June 03, 2008

Politics:
President of Uzbekistan received US Assistant Secretary of State
Issues of security and stability in the region discussed in Tashkent
Economics:
Forum Feels Pulse of Equity, Fin. Services & Real Estate Market
Uzbekistan starts production of rose oil
Uzbekistan taking measures to prevent sale of low-quality toys
Society:
Protecting rights of minors and young people discussed
Nationwide Young Musicians Contest Starts at Uzbek Capital
State Conservatory Hosts Closure of Concert Season 07-08

POLICY

PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN RECEIVED US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher at Oqsaroy residence in Tashkent on June 2.

Welcoming the US official, the head of the state noted that relations between Uzbekistan and the US were evolving steadily. “Your visit is a good opportunity to exchange views on the relationships between our countries”, Islam Karimov said, UzA reported.

Uzbek-American cooperation covers a wide range of issues of international and regional policy, including combating transnational threats, as well as strengthening regional security and stability.

The priority in bilateral relations is given to the expansion and strengthening of mutually beneficial trade-economic and investment cooperation.

The legal basis of relations between the two countries consists of more than 50 instruments, in particular, the Declaration on Strategic Partnership and the Bases of Cooperation signed in 2002.

Uzbekistan and the US continue to work together to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan, and for socioeconomic reconstruction of this country.

The US Assistant Secretary of State noted that his country was interested in developing cooperation with Uzbekistan.

During the meeting, Islam Karimov and Richard Boucher considered Uzbek-American relations and other topics of mutual interest.

ISSUES OF SECURITY AND STABILITY IN THE REGION DISCUSSED IN TASHKENT

International conference “Security and stability in Central Asia in the context of political and economic modernization” was held in Tashkent on May 29-30.

The conference was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan jointly with the European Institute of International Relations (Belgium), Institute of Prospects and Security in Europe (France), Centre for Policy Studies (Uzbekistan) and the regional office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) in Central Asia.

The forum was attended by experts and analysts on security issues from Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, India, Italy, China, Pakistan, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Tajikistan, France, as well as representatives of international organizations.

The main topics of discussion at the conference were questions of sociopolitical and economic modernization in Uzbekistan and the countries of the region, as well as initiatives to resolve the situation in Afghanistan put forward by the President of Uzbekistan during the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest.

It was noted that issues of security in Central Asia, which has significant energy resources, as well as in Uzbekistan, which has a special geostrategic position, were of a particular importance to the EU and the world at large. The need to deepen economic, political and humanitarian ties between Central Asia and Europe is also growing.

Virtually all participants of the conference noted that security and stability was an essential condition of sociopolitical and socioeconomic reforms in the region. At the same time, these reforms will contribute to preserving peace and development of economies and political systems of the states, they said.

The participants emphasized that the countries of Central Asia were seeing a dynamic process of sociopolitical and socioeconomic modernization, which was taking place at different speeds and with varying success. At the same time, it is clear that in this complex process of forming national statehood there are certain laws and principles, which, as the experience of Uzbekistan shows, should be sequential, systematic, take into account the level of political culture, legal consciousness, mentality, customs and traditions.

Attempts to impose and artificially accelerate democratic processes, introduce universal models of democracy can lead and, as in some countries of the region, are leading to destabilization of the sociopolitical situation and undermining the foundations of security.

According to president of the European Institute of International Relations Irnerio Seminatore, the “democratic paradox” of such policies is that thanks to principles of political pluralism and political alternative sometimes extremist forces come to power, which are often supporters of undemocratic development of the state. According to the Belgian scientist, in the modern world democracy has no chances to take root in societies in which it “is borrowed from a totally different, alien country in terms of cultural values and historical traditions”.

In the sphere of economic modernization sequence in market reforms also proved crucial. The implementation of principles like avoiding shock therapy and strong socially-oriented economy help prevent mass impoverishment of the population and dangerous growth of social tension.

In this context, Professor Ajay Kumar Patnaik of the School of International Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) highlighted the experience of Uzbekistan, which in the course of sociopolitical and economic modernization introduced its own social welfare system that ensures stability in the society.

The conference attendees paid a particular attention to the situation in Afghanistan. It was noted that achieving peace and stability in that country was an important factor not only of the regional but also of the global security and sustainable socioeconomic development of all countries in Central Asia.

They agreed that attempts to solve the Afghan issue through military force would neither have prospects, nor yield the expected result. Noting the need to shift the Afghan problem from the military into the political perspective, the participants supported the initiative of the President of Islam Karimov to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan, which he made at the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest on 3 April 2008.

The proposals of Islam Karimov on the need to address the priority social and economic problems in Afghanistan, provide the people with work, form the effective power vertical and others are currently the best and most promising, it was noted.

“The initiatives of President Islam Karimov are perceived very positively, since they are based on the need for peaceful resolution of the problem of Afghanistan,” president of the European Institute of International Relations Irnerio Seminatore said.

Former Ambassador of Italy in Uzbekistan Iolanda Brunetti highly evaluated the initiatives of Uzbekistan on Afghanistan, calling them “break-through”. According to her, “President Islam Karimov has once again demonstrated the far-sighted policy”. “The constructive initiatives of the Uzbek President sounded at the right time and offer the best formula for a wide range of problems to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan.” She also stressed that proposal on the 6 +3 Contact Group in coordinating its activities with UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Afghanistan was a “bright idea”.

This structure, acting under the UN and renewed in light of contemporary realities, might include representatives of states neighboring Afghanistan, Russia and the United States, as well as the authorized NATO representatives. It could become a basis to develop effective mechanisms to implement new approaches to achieve peace and harmony on the Afghan soil, and contribute to the efficiency of the negotiating process between the warring parties in that country.

The conference participants noted that the only correct way was to provide full support to the Afghan people in peaceful solution of the existing conflicts and development of the economy and rebuilding the war-ravaged infrastructure. During the discussion, the emphasis was also placed on the need to ensure a phased implementation of reforms in the state and social construction and formation of civil society.

The attendees comprehensively reviewed and positively evaluated the reforms conducted in Uzbekistan in democratic renewal and modernization of the country.

It was noted that Uzbekistan had successfully created a bicameral parliament and was improving the national legislation in accordance with international norms and democratic requirements. Formation of the civil society and its institutions is actively continuing and increasingly helping to solve important problems facing the country. The abolition of the death penalty in the country and the transfer of the detention authorization to courts was an important result of the legal and judicial reforms.

The achievements of Uzbekistan in the development of market economy were also highlighted. The grain independence has ensured food security and protection of the domestic market from fluctuations on the world food market. New industries, including automobile, gas, chemical and others have been developing. Maximally favorable conditions for expansion of small business and private entrepreneurship, as well as attraction of foreign investment in the country have been created.

As pointed out by Ajay Kumar Patnaik, the stability in Uzbekistan has been achieved due to significant efforts in the area of policy and legislation. The space for ideological pluralism, free market and private property has been created in the country. In addition, Uzbekistan is a state where many nationalities live and has made great success in inter-ethnic cooperation, he said.

“Peace and stability are a very high value,” Myusha Sever, director of the Open Dialogue project of the New Democracies Institute (USA), said. “However, they do not appear by themselves, you need to do much work. We must acknowledge that the people of Uzbekistan have managed to save the peace and stability in the country, and are committed to universal and national values.” “I am confident that in the near future, Uzbekistan will take its place as a respected partner among other global actors on the world stage,” she noted.

ECONOMY

FORUM FEELS PULSE OF EQUITY, FIN. SERVICES & REAL ESTATE MARKET

Late last week the Third International Investment forum – 2008 was held in Tashkent. The National association of participants of equity market of Uzbekistan – “HAUR” and Closed Joint-Stock Company “Avesta Investment Group” organized the event, Jahon Information Agency reported.

The official support by the State Property Committee, Ministry of Finance, the Center for coordination and control of equity market operations, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Tashkent City Municipality, and other ministries and agencies have ensured the high status for the forum.

The large portfolio investors, owners of businesses, directors of financial establishments, heads of joint-stock companies, managers of companies and holdings discussed in detail the equity, financial services and real estate market, as well as opportunities for foreign investors to participate in the market operations. The forum also saw presentation of leading branches of the Uzbek economy.

The HAUR Deputy Chairman Arnold Vdovkin said that this conference was the only one in Uzbekistan that paid a special attention to portfolio investors.

“Those are the investors who are not intending to obtain control of the venture and interfere in its daily financial operations. They are interested only in investing their funds to company securities and profitably realizing them in some period of time. That is to profit from investing”, - he said.

At the end of the forum the festive ceremony of awarding the leading participants of equity market of Uzbekistan was held, the newspaper reported.

UZBEKISTAN STARTS PRODUCTION OF ROSE OIL

The Uzbek farmer succeeds in the experiment of rose oil and rose water production from Damascus sort rose-petal.

As farmer Furkat Melikulov told Uzbekistan TV channel, he started production from four saplings. A plant stroke root in our conditions despite it is very capricious, he says.

Now 400,000 Damascus rose bushes are growing in 15 hectare plantation. Rose oil and rose water are applied in perfume industry and medicine.

Though this oil is expensive due to complicated extraction technology, adoption of such plants and products id economically expedient, says Vazira Salidjanova candidate of technical science in her interview to Uzbekistan TV-channel.

In order to produce 1 kg of oil 5,000 kg of raw materials are required. Flower petal and leaves are collected in the morning before sunrise only.

Only three countries in the world Bulgaria, France and Russia produce rose oil from Damascus rose for export.

UZBEKISTAN TAKING MEASURES TO PREVENT SALE OF LOW-QUALITY TOYS

State Committee for demonopolization and development of competition in collaboration with the Health Ministry, Uzstandart agency, Customs and Tax Committees, Federation of consumer protection societies have been implementing the plan to prevent the occurrence of sales of low-quality toys on the domestic markets.

The preliminary study has revealed cases when entrepreneurs engaged in selling children’s toys had no relevant documents, invoices, contracts, quality and hygiene certificates or labels in local language. Given that toys selling outlets in most cases have all the necessary documents, the low-quality toys are sold mainly in the markets, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.

According to State Customs Committee, during last year 250 cases of toys smuggling were registered in the country. In the first quarter of 2008, more than 60,000 toys were seized on 34 cases.

SOCIETY

PROTECTING RIGHTS OF MINORS AND YOUNG PEOPLE DISCUSSED

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan jointly with UNICEF office held a conference on protection of minors and youth.

Deputy Prosecutor General A.Sharafutdinov, Deputy Minister of Public Education U.Musayev and others said in their welcoming speeches that protection of interests of children and young people has been raised to the level of state policy in Uzbekistan, UzA reported.

Thanks to combined efforts of the public, NGOs and law enforcement agencies, the crime levels have been falling. The General Prosecutor’s Office held more than 1,300 events to protect the rights and interests of the young people, it was said.

As a result, in the four months of 2008, the level of juvenile delinquency in the country fell by 3.2% and the cases of suicide by 25%.

The country is currently implementing the Program of activities devoted to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

NATIONWIDE YOUNG MUSICIANS CONTEST STARTS AT UZBEK CAPITAL

The Mukhiddin Kary-Yajubov republican contest among the pupils of music schools and schools of art took off at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, according to the report by Jahon Information Agency.

The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan is reported to have organized the contest. At the moment, Uzbekistan pays a particular attention to upbringing the harmonically mature young generation and developing the national music arts.

The gradual measures aimed at strengthening the material and technical base of music schools and schools of arts and further improvement of their operations serve for taking the work ongoing in this area up to a higher level.

Such vast undertakings in Uzbekistan which go in line with the State Program Year of Youth brings about profound opportunities to perfect the spiritual world and culture of the Uzbek youth, creates the necessary conditions to closely learn about the best samples of national and world music culture, as well as promote the labor of pedagogues and specialists, according to the report.

The major goal of the contest in Tashkent is to discover the talented children, comprehensively support and promote them. The contest will last until June 4.

At the final stage of the contest about 200 students of the class of people’s music instruments, traditional performance and singing are going to show-off their mastery and talent on twenty-seven directions, in line with the report.

STATE CONSERVATORY HOSTS CLOSURE OF CONCERT
SEASON 07-08

The closure of the concert season 2007-2008 of the Chamber orchestra of Creative art groups at the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place at the large hall of State Conservatory of Uzbekistan.

The art director and conductor Viktor Medyulyanov-led orchestra presented the compositions of composers of different eras and styles.

At the soiree the overcrowded hall of conservatory enjoyed the masterpieces of world classics such as the overture to the opera “Altsina” by F. Handel, the Concerto c-moll 3-parts for oboe with orchestra of A. Marcello, the “Consolation” by F. Liszt, the “Serenade for string orchestra” by P. Tchaikovsky, remake of Romanian folk melody “March round-dance" by Gr.Diniku, and the “Nocturne” by V. Milov.

The concert program also included the works by Uzbek composers. The guests warmly welcomed the premier of three plays on Jewish folk melodies performed by Polina Medyulyanova, the talented young composer. And the three jazz compositions for piano with orchestra performed by the author - Muhammad Atajanov have indeed touched the audiences.

The amateurs of music art, residents of Tashkent and its visitors, as well as diplomats participated at the concert. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Uzbekistan Konstantin Alexa said that he obtained much pleasure and was deeply impressed by the concert.

“The concert was enjoyable. We always attend such kind of soirees with pleasure. They allow closely learn about the art and modern life of Uzbekistan. Performances of these unique compositions sounded today testify to a high level of culture of the Uzbek people and professionalism of musicians. In the next concert season we plan to organize a joint concert with this famous orchestra with new compositions of the Uzbek and Romanian composers,” Ambassador Alexa has said in particular.

It is pleasant that live and magic world of music united the audiences of various ages and with various tastes – masters and amateurs of art, both young and old, he added.