19 July, 2006
Politics
Indian PM sends letter to President of Uzbekistan
Experts Praise Reforms In Uzbek Legislation
Uzbekistan, Russia exchange ratification notes of Agreement on Allied Relations
Economics
Two Uzbek textile mills offered to investors, management companies
New water-purifying unit to supply 100,000 cubic metres of water daily
UzDaewoo Auto turns 10 years
UzDaewoo Auto assembles 63,736 cars in 1 half of 2006
Society
Role and activeness of NGOs in social democratization discussed
Second National mass media premium of flour fortification programme
Uzbek scientists claim that Dry Lake is ancient meteorite impact zone
INDIAN PM SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN
Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, sent a letter to President Islam Karimov, in which he expressed his “sincere wishes of prosperity to the friendly people of Uzbekistan”.
In the letter, written while Manmohan Singh was flying over the territory of Uzbekistan, the Indian premier said he remembered his April 2006 visit to Uzbekistan “with great satisfaction”.
“I am happy the visit allowed us discuss bilateral relations, as well as other important issues. I am convinced that decisions made during our meeting will be implemented in the nearest time,” Manmohan Singh wrote.
EXPERTS PRAISE REFORMS IN UZBEK LEGISLATION
Many foreign experts are continuing to comment o¬n the Uzbek President’s resolution o¬n additional measures to design the legislation and other documents to be adopted in accordance with the abolition of death penalty in Uzbekistan, as well as complex measures o¬n liberalization of legal system in Uzbekistan.
As the member of “Euro lawyer” European Bar Association Dr.G.Heck noted that the process of preparation for abolition of capital punishment would provide participation of all sections of the population and lawmakers. The measures realized by Uzbek government must be welcomed, since they have a great importance along the path to build a legal state, he added.
- “In Uzbekistan, the death penalty has been applied to such offences as premeditated murder and terrorism since 2003,” - Mr. V. Jarihin, deputy director at the Institute of CIS countries, said an interview, “the capital punishment is not applied to underage offenders, women and elders of over 60, irrespective of the committed crimes”.
Ms. Tesemnikova, the editor-in-chief of “Eurasia” magazine and “Gazeta SNG” internet-edition, has specially underscored the well-thought nature of practical realization of President’s decree o¬n abolition of capital punishment in Uzbekistan, which was promulgated nearly a year ago.
Academic and experts from several Arab countries have also found themselves interested in legal reforms being carried out now in Uzbekistan.
Mr. Fahd al-Mecrad, the director of Kuwait branch of Arabic Open University has said that Uzbek government pays more attention to founding works in criminal and judicial issues. Mr. Hussein Abdurrahman, the adviser of Kuwait Journalists’ Association has positively assessed the liberalization of criminal punishment and legal reforms. -“Unfortunately, death penalty has still been in place in some western countries, particularly in several states of the United States”, - he added.
UZBEKISTAN, RUSSIA EXCHANGE RATIFICATION NOTES OF AGREEMENT ON ALLIED RELATIONS
Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Uzbekistan Farit Muhametshin exchanged notes of ratification of the Agreement on Allied Relations between Russia and Uzbekistan.
The Decree on the Ratification was signed by the President of the Russian Federation as of 11 May 2006.
The document bearing special importance for both parties to the agreement "reflects the nature of the new phase of the bilateral relations between Russia and Uzbekistan and provides international legal framework for the adherence to the principles of alliance to serve as a foundation for Russian-Uzbek interaction," the press-release of Russian Embassy said.
The agreement on cooperation between the two states was signed with the purpose of strengthening peace, supporting stability, as well as national, regional and international security through coordination of the efforts and joint actions of the parties in elimination of arising threats, development and strengthening of cooperation in the political, economic, trade and humanitarian spheres in accordance with the international law and bilateral and multilateral agreements signed earlier.
ECONOMICS
TWO UZBEK TEXTILE MILLS OFFERED TO INVESTORS, MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
Uzbek governmental commission announced a competition among investors and management companies to purchase or manage textile companies in the country.
The commission announced competition on two textile companies, equipped with modern technologies.
Namangantextile, and Uniho are offered to investors. Both enterprises were offered to investors and management companies in mid-May 2006 and earlier in July 2006.
Namangantextile, located in Namangan, can produce 2,960 tonnes of yarn and 6.05 million metres of fabrics. Uniho, located in Khorezm can produce 3,500 tonnes of cotton yarn.
Both Uzbek and foreign investors, which have experience in textile industry, can participate in competition, the announcement of the commission said.
The announcement said management companies, interested in Uzbek companies, should submit business-plan along with other documents. The business-plan should ensure loading of enterprise and export of products at least for 85%.
Uzbek Economy Ministry receives applications from interested companies till 28 July from investors interested in Namangantextile and till 18 July from companies interested in Uniho.
NEW WATER-PURIFYING UNIT TO SUPPLY 100,000 CUBIC METRES OF WATER DAILY
Construction of the largest water-purifying unit in Aral area will be completed in Urgench soon. The station will supply the local population with 100,000 cubic metres of potable water a day.
"Reconstruction and expansion of water-purifying units in Urgench" project was developed by the Uzbek governmental in cooperation with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Shimbar & Co. (Iran) is the general contractor of this construction. Nedeko (Netherlands) is responsible for technical supervision of the quality of construction and financial expenditure.
The object is being built on the right bank of a large irrigation canal Shavat dividing the city into two parts. The disinfected pure water with high pressure in pipeline will be supplied to consumers on the existing extensive network of Tuyamuyun-Urgench conduit.
The importance of this unit is rather high in the region, where is shortage in potable water. It includes water intake facilities, horizontal and four radial separating tanks with 38 metres diameter each, a reservoir of pure water with pump station, filter, reagent, chlorination substations and other objects.
Nearly US$11 million have been allocated for implementation of the project. Virtually the whole amount of funds has been used. The last of 19,000 cubic metres of monolithic reinforced concrete on sulphate-resistant cement are being laid at the hydro construction.
UZDAEWOO AUTO TURNS 10 YEARS
UzDaewoo Auto, first Uzbek car manufacturing plant based in Asaka, Andijan region turned 10 years on 19 July.
The foundation for launch of the company was laid during the visit of the President Islam Karimov to South Korea in June 1992. During that visit, the Uzbek leader familiarized with the activity of Daewoo Motor. Two months later, in August 1992, the two countries signed a document on setting up a joint venture called UzDaewoo Auto.
“President Islam Karimov would often come to the construction site of the plant,” chief manager of the plant construction management Bakir Vasitjanov recalls. “A lot of companies and organizations were attracted to the construction, including some 150 from South Korea. About 3,500 people worked round the clock, in three shifts.”
Almost 30,000 tons of metal constructions, 48,000 cubic meters of cement and 30 km of cables were used during the plant construction. In two and a half years, the first car plant in Central Asian was built on the total territory of 55 hectares.
UzDaewoo Auto produced its first Damas cars in March 1996, while in June 1996 it started producing Tico and Nexia brand cars. 25,000 cars were produced in the first year of operation, and 69,000 in the second year. In 1999, UzDaewoo Auto received an international ISO 9001:1994 quality certificate.
In August 2001, the company started producing Matiz cars, which was named the best city car of 2003 in Russia. Launch of the new version of Nexia, DOHC, followed one year later. In April 2003, UzDaewoo Auto received quality certificate ISO 9001:2000.
The latest car launched by UzDaewoo Auto was Lacetti, manufactured since August 2003.
This year, the company plans producing 120,000 cars, of which 55% are going to be exported. 2005 figures were 101,000 cars (52.6% exported) and in 2004 the plant produced over 70,000 cars (50.7% exported). UzDaewoo Auto cars are sold in Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.
More than 60 companies produce parts for UzDaewoo Auto, which currently employs 5,000 people. Nowadays, about 60% of spare parts for Nexia, Matiz and Damas cars are produced locally. The spare part companies are UzDongWon, UzTongHong, UzKoram, UzSeMyung, UzDongYang, UzDongJu, UzKoji and others.
UZDAEWOO AUTO ASSEMBLES 63,736 CARS IN 1 HALF OF 2006
The production of passenger cars at the UZDAEWOO plant in 1 half of 2006 rose by 23% to 63,736 cars from the same period in 2005.
The Matiz model posted the highest hike of 163% to 21,426 cars and Nexia - 15.6% to 35,171. In addition, the company assembled 7,054 Daewoo Damas and only 85 Lacettis. The production of cars in 2005 grew by 44.2% to 101,010 cars, export was up 48.9% to 53,092, shipments to the domestic market rose by 32.4% to 46,127 cars. (NOVECON: Russia/CIS Manufacturing Press Digest)
SOCIETY
ROLE AND ACTIVENESS OF NGOS IN SOCIAL DEMOCRATIZATION DISCUSSED
The Institute for the Study of Civil Society hosted a roundtable meeting on "Strengthening the role and activeness of non-governmental nonprofit organisations (NGOs) in the process of democratisation and social renewal".
The heads of the NGOs of Tashkent, deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, active members of political parties and citizens' self-government agencies, staff of the National Association of the NGOs of Uzbekistan, experts and specialists in the studies of public organisations attended the event.
Roundtable participants spoke about low participation of youth in the work of NGOs, poor material and technological base of the nonprofit structures and low interaction with government agencies. They also noted the lack of public control over the activity of the NGOs, and poor cooperation with the mass media.
Meeting participants suggested creating a special web-site of the Justice Ministry about the activity of the NGOs and their role in ensuring the transparency for the public.
The representatives of the National NGO Association noted insufficient literacy of the NGOs, particularly with regards to the grant applications submitted to the Fund for Support of NGOs in Uzbekistan, which has conducted two grant competitions this year. The Association also announced the intention to open a study center for the NGOs, and emphasized the need to popularise the positive examples of NGOs' successful activity in partnership with other organisations.
SECOND NATIONAL MASS MEDIA PREMIUM OF FLOUR FORTIFICATION PROGRAMME
Presentation of the Second National Premium in the field of mass media of the National Flour Fortification Programme for journalists was held at the National Press Centre of Uzbekistan on 18 July.
The goal of this action is attraction of the interest of people to solution of the problems nutritious microelements deficiency, as well as anaemia in Uzbekistan through taking corresponding political obligations and programmes, and stimulation of sustainable consumer demand for enriched flour and bread products.
Dilorom Suleymanova, Director of Anaemia Centre of Scientific-Research Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, delivered presentation on iron deficiency anaemia and noted that human health 50% depends on nutrition. Therefore eating iron enriched products reduces anaemia by 20%. The role of mass media representatives in the issue of covering this problem is vital.
It is the logical continuation of the First National Premium in the field of press, TV and radio, which was summed up in June 2006. More than 20 journalists of national and regional mass media were awarded for contribution in enlightenment work on the benefit of enriched flour amongst the population.
The second contest will be summed up in February 2007. Winners will get computers, digital video and photo cameras, dictaphones, mobile handsets, DVD players and other equipment necessary for effective professional activity.
The contest envisages decrease of anaemia prevalence by 20% in five years and creation of 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. The country has received US$2.8 million over a three-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 is implemented by the Ministry of Health, Uzdonmahsulot JSC, UNICEF and the World Bank (acting as agent of GAIN).
UZBEK SCIENTISTS CLAIM THAT DRY LAKE IS ANCIENT METEORITE IMPACT ZONE
"More than 20 years ago the shots of the surface of Ustyurt plateau made from space revealed an oval shaped structure in Kungrad district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan (140km south-east of Shahpahta Village), which corresponds to the geographical object known as Dry Lake. Based on the data available today, the researchers have concluded that this is most definitely a crater left by a meteorite," Regnum quoted a specialist of the Institute of Mineral Resources under the State Geology Committee of Uzbekistan, Alexey Gluh.
According to Gluh, the meteorite came from the north-west and hit the ground in the south-east of Ustyurt plateau, approximately 50,000 years ago. The impact created a ridge, and the meteorite itself went deep below the earth surface. "We studied the area visually from the helicopter. We are now applying other examination methods," said the scientist. The scientist added that in 1999 Dry Lake was included in the list of geological monuments of Uzbekistan.
Alexey Gluh noted that there were several place in Uzbekistan that could tell a lot about different periods in the history of the Earth. In the future, he said, these valuable sources of information would be given the status of national monuments of nature.
Head of Department of the State Geological Information Center Georgiy Pyanovskiy said the "Geological Monuments of the Earth" Programme had been implemented in Uzbekistan for 15 years. "We have found several tens of places that can be recognized as the geological heritage of the Earth," he said. Meanwhile, he noted that Uzbekistan had a sample of international geological importance. Found in Kitab reserve of Kashkadarya region, it is a deposition of layers of rock clearly visualizing the boundaries between different subdivisions of periods in the development of the Earth.