28 December, 2006
Politics:
Using mobile phones while driving banned in Uzbekistan
Senate Amnesty Decree Allows Those Repented Return Home
Economics:
Chinese CNODC opens subsidiary in Uzbekistan
Society:
Roundtable in Almaty Marks Recently-Held Jubilees in Uzbekistan
Uzbek Entrepreneurs Train in Germany, Acquire Several Skills
POLITICS
USING MOBILE PHONES WHILE DRIVING BANNED IN UZBEKISTAN
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed the Law "On introduction of amendments to the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Administrative Accountability" on 26 December 2006.
The Law was passed by the Legislative Chamber on 30 November, and ratified by the Senate in December same year.
In conformity with the Law, Article 1281 has been added to the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Administrative Accountability. The article states that a penalty fee of one minimum wage shall be charged using phones while driving. "Second violation that takes place within less than one year after the first administrative punishment shall result in a penalty fee of two-three minimum wages, or the suspension of the driver's license for the period of up to six months."
Amendments introduced to the Code are intended to prevent traffic accidents on the roads arising through the fault of the drivers who use mobile and radio-telephones when driving a vehicle, and preserve the lives and health of citizens.
Uzbekistan has thus joined 77 countries, where a ban has been placed on the use of mobile phones while driving.
The Law will enter into force as of 1 January 2007.
SENATE AMNESTY DECREE ALLOWS THOSE REPENTED RETURN HOME
Liberalization of the criminal punishment in the Uzbek national legislation has strengthened the protection of the rights of minors. All necessary conditions have been created at the Zangiota correctional colony of the Tashkent Province to reeducate the teenagers who have unknowingly set on the path of crime.
“We pay a special attention to education, upbringing of minors and provide them with profession”, - the head of the colony Pulat Karimov said. “In particular, they obtain such professions as the welder, driver and metalworker. Besides, they have an opportunity to go in for sports”.
A special accent has been made on the President-proposed decree of the Senate of Oliy Majlis “On amnesty in connection with the 14th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan” to release the persons from punishment convicted for the first time for the crimes, which are not gravely heinous, and in particular, those who did not reach the age of 18 by the time of committing a crime.
In accordance with this humane decision a number of teenagers from Zangiota correctional colony now are returning home, to their parents. Sardor Ergashev from Namangan is among them.
“Not thinking about the consequences of my actions, I have committed a crime”, - Sardor says. “Having found myself in the colony, here I have realized the lesson of life and repented of my choice of the wrong path. Amnesty announced upon the initiative of President Islam Karimov is a lucky opportunity for such people as I am to start a life anew. Now I must justify this care and the generosity of the state. I will come back to my parents and start to live and work honestly.”
ECONOMICS
CHINESE CNODC OPENS SUBSIDIARY IN UZBEKISTAN
China National Oil & Gas Exploration & Development Corp., part of CNPC, founded its subsidiary - CNPC Silk Road – in Uzbekistan.
The new company with 100% Chinese capital will carry out geological survey in oil and gas regions in Uzbekistan. It is expected that the company will start work in 2007. CNPC Silk Road will invest US$26 million in geological survey in Uzbekistan.
The company plans to start geological survey in five investment blocks in Bukhara-Khiva, Ferghana and Ustyurt oil and gas regions in 2007.
In 2006, Uzbekneftegaz and CNODC signed agreement on geological survey in 2006-2010 in five investments blocks. CNODC invests US$208.5 million to Uzbekistan within five years.
In case of discovery of new deposit, CNODC and Uzbekneftegaz will create new joint venture on development of deposit on a par.
SOCIETY
ROUNDTABLE IN ALMATY MARKS RECENTLY-HELD JUBILEES IN UZBEKISTAN
The “roundtable” dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the Khorezm Mamun Academy and the 2700th anniversary of the city of Karshi, which was organized by the R.Suleymanov Institute of Oriental Studies, A.Margulan Archaeological Institute and Ch.Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology with the support of the Uzbek Embassy in Kazakhstan, was held in Almaty.The scholars and experts, officials from the Almaty city administration, public and cultural organizations, as well as the mass media of Kazakhstan have participated at the event.
The participants of the “roundtable” were acquainted with the festivals devoted to the anniversaries of the city of Karshi and Khorezm Mamun Academy, as well as the 670th anniversary of the eminent state figure and commander Amir Temur held in October and November this year in Uzbekistan.
While taking the floor at the event the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies Prof. M.Abuseitova and deputy director of the Institute Prof. A.Muminov have said that the Khorezm scientific school made a considerable contribution to the worldview and activity of medieval scholars not only of the Orient, but also Europe.
Prof. M.Abuseitova said of the assistance by Uzbek scholars rendered to the Institute of Oriental Studies of Kazakhstan on designing the catalog of manuscripts of the regional museum of Karshi. She has also said that the Institute led by her had signed the agreement of cooperation with the Khorezm Mamun Academy.
The participants of the event decided to draft a scientific report on the outcomes of the “round table” and publish it in the Kazakh public and political magazine “Mysl”, as well as in the scientific and historical magazine “Vostok” put out by the Institute of Oriental Studies of Kazakhstan.
UZBEK ENTREPRENEURS TRAIN IN GERMANY, ACQUIRE SEVERAL SKILLS
The team of Uzbek business people has gone through the intensive training courses in Dresden in Germany under auspices of the pilot project on raising the skills and interning.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and “InWEnt” Society (the Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gemeinnutzige GmbH) alongside the support of the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Technologies organized the studies for Uzbek managers.
The project has been proposed in a two considerable parts, that is, to go through an additional training in the sphere of management and the search for potential partners to set up joint operations.
In Dresden the Uzbek businessmen are reported to have attended the seminar classes “Intercultural communication”, “Strategic management for small and medium enterprises”, “Quality management”, “Project management”, “Personnel management”, as well as have learnt the interaction skills while negotiating with German companies, and other.
Also, they have visited with a number of companies in Germany and saw the specialized fairs, namely “Tourism and travels”, “Technologies and goods for cattle-breeding, chicken farming, equipment for the livestock and chicken farming, veterinary, fodder and technologies for their making”, and “Computer technology, casting, metallurgy, equipment, processing, and software”.