4 August, 2006

Politics
German lawyers discuss forthcoming death penalty cancellation in Uzbekistan
South Korean MPs visit Uzbek parliament to boost ties

Economy
Uzbek official meets Korean MP to discuss ICT cooperation
UzACI head meets NEC official in Tashkent
Uzbekistan increases fruit, vegetable supply to Russia threefold

Society
Funds in Uzbekistan to encourage contract-based students

POLITICS

GERMAN LAWYERS DISCUSS FORTHCOMING DEATH PENALTY CANCELLATION IN UZBEKISTAN

A round table on the theme of "Uzbekistan on a way to a cancellation of a death penalty" was held recently in the city of Bremen (Germany), whose initiators were the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Berlin and law faculty of Bremen University.

Despite summer holidays, the offered theme drew attention of the university law faculty's teaching staff, PhD students, candidates for a master's degree. It was pleasant to see students from Uzbekistan among participants of round table.

Opening the discussion, the head of the department of European law of Bremen university, professor H. Lichtenberg informed its participants on the reform of judicial and legal system, liberalization of criminal law and a forthcoming cancellation of death penalty in Uzbekistan. He emphasized that a decision of the country leaders on cancellation of death penalty was very important step in strengthening democratic legal system. The fact that death penalty is not being executed lately in the country testifies to adherence to principles of humanism, on the striving to reform the national criminal legislation. He especially emphasized that it was necessary to welcome this step of the Uzbek government which will include our country in a group of the states where principles of humanism are legislatively fixed.

Professor J. Fest paid attention to positive influence of the decision on cancellation of death penalty on further improvement of judiciary practice and processes of execution of a verdict in Uzbekistan. In his opinion, it also provides the improvements of professional skill of the personnel of judicial bodies and establishments of penitentiary system. Welcoming legal reforms being carried out in our country, the German professor also emphasized the topicality of the transferring of the right of sanction on arrest to judicial bodies from 1 January, 2008 in Uzbekistan.

Professor K.Shumann considers that the cancellation of death penalty is a practical and legal embodiment of humanism. He paid attention to such challenges, as the relation of victims, their relatives and as a whole, of society to especially dangerous criminals who had made serious and very serious crimes. At the same time, proceeding from principles of humanism, it is impossible to refuse granting an opportunity to criminals to follow the path of corrections. In this connection the importance of effective information and explanatory work has been underlined that are being carried out by the state, the media and public organizations.

K. Shumann was supported by professor F. Herzog who emphasized the necessity of increase of the population's legal culture to avoid aggravations of public debates on the theme of cancellation or introduction of death penalty that is currently observed even in Germany, despite the excluding of this sort of punishment from the criminal code of the country over a half century ago.

Future lawyers also joined the brisk discussion who had paid attention to various scientific and practical aspects of the issue and existing approaches to it in legal systems of different countries.

SOUTH KOREAN MPS VISIT UZBEK PARLIAMENT TO BOOST TIES

A South Korean parliamentary delegation led by the chairman of the National Policy Committee under the South Korea's National Assembly, Byeong Seug Park, is visiting Uzbekistan these days. The delegation visited the Uzbek parliament's Legislative Chamber (lower house) on 3 August.

During a meeting at the Uzbek parliament's Legislative Chamber today, it was stressed that the declaration, which was signed during the visit of Uzbek President Islam Karimov to South Korea in March 2006, had a great significance in expanding Uzbek-Korean relations in a consistent way.

Byeong Seug Park stressed that cooperation between the two countries had been rapidly developing since 1992, when diplomatic relations were established. He said that the Republic of Korea was considered to be the centre of the northeastern Asia, while Uzbekistan was a leading country in the Central Asian region. Thus, cooperation between the two countries was to great benefit to both of them.

South Korean MP said it would be right to say that after Uzbek President Islam Karimov's visit to the Republic of Korea cooperation between the two countries has been raised to a new stage.

"For example, a group of Uzbek students are now studying in Korea, and specialists from some of your country's manufacturing factories are being trained in our country. Moreover, representatives from the Korean oil, gas, uranium, and gold factories are exchanging experience with their Uzbek partners. I think that in the future this kind of cooperation between our countries will consistently develop in art, culture and other fields as well," said.

ECONOMY

UZBEK OFFICIAL MEETS KOREAN MP TO DISCUSS ICT COOPERATION

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and director-general of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information (UzACI) Abdulla Aripov received a member of Committee on science, technology, information and communication of National Assembly of South Korea Byun Jae-Il on 24 July.

The sides considered current state and perspectives of bilateral cooperation in information-communication technologies.

The sides noted great potential of mutual beneficial cooperation and agreed to strengthen relations between countries.

UZACI HEAD MEETS NEC OFFICIAL IN TASHKENT

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and director-general of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information (UzACI) Abdulla Aripov met Deputy Director-General on Foreign Operation of NEC Corporation (Japan) T.Ugadjin on 26 July.

The sides considered current state of cooperation and activity of NEC Corporation in Uzbekistan.

NEC Corporation supplied equipment to Uzbekistan in 1992, which allowed to organize direct international communication. The company also actively participated in modernization and development of telecommunication networks in Uzbekistan.

The sides also create only technical centre on training and retraining of communication and ICT specialists in Central Asia.

The sides noted positive experience from mutual beneficial cooperation and expressed intention to develop further collaboration.

UZBEKISTAN INCREASES FRUIT, VEGETABLE SUPPLY TO RUSSIA THREEFOLD

Uzbekistan increased supply of fruits and vegetables to Russia threefold, press service of Uzbek Customs Committee said on 2 August.

The press services said Uzbekistan exported 190,260 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Russia in six months of 2006. The cost of exported products is US$59 million in January-June 2006 (US$20.2 million in the same period of 2005).

The Uzbek Customs Committee noted that the volume of exports can rise once the sides simplify customs procedures and speed up transportation of products.

SOCIETY

FUNDS IN UZBEKISTAN TO ENCOURAGE CONTRACT-BASED STUDENTS

The Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan together with the Mehr Nuri Fund are carrying out a program of educational grants for supporting the gifted youth, revealing new youngster's potential and the formation of national professional base.

Organizers annually award grants to students of higher educational establishments of Uzbekistan for paying their education. For those candidates who successfully took part in the contest, the amount of the contract within one academic year will be paid, with an opportunity of prolongation of payment for the next academic year. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis in view of the academic achievements and financial requirements of the applicant.

Those entrants who were enrolled as a day-time students of one of the higher educational establishments of Uzbekistan, but failed to obtain enough points for studying on a budgetary basis, can participate in the contest.

The advantage of this year is that the payment for education will cover all higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan.

The receiving of documents will be carried out from 20 August through 10 September.