1 August, 2006

Politics
General Procurator's office of Uzbekistan holds session to view results in 1H

Economics
Uzbek roundtable to discuss taxation of oil, gas sector
Bukhorotex shares sold for US$1.05 m
Lazzat-Meva JV starts processing this year's tomatoes

Society
Uzbek national university to accept almost 1,700 new students this year
Preparing to celebrate International Youth Day
The happiest nations of the world according to British scientist
"Train of health" returns from Karakalpakstan
Ecosan holds eco-festival for children

POLITICS

GENERAL PROCURATOR'S OFFICE OF UZBEKISTAN HOLDS SESSION TO VIEW RESULTS IN 1H

An extended session of the board of the General Procurator's office of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been held. The session discussed the results of work in the first half-year on strengthening legality in the country, protection of rights and freedom of citizens, the prevention of criminality and offences.

The session that was conducted by General public prosecutor Rashid Kadyrov, analyzed the work on the performance of tasks set by the agencies of Public Prosecutor's office following from decrees and decisions of the President of Republic Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, laws aimed at reforming economic, social and judicial and legal sphere.

According to the results of the checking of execution of laws, over 157,000 reports of prosecutor supervision were made. About 74,500 officials were brought to disciplinary, administrative and material liability for improper execution of official duties. In the interests of citizens, legal entities, including entrepreneurship entities, Public Prosecutor agencies submitted 28,600 claims to the law courts. At the same time the attention was focused on shortcomings in ensuring the performance of court decisions on real collecting cash resources.

All public prosecutors were entrusted with taking necessary measures to eliminate infringements of laws permitted in issues dealing with duly payment of wages, pensions, allowances, the guarantee of employment of the population and realization of other guarantees of social protection of citizens.

Alongside with the increase in efficiency of public prosecutor's supervision after the execution of laws in agriculture, the taking of measures on eradicating abuse in this branch, protecting farmers' rights, it is specified that the control of the guarantee of strict execution of laws, aimed at developing farmer movement should be strengthened.

The department for combating tax, currency crimes and legalization of criminal incomes under the General Procurator's office provided preliminary extra-charging into the budget of taxes and penalties in the amount of exceeding 26 billion soums. At the same time, deficiencies in the cause of the prevention of cases of committing tax, currency crimes, the legalization of criminal incomes, the taking of operational and search measures, and also the collecting of economic damage caused to the state were subjected to criticism.

Within the preceding period, the interaction was intensified with other law-enforcement agencies, (Regional, city and district) administrations, self-governed organs of citizens and NGOs in the organization of work on the prevention of criminality. As a result of it, crime rate was stabilized in the country. Such sort of crimes, as hooliganism, stealing of motor transport, theft, the causing of heavy physical injuries, the commitment of crimes in a condition of alcoholic intoxication were reduced. At the same time, it was noted that work should be strengthened to prevent crimes connected with religious extremism and terrorism, wide involvement of the community in this activity. Work was analyzed on the ensuring of the quality of inquiry and preliminary investigation on criminal proceedings, strict observance of terms of investigation, correct application of preventive measures, and also inevitability of punishment. Meanwhile, it is mentioned that in the course of the investigation, Public Prosecutor agencies provided the compensation of 82 % from the total amount of the damage caused by crimes.

During the consideration of criminal, civil and economic proceedings in the law courts, the activity in the guarantee of authorities of the public prosecutor was aimed at protecting the rights of citizens and interests of legal entities. The press-service of the General Procurator's office reports that public prosecutor agencies examined almost 20,000 applications of citizens and legal entities.

The session criticized the deficiencies in the maintenance of supervision after the execution of laws and adopted corresponding decisions to eliminate them.

ECONOMICS

UZBEK ROUNDTABLE TO DISCUSS TAXATION OF OIL, GAS SECTOR

Tashkent will host a roundtable "Problems on taxation of oil and gas sector in Uzbekistan" on 4 August.

The event focuses on determination of problems in taxation of oil and gas sector, organization of constructive dialogue between the state and companies, discuss international experience in this sector, as well as development of recommendations on reformation of tax system in the sector.

UNDP's project "Reformation of Tax System and development of new tax code of Uzbekistan" and economic mission of French embassy in Uzbekistan are organizers of the roundtable.

It is expected that representatives of Finance Ministry, State Tax Committee, Justice Ministry, oil and gas companies of Uzbekistan and foreign countries, international organizations and experts will attend the event.

BUKHOROTEX SHARES SOLD FOR US$1.05 M

The first spinning and weaving mill "Bukhorotex" JSC has been acquired by Turkish Sanko Holding Company for US$1.05 million. The envisioned investment of over US$61 million will allow creating a large textile complex.

The investment project will be implemented in cooperation with Turkish partners within the next four years in three phases.

LAZZAT-MEVA JV STARTS PROCESSING THIS YEAR'S TOMATOES

The plant for the processing of tomatoes of the Lazzat-Meva Uzbek-Czech joint venture located in Akkurgan district of Tashkent region has started the processing of this year's harvest.

The plant has signed a contract on supply of resources with over 300 farms, provided them with seeds, plastic films and mineral fertilizers.

To date, the company has received a half of the 13,000 tonnes of products to be supply under the contracts.

SOCIETY

UZBEK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO ACCEPT ALMOST 1,700 NEW STUDENTS THIS YEAR

It is the busy season at higher educational establishments of the country now, stemming from a decision of President Islam Karimov of 2 June, 2006 "On admission in higher educational establishments of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2006/2007 academic year". For example, one of the leading higher educational establishment of the country – The National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulughbek accepted over 10,000 applications on 35 directions. Testing will be held on 1 August, and on the results of it 1,665 young people become students of this in higher educational establishments. This year the number applications that had been received exceeded by 2,000 than last year. Young men and girls are considerably interested in obtaining knowledge on the level of contemporary requirements, acquiring profession and becoming a qualified expert. According to the information that has been received from the state testing center under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, approximately 314,000 applications were submitted to higher educational institutions in the country, as a whole. For example, 17,000 applications were submitted to the Tashkent State Pedagogical University named after Nizami, 15,000 applications were submitted to Termez State University, and over 14,000 applications - to Samarkand State University.

On 1 August, entrants along the whole country will enter lecture halls, where testing will take place. The title of student will be honored to those of them who possess a profound knowledge, remarkable abilities and sincere desire to study.

PREPARING TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

This year the International Youth Day observed around the world on 12 August will be celebrated in Uzbekistan for the first time. The UN Resident Coordinator System in Uzbekistan invites everyone to participate in the celebration.

The first stage is a twenty-day Internet session campaign dedicated to youth issues. In the course of the event, participants will exchange ideas and suggestions on organising the celebration in Uzbekistan, discuss existing problems and share experience, as well as participate in contests and give their votes for the best works.

The second stage to be held on 12 August is the actual celebration of the International Youth Day organised by the UN Resident Coordinator System in cooperation with youth organisations and Internet-campaign participants.

THE HAPPIEST NATIONS OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BRITISH SCIENTIST

A scientist- psychologists from Lester University (Great Britain), Andrew White composed "a world map of happiness", according to which the Danes feel the happiest ones. A member of the school of psychology published on the Internet site of Lester University the results of the questioning of 80,000 from 178 countries of the world.

According to the survey, the index of satisfaction with life of different countries' inhabitants was the fundamental component of their life.

According to the scientist, "the analysis showed that the level of happiness of one or another nation, most of all is associated by people with the level of health, financial welfare and access to education".

Inhabitants of Denmark occupied the first place on the basis of different components of the formula of happiness. Swiss and Austrians follow them.

Iceland and the Bahamas Islands enclose the first five places among the most happiest nations of the world. The USA occupies the 23rd place, Great Britain – the 41st. The scientist himself was astonished with the fact that large countries of the world by population, first of all, Asian countries, occupied sufficiently low places in the rating of happiness (China – the 82nd, Japan - the 90th, India – the 125th).

According to the results of the research, Uzbekistan rose higher than all of the former Soviet republics (the 80th place) and Moldova was acknowledged the most unfortunate out of "15 sisters" (the 175th place). Russians occupy the 167th place out of 178.

"TRAIN OF HEALTH" RETURNS FROM KARAKALPAKSTAN

A meeting with the doctors of "the train of health" will be held at the conference hall of the Ecosan International Organisation on 2 August.

As reported earlier, as a part of the "The Year of Charity and Medical Workers" Programme, Ecosan with the support of the Ministry of Healthcare of Uzbekistan and Uzbekiston Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways) Company sent a train of doctors "Ecosan" equipped with the latest medical equipment, and a humanitarian aid worth 350 million soums on 12 July to the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The representatives of Ecosan, doctors from Tashkent, including professors, top category physicians, pulmonologists, surgeons, cardiologists, dermatologists, neuro-surgeons, and other specialists of the Tashkent Medical Academy, 1st Republican Clinical Hospital, Scientific-Research Institutes of Pulmonology and Phthisiology, Dermatology and Venereology, and Republican Scientific Center of Emergency Medical Aid traveled to the areas near the Aral Sea.

In the course of 10 days, the specialists from Tashkent examined 3,234 people on the train equipped with the medical equipment, at the local doctor's offices, in the central district hospitals of Amudarya, Beruniy, Turtkul, Ellikkallin, Tahiatash, Hojeli, Nukus, Kegeyli, Chimbay, Korauzyak, and Tohtakupyr districts of Karakalpakstan. Of them, 615 were pensioners (19.2%), 170 - people with disabilities (5.26%), 727 – children (22.5%), 1,946 –women (60.2%), including 1,201 women of childbearing age (37.1%). The surgeons of Tashkent conducted 13 surgeries and provided medical-consulting assistance to the residents of all districts of the republic. Also, with the assistance of the doctors from the capital, they implemented a set of measures to prevent diseases, and advised local population on various health issues.

Ecosan "train of health" has recently returned to Tashkent. Ecosan international organization will conduct a meeting with the doctors of the train, dedicated to the results of the trip to the Aral Sea. Reports on the socio-economic situation in the region and doctors' reports will be delivered at the meeting. Also, the doctors that took part in the "Train of Health" Project will received the gifts and rewards from Ecosan.

ECOSAN HOLDS ECO-FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN

For the purpose of implementing the Protocols of the Expanded Meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers and Republican Standing Commission for Organisation of Children's Vacations, as well as in line with provision 24 of the Measures of the 2 phase of the Days of Ecology and Health, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan under the No. 05/107-67 as of 10 May 2006, Ecosan International Organisation is conducting the traditional Ecological Festival of Children's Art Works "Charvak".

The event is organised on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence. Students from different regions of Uzbekistan spending their summer vacations in the camps of Yusufhona are invited to participate.

The aim of the eco-festival is to attract the attention of the young generation to the protection of environment, bring them up with the feeling of love to nature and homeland, and with faithfulness to the ideals of friendship and kindness, and stimulate the development of children's art. The programme of the event includes territory clean-up campaign, exhibition of children's art works, concert of children's groups. The event is particularly intended to support and motivate children from needy families. In view of this, prizes will be awarded to the winners of the festival.

The festival will be held on 3 August at the children's summer camp "Nargis" in the village of Yusufhona, Bostanlik district, Tashkent region.