March 17, 2006
POLITICS
Uzbek National Security Council discusses situation in Central Asia
Uzbek, Russian parliamentarians discuss ties in Tashkent
ECONOMY
Conference discusses issues on development of tourism
Uzbektelecom mobile expands its network
German firm acquires 40% of Savdogar-bank
LEGISLATION
Uzbekistan joins to Agreement on Patent Rights
Uzbekistan develops new bill "On Salt Iodinisation"
ENVIRONMENT
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan are building dam separating North and South Arals
SOCIETY
Russian scientists to finish construction of observatory in Uzbekistan
CULTURE
Exhibition "Treasure of Uzbekistan" held in Paris
Festival of Uzbek Cinema in Tashkent
Francophonia festival starts in Tashkent
Politics
Uzbek National Security Council discusses situation in Central Asia
National Security Council under President of Uzbekistan held its session on 16 March. The Uzbek President and chairman of council Islam Karimov chaired the session.
The session exchanged opinion on situation in Central Asia and around it. It is also considered issues on fighting modern threats and challenges to security of the country, including in information sphere. The meeting discussed accession of Uzbekistan to the Eurasian Economic Community.
The session determined tasks of state bodies on ensuring stability and security in Uzbekistan.
The decisions were adopted on considered issues and concrete orders to ministries and departments of Uzbekistan.
Uzbek, Russian parliamentarians discuss ties in Tashkent
A delegation of Russian parliamentarians led by chairman of Committee on CIS Affairs of Russian Duma Andrey Kokoshin visited Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan (lower house) on 16 March.
During the meeting of Uzbek and Russian parliamentarians, the sides noted that relations between Uzbekistan and Russia are developing steadily. They said the agreement on allied relation between two states lift ties to new level.
Kokoshin said the visit of delegation to Ferghana, Namangan and Andijan regions was full of fruitful negotiations in expansion of relations with these Uzbek regions and Russian regions in trade, agriculture and industry.
The sides exchanged opinion on current state and perspectives of interparliament relations between Uzbekistan and Russia and their expansion.
ECONOMY
Conference discusses issues on development of tourism
Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade (MFERIT) hosted a conference on development of tourism in Uzbekistan on 16 March. The event was attended by representatives of state bodies, private tourism sector and Japanese experts.
Opening the event, Alisher Shayhov, Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, said the Uzbek government puts development of tourism among its priorities.
He said the number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan is too low and Uzbekistan does not use its potential fully. He added the state bodies and private sector should unite efforts to boost tourism sector in the country.
Yuichi Kusumoto, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan, said tourism opens good opportunities for businesses and it is attractive sector. He added promotion of tourism is important for Japan.
He said 16 million Japanese people visit foreign countries annually, of them 4,000 visit to Uzbekistan. He added that it is too low figure for Uzbekistan.
Kusumoto said tourism companies of Japan stirred up their activity and several new groups of Japanese tourists visit Uzbekistan this year.
He said a group of Japanese tourism operators would visit Uzbekistan in April to study conditions in the country and give their recommendations. After analyzing market, the Japanese companies will expand tourism products connected with Uzbekistan.
Japanese envoy shared with shortcoming in Uzbek tourism sector and noted need to develop infrastructure of tourism sector. He also said the country should develop new tourism routes and improve transport system. Kusumoto said preparation and retraining of staff should be on focus of Uzbekistan.
He said the country should prepare its strategy on development of tourism and start to advertisement of Uzbekistan abroad, including in Japan. He said Uzbekistan also should simplify visa procedures.
Japanese volunteers, who are working in Uzbekistan in tourism sector, also shared their recommendations.
Masaharu Shibuya, volunteer working in Khorezm region, pointed to need to improve infrastructure and offer wide-range of foods and souvenirs for tourists. He said each city should have unique souvenirs, not the same as now.
Shibuya said Uzbek tourism sector should improve service. He said good impression on visit will serve as advertisement and can attract more tourists.
Rustam Kurbanov, head of Uzbektourism, shared plans of the national tourism administration on the development of the sector. He said currently Uzbektourism and private tourism organisations are developing strategy of the country. He said that there will be also adopted several new legislative documents, including new edition of Law on tourism.
Uzbektelecom mobile expands its network
Uzbektelecom Mobile, wireless communication arm of Uzbektelecom, will continue expansion to the regions, the web site of Uzbektelecom said.
The company will expand its network in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Ferghana, Namangan and Andijan regions first.
Uzbektelecom Mobile introduced wireless communication network in Karakalpaktsan, Bukhar and Navoi regions in 2005. The company also have its network in Jizzakh, Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions. The network allows access to telephone, Internet and other services.
Uzbektelecom Mobile's target is to create national network of wireless communication based on CDMA-450 standard.
Bakhtiyor Abdurasulov, director of Uzbektelecom Mobile, said the company is holding negotiations with suppliers on purchase of communication equipment of CDMA-450 standard to expand network.
He said in near future, the company is planning to construct national wireless communication network in
Uzbekistan based on CDMA-450 standard.
German firm acquires 40% of Savdogar-bank
R&D Express-Aussenhandels Gmbh of Germany got permission of Central Bank of Uzbekistan to acquire 40% ordinary shares of Savdogar Bank for US$2 million.
The bank was re-organised to the bank with participation of foreign capital and charter capital for US$5 million.
The bank is planning to register its new name with Central Bank. After registration, the bank will be named Savdogar Bank Uzbek-German joint stock commercial bank.
LEGISLATION
Uzbekistan joins to Agreement on Patent Rights
Uzbekistan joined to agreement on patent rights, adopted by Diplomatic Conference on 1 June 2000 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a Law "On joining of Uzbekistan to agreement on patent rights, adopted by Diplomatic Conference on 1 June 2000 in Geneva" on 15 March.
The document was passed by Legislative Chamber on 9 February and Senate on 25 February.
Uzbekistan develops new bill "On Salt Iodinisation"
Uzbekistan developed new Bill "On salt iodinisation" to regulate social relations in protection of health of population via creation environment on prevention of disease, causing iodine deficit.
According to the World Health Organisation, some 1.6 billion people in 130 countries suffer from deficit of iodine. In 110 countries, deficit of iodine became serious problem.
The document provides legal basis for prevention and elimination of cases and disease of salt iodinisation.
The bill directed to ensure access of population to iodined salt. Currently, some 65 enterprises produce salt in Uzbekistan, of which only 26 produce iodined salt.
ENVIRONMENT
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan are building dam separating North and South Arals
In 1989, the continuing shrinkage split the Aral Sea into two separate bodies of water, the deep-water Big Aral (South Aral Sea) and the shallow Small Aral (North Aral Sea).
In order to raise the water level in both, in 1998 the governments of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan decided to build a concrete dam (Dike Kokaral) separating the two halves of the Aral Sea. The ecologists have estimated that the dam will allow to increase the lakes' surface areas several times.
Some 880,000 hectares of dried up seabed are to be covered by water once again, which should recover the main occupation of the local population –fishing. The cost of the Aral project is US$23.8 million. The main object of the project is the 13 kilometres long dam.
The two countries announced an international tender on construction of the Kokaral Dike and the Aklak hydrostructure. The Russian Zarubejvodstroi, known for its large-scale projects in Africa and the Middle East, won the tender. It is planned that over 3 million cbm of sand and crushed stone, and some 10,000 cbm of concrete will be used on the construction of the dam. For this purpose specifically, a production base and plant specialized in the production of concrete were set up.
According to the Russian project, on the completion of the construction, a Transaral automobile road will be built over it. A similar highway has already been built on the way to Kokaral. Over 400 local residents of the Aral and Kazalinski districts received jobs in the construction project. Moreover, the Russian company helped build a mosque in Karateren village.
The International Fund for Preservation of Aral said the water level was staying practically unchanged thanks to the increase of 1.5 times in the rivers of the Aral basin that followed a long shortage of water observed in 2000-2001.
SOCIETY
Russian scientists to finish construction of observatory in Uzbekistan
Last year the scientists of the Science Academies of Russia and Uzbekistan successfully completed the preparatory stage of the project on implementation of the intergovernmental agreement on establishment of the International Radio-Astronomical Observatory (IRAO) on the Uzbek plateau of Suffa. The agreement on foundation of Suffa IRAO was signed in July 1995 in Tashkent. Under the document, the Russian party was to subsidize the construction and launching of the observatory. It provided the design and estimates documentation, radio-technical systems and special equipment as the initial contribution to the project.
For maintenance purposes, the Finance Ministry of Uzbekistan will provide purposeful funding starting 2006. The project was also included in the investment programme of the country for 2006-2007.
Along with the radio telescope RT-70, Suffa IRAO will have a station of satellite communication, a computer-based system for collection and processing of scientific information, and a residential village for the service personnel.
Moreover, the observatory will be equipped with a high-precision coordinate system and the exact time service.
In order to complete the construction, the project will require the minimum of USD30 million. The object is due mid 2009. The agreement on the shared use of the Suffa IRAO by Russia and Uzbekistan has been signed for 99 years with the possibility of prolongation.
Meanwhile, the second stage of construction of the international radio-astronomical observatory on the high-level plateau of Suffa has already been started, Uzbek State Agency for Cosmic Research UzbekCosmos reported. Russian and Uzbek specialists have checked the condition of the construction sight, completed the project-research works and developed the projection and estimate design documentation. The intergovernmental examination gave a positive consolidated conclusion on the technical-economical basis of the project.
The Uzbek party has allotted land area for construction, checked the stock and estimated the property value.
Construction of the observatory on the plateau Suffa in Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan was commenced in the mid 1980s. The observatory, located 2,300 m above the sea level, was equipped with the largest in the world reflecting radio telescope RT-70, with the diameter of 70 metres. In 1990, as the Soviet Union was on the verge of breaking up, the construction was seized. On beginning the project, Uzbek scientists estimated the volume of unfinished work at around 60%.
CULTURE
Exhibition "Treasure of Uzbekistan" held in Paris
Exhibition-fair "Treasure of Uzbekistan: handicraft art and tourism" was held in Paris, France.
In the opening ceremony, Vice-President of Chamber of Commerce and industry of Paris Edmond Viviand, expressed hope that familiarization of French with rich history, culture of Uzbekistan will allow to deepen cooperation between two countries and increase inflow of French tourists to Uzbekistan.
Jahon news agency of Foreign Ministry said the stands of exhibition, which demonstrated works of craftsmen, attracted Paris people and the guests of French capital. The exposition allowed its visitors also familiarise with Uzbek national music.
Michelle Joli, doctor of archaeology, said the exhibition is good opportunity to people familiarise with Uzbekistan.
The report said over 4,000 people visited the exhibition in the first two days of the exhibition.
CULTURE
Festival of Uzbek Cinema in Tashkent
The festival of Uzbek cinema is taking place in the Pink hall of the Cinema House. The festival started on 13 March. Movies shot in Uzbekistan in 2005 on the studios of Uzbekfilm, Uzbektelefilm, Uzbekkinohronika and a number of independent film studios are being demonstrated for the audience of Tashkent. Eleven feature and more than 25 documentaries are demonstrated free of charge. The pictures of Karakalpakfilm were demonstrated separately on 15 March.
Cartoons and animated movies were included in the festival programme for the young audience.
On closure of the festival (17 March), a conference will be held in the Cinema House to discuss the result of the year 2005. Director General of Uzbekkino national agency Agzam Iskhakov, as well as representatives of a number of film studios and artists of the Uzbek cinematography will report on the performance in 2005. All guests of the festival will have the opportunity to participate in the discussion of the presented movies at the conference.
Francophonia festival starts in Tashkent
The festival of Francophonia started today, 16 March in Tashkent. It will last until 18 March, and will include a series of events, according to French Embassy.
The festival started with the Theatrical Contest, held today at the chair of French philology of the University of World Languages. The students of Ferghana, Urgench, Bukhara, Namangan, Andijan, Samarkand and Tashkent presented 20 plays staged in French. The prize for the winner of the contest, the best actor, is a trip to France.
Tomorrow, 17 March, the contest of erudite persons will be held at the French Cultural Centre of Victor Hugo.
Participants will be asked 100 questions on the culture of francophone countries and French language. 100 students from all regions of Uzbekistan have signed up to participate in the contest. Again the first award is a trip to France.
An exhibition presenting francophone countries will open at the French cultural centre on 17 March. It was organized by the Embassies of Egypt, Romania, Algeria, Switzerland, and France, as well as Belgian Consulate in Uzbekistan.
In the course of the whole week, the French Cultural Centre of Victor Hugo will be hosting meetings, musical nights, and movie demonstrations. The final results will be summed up on 18 March.