalism, television and radio broadcasting of National Flour Fortification Programme will be launched at National Press Centre of Uzbekistan on 18 July.

Deputy Health Minister Asomiddin Kamilov, chairman of Journalists' Union Sherzod Gulyamov, director of Anaemia Centre Diloram Sulaymanova, manager of National Programme on flour fortification Olim Mirhashimov and other specialists will participate in the event.

The contest announced to motivate representatives of mass media to cover issues on iodine deficit anemia and fortified flour and bread products.

The contest is logic continuation of First national award in journalism, television and radio broadcasting of National Flour Fortification Programme, within which over 20 journalists of national and regional mass media were awarded for contribution in promotion of fortified flour.

The contest held within the National Flour Fortification Programme, which envisages to decrease anemia prevalence by 20% in five years and create corresponding infrastructure to fortify flour.

Uzbekistan is one of the first countries to benefit from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition's (GAIN) flour fortification programme. Uzbekistan received US$2.8 million over a 3 year period for a national campaign to reduce serious health problems amongst women of child-bearing age and children, caused by iron deficiency.

The project implemented by the Ministry of Health, JSC Uzdonmahsulot (State bread and grain company), UNICEF and the World Bank (acting as agent of GAIN). It involves the support of the Ministry of Public Education, Association of Bread Producers "Toshkent non", other public organizations and foundations, and crucially, the Mass media.

The project will be implemented within five years and its total cost is US$6 million. The project will allow to create capacities on production of 1.9 million tonnes of fortified flour annually.

Within the framework of the project, the number of specially equipped flour mills will increase from 14 to 48. According to preliminary estimations this will enable up to 90% of the population at risk to be covered.

The results of the second contest will be announced in February 2007.

“HEALTH TRAIN” ARRIVES IN KARAKALPAKSTAN

“Health train” with clothes, medical equipment and medicaments worth a total of over UZS 350 million arrived in Karakalpakstan.

The action has been organized for the third time this year by the ecology and health charity Ecosan, Uzbekistan’s Health Ministry and O`zbekiston Temir Yo`llari company. During their 10-day stay in the area, doctors of the “health train” will visit a number of cities and districts and conduct medical examination of the population.

The humanitarian cargo will be provided to Nukus first united hospital, Khodjeyli maternity hospital and medical establishments of Muynak district.

ADB GRANTS US$400,000 TO PREPARE UZBEK WATER SUPPLY, SANITATION PROJECT

The President of the Asian Development Bank has approved the provision of technical assistance not exceeding the equivalent of US$400,000 on a grant basis to the Government of Uzbekistan for preparing the Jizzakh and Surkhandarya Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project.

According to Technical Assistance Report on the project, posted in the ADB web site, the technical assistance is estimated to cost US$930,000 equivalent. The Uzbek Government has asked ADB to finance $400,000 equivalent. This portion of the Technical Assistance will be financed on a grant basis by the Japan Special Fund, funded by the Government of Japan.

The Uzbek Government has also asked the European Union through EuropeAid to cofinance the Technical Assistance through parallel financing of US$250,000 equivalent. The Government will finance the balance of the local currency costs, equivalent to US$280,000, by providing counterpart staff, office space, furniture, administrative support services, and logistics.

The technical assistance will review the sector of water supply and sanitation (WSS) investment programme, the national WSS sector plan, and the capacity of institutional arrangements; prepare four representative core subprojects for upgrading of WSS facilities; and prepare a sector project that will increase WSS service coverage in the two selected regions to 90% by 2012, thereby improving the health and quality of life of their residents.

The Uzbekistan Communal Services Agency (UCSA) will be the Executing Agency of the technical assistance. The TA will be implemented over 7 months, from July 2006 to February 2007.

UZBEK NGOs PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL NGO FORUM IN MOSCOW

On the threshold of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, a two-day international forum of non-governmental organizations "Civil G8 2006" was held in Moscow.

Around 700 representatives of the "third sector" from over 30 countries, as well as a number of international organizations participated in the forum. NGOs of Uzbekistan also attended the forum. On behalf of the Uzbek NGOs, the representatives of the National Association of Non-governmental Not-for-profit Organisations of Uzbekistan (NANNOUz), the heads of the Uzbek NGOs For Ecologically Clean Ferghana I. Domullajonov and "Union for Protection of Aral and Amudarya Yu. Kamalova attended the event.

The forum aims at raising the awareness of the organizations of civil society of the cooperation in the framework of the Group of Eight, involving NGOs in the discussion of the issues concerning the G8, developing the dialogue of the civil society with the decision makers of Russia and other members of the G8.

In the course of the forum, several roundtable discussions were held dedicated to the issues of energy security, professional education, fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, human rights protection, interaction of business sector, society and ecology.

On completion of the forum participants developed recommendations and suggestions for the summit of the heas of states and governments of the G8 to be held on 15-17 July in Saint Petersburg.

ELECTRONIC DIRECTORY ON MUSEUMS LAUNCHED AT ART AND CRAFT OF UZBEKISTAN WEB-SITE

Electronic directory on Museums of Uzbekistan that expose objects of national art and craft has been launched at www.artandcraft.uz web-site.

New directory (available at Museums section of the web-site), contains information on 9 largest museums and galleries of the Republic, exposing masterpieces of art and craft of Uzbekistan.

New directory enables users easily acquire comprehensive information regarding orientation of expositions, their regularity, as well as contact of these museums. The section also provides information on museums' operating schedules and availability of guide services.

Directory will be constantly updated, accrued and enlarged. As well, soon, it is envisaged to develop and launch e-galleries for museums represented at the web-site. It is proposed to pilot e-gallery of Ural Tansykboev Memorial Museum in August, the press release of www.artandcraft.uz said.

www.artandcraft.uz web-site, created within Uzbekistan Development Gateway project, and maintained by Center for Economic Research and UNDP CO in Uzbekistan aims to provide an overall assistance in popularizing skills and knowledge about art and craft of Uzbekistan, to support the gifted art workers of our native art, talented work masters of vernacular arts, to familiarize Internet users with their works, as well as to create favorable conditions for purchasing relevant works of art by interested parties.

UZBEK SCHOOLS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

This year five out of 13 schools that participated in the "New Technology at School" Programme were recognized at prestigious web-site contests such as CyberFair and Doors to Diplomacy. Thus, gymnasium No. 1 of the city of Nukus won the silver award. The efforts of the schools No. 1 of the city of Termez, No. 11 of the city of Nukus, No. 12 of the city of Karshi and No. 5 of the city of Namangan were highly appraised. The CyberFair and Doors to Diplomacy Contests attracted over 1 million participants from over 50 countries. Participants built web-sites in English in categories encouraging students to discover their communities.

The students and teachers of the New Technology at School Programme improved their skills through the courses and Interest during the computer classes funded by the Bureau for the Issues of Education and Culture. It is remarkable that Uzbek students are becoming strong competitors in the international online contests.