14 September, 2006

Politics
Uzbek head signs law on Medical Workers' Day
Uzbek leader receives credentials from new envoys
Afghan stability depends on Uzbekistan - Afghan envoy
Uzbek president's book presented in Germany
15th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan marked in Brussels
South Korea PM to Visit Uzbekistan

Economics
National ICT Summit to be held on 25-26 September
First National IT exhibition to be held on 26-28 September
Tashkent hosts forum for businesses of Uzbekistan and China
Uzdunrobita marks its 15th anniversary today
VimpelCom re-brands Uzbek branch to Beeline
Gazprom considers feasibility study on Uzbek projects
O'ZBEKinPRINT, O'ZUNPACK opens in Uzbek capital
airBaltic signs codeshare agreement on flights to Tashkent

Society
Conference on Islam and Youth Held In Tashkent
Moscow welcomes Uzbek specialists in Russian philology

POLITICS

UZBEK HEAD SIGNS LAW ON MEDICAL WORKERS' DAY

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a Law "On establishment of Medical Workers' Day in Uzbekistan" on 12 September.

Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan passed the law on 20 June 2006 and Senate approved it on 26 August.

The law set that Medical Workers' Day will be marked in Uzbekistan annually on the second Sunday of November.

UZBEK LEADER RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM NEW ENVOYS

Uzbek President Islom Karimov received credentials from the new ambassadors of several foreign countries who have started their work in Uzbekistan on 13 September. The new ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Afghanistan and Germany to our country presented their credentials to Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

Uzbek leader first received credentials from Saudi Arabia's new ambassador, Mansur Bin-Ibrahim Muhammad al-Mansur. Receiving his credentials, Islom Karimov wished the new ambassador success in his diplomatic mission in our country.

Afterwards, the new Ukrainian ambassador to Uzbekistan, Vyacheslav Pokhvalskyy, presented his credentials to the Uzbek president. Islam Karimov said that Ukraine was a country of great importance to Uzbek foreign policy and expressed hope that the new ambassador would contribute, through his efforts, to further development of cooperation between the two countries.

Ukrainian envoy said Ukraine is interested in development of relations with Uzbekistan, in particular in oil and gas sector.

Then, Karimov received credentials from the new ambassador of Slovakia to Uzbekistan, Jozef Macisak. The Uzbek leader said Slovakia had its own place in cooperation between Uzbekistan and European states.

Today Karimov also received credentials from the new Afghan and German ambassadors. Afghan envoy Mohammad Faruq Baraki said Afghanistan highly values assistance of Uzbekistan in rehabilitation of the country and its efforts on strengthening regional security and stability.

He said it is important for Afghanistan to establish flight between Tashkent and Kabul, creation of joint commission of bilateral cooperation and assistance of Uzbekistan to education system of Afghanistan.

German envoy Matthias Mayer said that trade-economic and investment partnership of Uzbekistan and Germany have great potential.

AFGHAN STABILITY DEPENDS ON UZBEKISTAN - AFGHAN ENVOY

Newly Ambassador of Afghanistan to Uzbekistan Mohammad Faruq Baraki said Afghanistan will follow Uzbek example in development of education and healthcare systems. Afghan envoy handed over credentials to Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Wednesday, 13 September.

Mohammad Faruq Baraki said in interview to Uzbek TV that stabilization of the situation as well as improvement in living conditions of people in Afghanistan depended in many respects on Uzbekistan.

"We have started efforts to restore the economy, to set up educational establishments and to restore the healthcare system. In this we should only follow the example of Uzbekistan," he said.

UZBEK PRESIDENT'S BOOK PRESENTED IN GERMANY

Book of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov entitled "Uzbekistan will never be dependable and will not be dependant from anybody", published in German, was presented in Bremen, Germany.

The Uzbek Embassy in Germany organized the presentation in cooperation with Bremen-Uzbekistan society and honourable council of Uzbekistan in Bremen.

The report said review on reforms of Uzbekistan was presented at the meeting. The meeting noted that the book of Uzbek leader shows efforts of Uzbekistan in economic reforms, fight against terrorism and religious extremism.

The agency said the participants noted that some western media and political circles do not understand threat of terrorism and they should take into account real situation in the region and mentality of the country in assessment of their policy.

15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN MARKED IN BRUSSELS

The celebration of 15th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place in Royal Museums of Arts and History in Brussels on 12 September, 2006. More than 300 representatives of political, business, and academic circles of Belgium, international organizations and diplomatic corps, as well as journalists, took part at the event.

While opening the event, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Karomiddin Gadoev said that after gaining its independence in 1991, Uzbekistan had chosen its own original and unique way of development the essence of which is the construction of free civil society based on market economy and to create high level life standards for its citizens. The main content and meaning of the chosen reforms is to develop economy in normal, civilized and evolutionary way. It was mentioned that during 15 years of independent development Uzbekistan due to its economic and cultural potential became influential factor in the international politics.

The Royal Museum of Arts and History General Director Ms. Ann Kahen-Delay said that in order to provide an opportunity to thousands of Belgians and Europeans to get acquainted with invaluable spiritual and cultural legacy of Uzbek people, which was revived during the years of independence of Uzbekistan, the Royal Museum of Arts and History is now starting to prepare a major exhibition on the history and archaeology of Uzbekistan called “Samarkand – crossroads of the Great Silk Route” in 2009.

The film entitled “Dynamic Uzbekistan” about the modern development of Uzbekistan during the years of Independence has been demonstrated at the event.

The group of Uzbek musicians and dancers presented the colorful cultural program, which was warmly received by the audience.

The exhibition of painting works of Uzbek artists Alisher Alikulov and Valery Enin entitled “The Still Moments of Uzbekistan” was also organized at the Museum within the framework of the celebration of 15th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

SOUTH KOREA PM TO VISIT UZBEKISTAN

On September 24-26 this year the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Han Myung-Sook will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan. During the visit, Prime Minister Han Myung-Sook will discuss with her Uzbek colleagues the prospects of further deepening of bilateral cooperation, as well as the issues of implementing in practice the arrangements and agreements, secured during the state visit of President Islam Karimov to the Republic of Korea o¬n March 28-30 this year.

On the outcomes of the talks in Tashkent, the sides are expected to sign a number of bilateral documents, aimed at enhancing cooperation of the two countries in various areas.

ECONOMICS

NATIONAL ICT SUMMIT TO BE HELD ON 25-26 SEPTEMBER

National ICT Summit will be held in Tashkent on 25-26 September within the framework Week of Information and Communication Technologies.

Coordination council on development of computerization and information-communication technologies, committee on press and information technologies of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information, UNDP's ICTP Project and Association of companies and organization of information technologies.

The summit present opportunity to state, educational and private structures to obtain information on achievement and new technologies, discuss ways of implementation of ICT in development of all spheres of live.

FIRST NATIONAL IT EXHIBITION TO BE HELD ON 26-28 SEPTEMBER

First National exhibition of information technologies "ICT Expo 2006" will be held at Uzkurgazmasavdo in Tashkent on 26-28 September.

The exhibition, which is organized with Week of Information and Communication Technologies, will gather members of recently created Association of enterprises and organization of information technologies (ICT Association), which now unites some 40 companies.

Week of Information and Communication Technologies InfoCom-2006 will be held in Tashkent on 25-29 September and it is directed to demonstrate achievement of Uzbek companies and determine development plans for future.

The exhibition aimed to demonstrate latest achievement in IT sector and first of all development of local companies.

It is expected that foreign companies like Alcatel, Huawei, Motorola, Siemens and others will participate in the event along with domestic firms.

TASHKENT HOSTS FORUM FOR BUSINESSES OF UZBEKISTAN AND CHINA

Business forum on trade and economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and China and cooperation exchange among the businesses of both countries were held at Le Grande Plaza Hotel, Tashkent, on 12 September.

The events were held within the visit of Chinese delegation on issues of trade and economic cooperation development – the National part of the Shangai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Business Council from Chinese People's Republic. The delegation's visit was organized with the aim of further expansion of business cooperation among the entrepreneurs of the SCO member countries.

Opening the forum, Nabijon Kasymov, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, said: "Today we are receiving the delegation of SCO Business Council from China. The goal of this structure is development of trade and economic cooperation and establishment of business contacts among the SCO member states. This is the first large-scale event in the framework of the SCO Business Council. The Chinese delegation's visit to our country shows the growing interest of Chinese business circles in Uzbekistan. China is one of the main foreign trade partners of Uzbekistan".

"Large Chinese companies are participating in this forum. I hope that this visit will help their representatives acquaint deeper with the investment climate of Uzbekistan," said Chjan Yuitzin, the head of the Chinese delegation.

Salombek Habibullaev, Chief of Central Information-Analytical Department, welcomed participants of the forum on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan. He said: "Uzbekistan and China have passed a difficult path of gaining independence. Both countries have vast natural resources, developed industrial infrastructure, which is the basis of fruitful economic cooperation." According to official statistics, the commodity turnover between Uzbekistan and China has grown 4 times and comprised US$500 million, and it can really make up US$1 billion this year, Habibullaev noted, adding that agreements worth US$1.5 billion have been signed after the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to China. Currently, 115 Chinese companies and 26 representative offices are working in Uzbekistan. "We are ready to boost our cooperation to speed up implementation of these agreements, create new ventures on the basis of Uzbek ones. I would accentuate on electrical and electro-technical industries", Habibullaev said.

There are nearly 60 million people living in Central Asia and consuming electrical energy. "We see broad perspectives for China in the programme of privatization of these industries. Today realization of agreements reached at the jubilee summit of the SCO on 14 June 2006 is prior for us. And this requires planned system steps of both sides", he added.

Participants of the business forum discussed state and perspectives of further enhancement of trade and economic cooperation among the business circles of the two countries, as well as creation of favourable conditions for cooperation of entrepreneurs. Within the framework of cooperation exchange, Uzbek and Chinese businesses during individual talks considered prospects of business collaboration, and opportunities of attraction of foreign investments for creation of joint projects and productions.

UZDUNROBITA MARKS ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY

Uzbekistan's No. 1 mobile operator Uzdunrobita, which recently was re-branded to MTS-Uzbekistan, is marking its 15th anniversary on 14 September.

Uzdunrobita was founded in August 1991 and it was the first mobile communication operator in Central Asia. The company launched commercial exploitation of mobile network in August 1992. The company run NMT-450 standard.

In mid 1994, the company adopted decision to launch AMPS and Digitam AMPS standards based on the study on global telecommunication trends. Uzdunrobita completed transfer to AMPS/DAMPS in November 1995 and stopped to use NMT-450 standard. The company said use of AMPS/DAMPS standard improved quality of services and increased number of subscribers.

The company obtained license from the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information in March 2002 to render services on GSM 900/1800 standards. In October 2002, the company launched GSM network in Tashkent and Samarkand and a year later the GSM network covered all regions of Uzbekistan.

In August 2004, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) acquired 74% stake in Uzdunrobita and signed option to purchase other 26%, which was recently prolonged.

In June 2006, Uzdunrobita was re-branded to MTS-Uzbekistan and now render services under MTS brand.

According to MTS release, as of 1 September 2006, MTS-Uzdunrobita had some 1 million users, which makes it largest operator in Uzbekistan.

VIMPELCOM RE-BRANDS UZBEK BRANCH TO BEELINE

Unitel LLC, an Uzbek branch of Russia's VimpelCom, officially started to render mobile services in Uzbekistan under Beeline trademark on 12 September. The company also announced on launch of new two tariff packages.

VimpelCom acquired Unitel, the second largest Uzbek mobile operator, in February 2006 for US$207.7 million. Earlier, Russian company purchased Buztel for US$62.4 million. In July, Unitel and Buztel merged and started to render services under Unitel brand.

Sergey Avdeev, executive vice president on development of business in CIS and head technical director of Vimpelcom, said: "We are happy that Uzbekistan with population of 26 million people joined 'Beelin world'. We hope that brightness, simplicity and emotional positivity of our new style will bring new colours to disposition of people of this country."

Beeline sales offices opened on 12 September in existing sales and services offices, including headquarters of Unitel in Tashkent. Beeline services will be offered in all regions of Uzbekistan through dealers' network, the company said in its press release. Evgeniy Ruban, director general of Unitel, said currently the network of the company covers large number of cities and settlements in Uzbekistan. He said one of the main advantage of Beeline in Uzbekistan is high quality of services and new billing system. Ruban said after the launch of Beeling brand, the company plans to focus on improvement of quality services, network capacity and improve sales and service standards. He said in perspective, the company plans to develop its branch network and launch GPRS in all coverage area and other high-technologic solutions.

Speaking at the press conference, Evgeniy Ruban said the company put a task to increase number of subscribers to 2 million by the end of 2007. He said that it is "super" task, but it can be realized.

On the same day, the company announced launch of two new tariff packages – Hochu skazat (I want to say) and Jivi Legko (Live easy) with per second tariffication.

GAZPROM CONSIDERS FEASIBILITY STUDY ON UZBEK PROJECTS

Board of Gazprom, Russian gas giant, considered a feasibility study and a stage-by-stage exploration programme for fields in Uzbekistan's Ustyurt region.

Gazprom expected to sign a production sharing-agreement with Uzbekistan for the development of Ustyurt blocks in July, but the deal is apparently being postponed.

Gazprom was not able to say when the PSA will eventually be signed. Uzbekistan's total reserves are estimated at over 6.25 trillion cubic metres of natural gas, including 1.62 trillion cubic metres of commercial reserves. The country produces around 60 billion cubic metres of gas per year, of which 5 billion cubic metres is exported to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan exported around 8 billion cubic metres of gas to Russia in 2005 and plans to raise exports to 9 billion cubic metres this year.

O'ZBEKINPRINT, O'ZUNPACK OPENS IN UZBEK CAPITAL

The Eighth International Exhibitions O'ZBEKinPRINT and O'ZUNPACK opened at the UzExpoCentre in Tashkent on 12 September.

The exhibition was organized by PolRos, Uzbek-Russian venture, and UzExpoCentre National Exhibition Company at official support of Uzbek Agency for Print and Information, Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, Russian Embassy in Uzbekistan and Economic mission of France in Uzbekistan. O'ZBEKinPRINT presents products of polygraph, publishing businesses, advertisement, paper and stationary products. O'ZUNPACK demonstrates packaging and label products.

Some 30 Uzbek and 20 foreign companies are participating in the exhibition, including Davlat Belgisi of Uzbekistan, Itrako of Russia, Korus of Korea and others.

Participants demonstrate modern equipment, materials and technologies on production of print products, packages and labels.

AIRBALTIC SIGNS CODESHARE AGREEMENT ON FLIGHTS TO TASHKENT

Latvian airline airBaltic has signed a codeshare agreement with leading Uzbek carrier Uzbekistan Airways. Starting on 29 October this year, flights from Riga to Tashkent will receive an airBaltic flight code.

"We are pleased to be expanding our network of eastbound flights by launching cooperation with Uzbekistan Airways – one more strategically important partner in the former USSR," airBaltic president Bertolt Flick commented.

The codeshare agreement between airBaltic and Uzbekistan Airways will give passengers access to flights on the Riga - Tashkent route, as well as to onward flights from the two cities. Thanks to the agreement, passengers will find it easier to navigate the choices offered by the two airlines and use both companies' networks. Flights from Riga to Tashkent will depart twice per week, on Mondays and Fridays, while flights from Tashkent to Riga will depart on Fridays and Sundays.

airBaltic currently operates flights to ten cities in the former USSR: Baku, Dnepropetrovsk, Kaliningrad, Kiev, Moscow, Minsk, Odessa, St Petersburg, Simferopol and Tbilisi, as well as offering direct flights from Kaliningrad to Copenhagen.

SOCIETY

CONFERENCE ON ISLAM AND YOUTH HELD IN TASHKENT

International science and practical conference “Religion and youth in modern Muslim societies” has concluded at the Tashkent Islamic University. Social Movement of Uzbekistan “Kamolot”, Imam al-Bukhary Republican Science and Enlightenment Center, National Human Rights Center and Deutsch Friedrich Ebert Fund organized the event.

Respected scholars of Islam and experts from Germany, Russia, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, as well as the representatives from the United Nations, OSCE, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and diplomatic corps in Tashkent participated at the conference.

Main goal of the traditional annual conference at the Tashkent Islamic University is to unveil the genuine essence of the double standards in assessing the o¬ngoing most complex processes in the world, related to religion, and ways of safeguarding the youth from pernicious influence of ideas of religious extremism and fanaticism.

State adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan o¬n inter-national relations and religions Shoazim Minovarov, chairman of the youth movement Kakhramon Kuranbaev, chairman of the Imam al-Bukhary Republican Science and Enlightenment Center Zakhidulla Munavvarov, rector of the Tashkent Islamic University Shukhrat Yovkochev and director of the National Human Rights Center Akmal Saidov spoke at the opening of the conference.

Head of the Friedrich Ebert Fund Reinhardt Krumm has noted in his address that, “the modern situation in the world as never before takes the true mission of all religions and beliefs at the forefront – to maintain the harmony between the nations, while unconditionally condemning any violence”. In his opinion, it is not accidental that the annual conference is held in Uzbekistan, which for over the span of millennia has been the center of interaction of various religions and cultures.

“From the time of gaining the state sovereignty the leadership of the country gradually advocates that the religion should accustom the people to higher spiritual and moral values, supports the notion of protecting religion from those, who wrongly interpret it among the people, and especially, among the youth,” – Mr. Krumm has also underscored, “the forum provides for a good opportunity for the exchange of views about the ways of reinforcing dialog between the state and religion, place and role of the youth in Islam, goals of various extremist forces, guised by religious slogans, enhancing the religious and enlightenment activities among the youth as a tool of nourishing the religious tolerance”.

Professor at the free university of Berlin Gudrun Kramer said that the relations between the youth and religion were o¬ne of the important issues in Uzbekistan, where the bulk of the population makes up the youth.

“We need to discuss the role of the young men and women in society, pay a special attention in educating the young people for the Islamic culture and tolerance,” – Gudrun Kramer has said.

Participants of the conference exchanged experiences o¬n the examples of their own countries, discussed the practice of application of legislation in this field, problems of relations of religion and state institutions, religion and system of education, as well as the religion and politics.

“Conference has passed in a wonderful atmosphere,” – rector of the Arab Open University in Kuwait Professor Fahd al-Makrad said in a interview at the conference break, “the topic under discussion is very urgent in modern Islamic world. o¬ne is made glad of the fact that elaborations take place in Tashkent. We all know what a profound contribution the Uzbek thinkers Imam al-Bukhary, Imam at-Termizi, Bakhauddin Naqshbandi, Abu Nasr Farabi, and many others have made to the Islamic civilization. It is nice to note that the youth of Uzbekistan carefully preserves and learns the great heritage of ancestors”.

“The enlightened and tolerant Islam, which holds the future, has a very solid foundation in Uzbekistan,” – the deputy rector of Indonesian University Paramadina Yudi Lateef said, “conference has a profound significance in designing the strategy of accustoming the youth to the best traditions of kindness, love for peace, and humanism of this great religion”.

On the outcomes of discussions the scientists and experts have designed recommendations to the governments of states, represented at the Tashkent conference, which is held already for the fifth time, and acquires an ever-greater authority in the world.

MOSCOW WELCOMES UZBEK SPECIALISTS IN RUSSIAN PHILOLOGY

The total of 57 teachers of Russian language and literature, and Russian primary schools of Uzbekistan have returned from Moscow, where they attended a course at the Academy for Qualification Upgrading and Retraining of Educational Staff (APKRO). The trip was made possible by the grant issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The classes were conducted in the form of lectures and practical tutorials. Thus, primary school teachers learned a lot from the topic of "Improving the literacy and the standard of speech of students".

The Candidate of Pedagogical Science, Assistant Principle of Moscow School No. 1133 A. Vorontsov, Doctors and Candidates of Sciences G. Obernihina, T. Potemkina and I. Osipova delivered interesting reports for the teachers from Uzbekistan. The trainees familiarized with the modern methods of teaching literature in Russia, received useful recommendations on the application of these pedagogical techniques in teaching "the great and powerful language" (Russian classic writers referred so to Russian language).

Teachers from Uzbekistan also obtained useful knowledge and skills at the seminars on "Modern class of literature", "Analysis of mistakes in speech", "Comparative analysis at literature classes", "Forms and types of control for Russian language and literature classes", "System for speech development for Russian language classes", "Complex text analyses at Russian language classes."

Uzbek specialists in Russian philology L. Khvan, I. Kizenko, R. Yuldasheva, O. Yefremova and the author of this article Sergei Zinin spoke at the practical conference on "Topical issues concerning the teaching of Russian language and literature in Post-Soviet space".

Not only did the Uzbek teachers prepare well for the new academic year, they also had a nice time. They went on a trip around Moscow, visited Kremlin, a circus on Tsvetnoi Bulvar, and a show at "Cosmos".

Accommodation was also very nice. The guests were placed in hotel rooms with TVs. As a part of the room service, they also received nice meals three times a day.

To sum up, Moscow received Uzbek specialists in Russian philology in a Russian way, very hospitably.