7 August, 2006

Politics
Italian official praises upcoming abolishment of death penalty in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan to present report to special UN committee

Economics
TAPOiCh to Increase Aircraft Output
Uzbekistan extends tenders on privatization of two chemical plants
Pakistani, Uzbek chambers sign Memorandum of Understanding to promote bilateral trade

Society
SCO Secretary General meets Uzbek students
Women's Committee of Uzbekistan hold training in Namangan
Head of Uzbek fund notes TB, kidney diseases growth in Aral Sea area
UNDP supports discussion of the role of civil servants in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

POLITICS

ITALIAN OFFICIAL PRAISES UPCOMING ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH PENALTY IN UZBEKISTAN

Antonio Loke, Secretary General of the Institute of Asia and the Mediterranean Countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy and Secretary of the Association of Friendship and Cooperation "Italy-Uzbekistan" praised decision of the Uzbek leadership to abolish death penalty in the country.

Antonio Loke said that abolishment of death penalty symbolises policy of Uzbekistan directed to achieve progress in various spheres.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed several documents directed to abolishment of capital punishments in the country from 1 January 2008. The special group was created in the country to prepare legal basis for abolishment of death penalty from punishment system.

Antonio Loke said this choice should become "indicator of political and social quality in all Central Asia".

It is clear that both Uzbekistan and countries of the region should do a lot, but increasing authority of Uzbekistan in international community and rich historic roots and traditions give right to trust in bright future of Uzbek people in future, the message reads. Loke said geopolitically Uzbekistan is important and integral part of all modern Eurasian policy, which should soon change international geopolitical order.

UZBEKISTAN TO PRESENT REPORT TO SPECIAL UN COMMITTEE

Uzbekistan will present periodic reports on the elimination of discrimination against women to the special committee of the United Nations on Monday, 7 August.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women convenes its thirty-sixth session this week at United Nations Headquarters and examine 14 States parties of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, sometimes referred to as the international bill of rights for women, legally commit themselves to ending all forms of discrimination against women, be they political, economic, social, cultural, civil or of any other type.

The Committee, which is made up of 23 independent experts in the fields covered by the Convention who are elected by States parties to serve a term of four years, monitors implementation of the Convention in States parties. Periodically, the Committee considers the reports of States parties, and evaluates how each State is meeting its obligations under the treaty to eliminate discrimination against women.

From 7 to 25 August, meeting in parallel chambers for the first time ever, the Committee will examine periodic reports of 14 States parties - Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Georgia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico, Philippines, Republic of Moldova and Uzbekistan -- and the combined initial and periodic report of one State party, Cape Verde, which will be examined in plenary on 18 August.

At a typical session, the Committee considers individually each State in a process called "constructive dialogue", which is open to the public. It recognizes progress a State has made in implementing the Convention, identifies concerns about limited or insufficient adherence to the provisions of the Convention and offers suggestions and recommendations to address such challenges in applying the Convention fully and consistently at the national level. Journalists interested in covering the session are encouraged to attend the constructive dialogue sessions.

Based on their consideration of reports and constructive dialogues, the Committee presents "concluding comments" to each State individually. The comments are also incorporated into the Committee's final report on the session.

The Committee also has responsibilities under the Optional Protocol to the Convention. Of the Convention's 183 States parties, 79 are also party to the Protocol, which provides those parties with a significant additional incentive to intensify their efforts to eliminate and prevent discrimination against women, in both law and in practice. For individual women, if they are living in a State that is party to both the Convention and its Optional Protocol, the Protocol provides for a petition process and an inquiry procedure into situations of grave or systemic violations of women's rights.

TAPOICH TO INCREASE AIRCRAFT OUTPUT

The Tashkent Chkalov aviation production association aims to raise aircraft output from 14 in 2006 to 18 in 2008.

The proportion of locally-made parts is to increase from 9.0% to 21% as a result of five projects with targeted production volumes in 2008 of 3.2 billion sums. The aircraft maker is on the list of enterprises eligible for privileges granted by the Uzbek government until January 1, 2009, including exemptions from import duties on high-tech equipment and spare parts and the profit tax. (NOVECON: Russia/CIS Manufacturing Press Digest)

UZBEKISTAN EXTENDS TENDERS ON PRIVATIZATION OF TWO CHEMICAL PLANTS

State commission for conducting tenders on the sale of the state property to the foreign investors prolonged the deadline for tenders on privatization sale of 49% shares of Navoiazot JSC and Ammophos JSC.

The announcement of the commission said the deadline for submission of bids extended till 25 September 2006. The announcement said the starting bidding price for 49% shares of Navoiazot JSC is not less than US$60,009,600 and 49% shares of Ammophos JSC is not less than US$17,164,400. Navoiazot is located in Navoi city. The company was constructed as the enterprise specialising on integrated processing of natural gas, manufacture of mineral fertilizers, as well as integrated production of organic synthesis and nitric fibber (nitron).

Raw materials for basic manufacturing are gas, air, water, caustic soda, sodium chloride and etc. The main products manufactured by the enterprise are liquid technical ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, ammoniac water, acetylene, argon, nitron, acetic acid, cyanic sodium, thiourea, caustic soda and many other kinds of chemical products.

Ammophos is located in Almalyk city, Tashkent region. It began its operation in 1969. Ammophos is the largest nitrogenous phosphate mineral fertilizers producer in Uzbekistan, which provide 85% of agriculture demand of Uzbekistan for phosphate fertilizers. Case-by-Case Privatization Bureau of State Property Committee of Uzbekistan accepts bids.

Full text of the tender can be found at UzReport Tenders.

PAKISTANI, UZBEK CHAMBERS SIGN MOU TO PROMOTE BILATERAL TRADE

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Asia Pulse reported.

LCCI President Mian Shafquat Ali and Chairman Uzbekistan Chamber Dr Alisher Shaykhov represented their respective trade bodies and signed the MoU. A number of LCCI members were also present at the MoU signing ceremony. As per MoU, both the chambers would work together for improving trade, commerce and economic relations between the two countries, the report said.

Both the sides would adopt new strategy for exchange of information relating to their respective markets. The MoU would help facilitate exchange of trade delegations between the two countries. Both the chambers would now work hand in hand to identify obstacles in the way of trade and economic cooperation.

Lahore and Uzbekistan chambers would also launch joint research operations for exploring possibilities of trade and investment. Speaking on the occasion, Alisher Shaykhov appreciated the LCCI role for the promotion of trade and industry and said that the MoU would go a long way in bringing the business communities of the two countries closer.

SOCIETY

SCO SECRETARY GENERAL MEETS UZBEK STUDENTS

Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Deguang met four Uzbek students, studying Chinese language in China within the SCO line.

Zhang Deguang initiated a programme on studying Chinese languages for students of SCO member states.

Four students from Uzbek State World Languages University and Tashkent State Oriental Studies Institute are visiting China to undergo Chinese language courses, the report said.

Visiting Beijing, the Uzbek students visited the SCO Secretariat in Beijing and they were received by the SCO Secretary General Zhang Deguang.

Deguang said launch of new programme owns new page in history of the SCO and he believes that the programme's bright future. He expressed hope that the number of students, who want study in China within the SCO line, will increase year-by-year.

WOMEN'S COMMITTEE OF UZBEKISTAN HOLD TRAINING IN NAMANGAN

Women's Committee of Uzbekistan at the assistance of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) held training on legal and social issues in family and assistance to women in crisis situation in Namangan from 1 August to 6 August.

Five-day seminar was organized for civil servants, NGOs, lawyers, teachers and advisors at the neighbourhoods of Namangan region. The seminar included discussion on gender issues, analysis cases of women lives in crisis situation, information on phone consultations and others.

The UNFPA release said Russian trainer and Executive Direction of Association of Crisis Centres N. Abubikirova. Various interactive methods on teaching, mini-lectures, role games and other exercises were used.

N. Tureeva, Deputy Chairwoman of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan, said the organization of the seminar is the first step to creation of Centre on social-legal support of women in Namangan region. It is planned that this centre will be created under aegis of the committee and it will be part of regional administration, she added.

Tureeva noted that the centre will render social and psychological assistance to women in crisis situations and it will carry out work on strengthening role of women in families and public-political life.

The centre will also consult on development of business, hold training for women in various directions and create new jobs. Tureeva said the mission of the centre is to coordinate work in the region to promote rights of women and strengthen their role in the society.

HEAD OF UZBEK FUND NOTES TB, KIDNEY DISEASES GROWTH IN ARAL SEA AREA

The head of Uzbekistan's international health ad environmental organization ECOSAN, Yusuf Shodimetov, has noted the growths in the number of tuberculosis and kidney diseases in Uzbekistan's Aral Sea region.

Speaking in Uzbek Radio's "Faktor Plyus" phone-in programme on 3 August about the results of his recent visit to the Uzbek constituent Republic of Karakalpakstan, Shodimetov said: "There is still tendency for tuberculosis to increase in the region. There is also growth in kidney diseases due to the drinking water problem. There are also many other kinds of diseases. We are now preparing a special report to the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers, the government of Karakalpakstan and the Health Ministry on taking additional measures."

Shodimetov said the incidence of TB in Karakalpakstan was higher than elsewhere in the country. "Among the regions of our country, the highest incidence rate is in Karakalpakstan. That is why we are now preparing a special programme and attracting foreign organizations to building another TB prevention centre or TB hospital in the region," he said.

However, Yusuf Shodimetov said that the environmental situation in the region was improving on the whole. "The ecosystem is slowly being restored. This is being done thanks to our major programmes. Several major projects - launched in cooperation with the UN, the forestry directorate of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management and a German technical centre are currently being implemented in the region. About 300,000 ha of land in the dried-up bed of the Aral Sea has been restored.

The land has been planted with saxaul bushes and some other kinds of plants. Life or ecosystem in the region is being restored there now," he said.

"All these encouraging factors are the reason why people no longer leaving their places. They are not going to leave their places. There are social, economic and ecological factors. But on the other hand the traditional historical and ethnic factors will never allow these people to leave their native land," he added.

UNDP SUPPORTS DISCUSSION OF THE ROLE OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN ACHIEVING MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS)

UNDP conducts summer school on "The role of public administration in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Uzbekistan" in the Charvak resort area "Pyramids" on 31 July–1 August 2006 to support the public administration reforms through enhancing the capacity of the faculty staff and Master's and Doctorate students of the Academy of State and Social Construction under the President of Uzbekistan. UNDP together with UN Agencies in Uzbekistan, faculty of the Academy and students, and representatives of national agencies participated in a two days event learning each MDG and its targets set by Uzbekistan as well as discussing the role of civil servants and various policy decisions in achieving the MDGs.

In his welcoming speech, Deputy Rector of the Academy, Fatkhulla Irgashev, noted that this event on enhancing the knowledge on the MDGs and the role of civil servants in achieving the set targets are of high importance and he shared his hope that such activities would take place on a continuous basis.

UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Fikret Akcura, after his presentation on the global perspective on MDGs, also expressed his expectations that the cooperation with the Academy would be expanded and welcomed the participants to share their ideas on feasible projects.

This event marks the first major step in developing capacity of the Academy to conduct academic courses and retraining activities in Human Development and MDGs for civil servants, decision-makers and future diplomats.

UNDP's joint project with the Academy of State and Social Construction under the President of Uzbekistan started in June 2005 aims at strengthening the capacity of the Academy to train high-caliber public sector management professionals through enhancement of its Information and Communication Technologies, human resources and knowledge platforms, as well as curriculum development.