July 30, 2008
Politics:
On his Return Emir of State of Kuwait Sends Letter to President
French State Secretary for European Affairs visits Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, Singapore Sign Intergovernmental Agreement
Economics:
IMF Highly Assesses Results of Uzbek Economic Development
Tashkent hosts 9th session of Iran-Uzbekistan economic commission
Assisting private arbitration in Uzbekistan
Society:
Scholars work on unique findings of Surkhandarya region
‘Children of Peace-Loving Nation’ Campaign Held in Syrdarya
UNFPA supports youth training on social advertising
POLICY
ON HIS RETURN EMIR OF STATE OF KUWAIT SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT
As has been earlier reported, on the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on July 21-23, 2008 the Emir of State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber as-Sabah paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.
During the talks in Tashkent the sides exchanged views on expanding and deepening the Uzbek-Kuwaiti cooperation, as well as outstanding problems of regional and international nature of mutual interest, Jahon Information Agency reported.
Besides, on the outcomes of visit the Republic of Uzbekistan and State of Kuwait signed the Joint Statement, as well as several documents that would regulate comprehensive bilateral relations in various areas.
On his return the Emir of State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber as-Sabah send a letter of gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
“Above of all, I want to note my boundless satisfaction with the official visit to the friendly Republic of Uzbekistan and on my and entire delegation’s behalf express deep gratitude for the sincere respect and hospitality shown to us,” the letter read in particular.
Mentioning his stay in Uzbekistan and the talks held at the top level, the Emir of State of Kuwait wrote: “The productive friendly meetings held with Your Excellency in the spirit of mutual understanding have demonstrated the solid basis of relations of the two states, adherence of our countries to further developing mutually beneficial cooperation, continuing mutual consultations on many directions.”
FRENCH STATE SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS VISITS UZBEKISTAN
Jean-Pierre Jouyet, French State Secretary for European Affairs, is visiting Uzbekistan. On 29 July, the French official held talks with the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan Ilgizar Sabirov.
The sides considered the present state and perspectives of relations between the higher legislative bodies of Uzbekistan and France. They stressed that the exchange of experience and information between the two countries' parliaments had to be expanded.
"Cooperation between Uzbekistan and France is developing in various spheres," Jean-Pierre Jouyet said. We support reforms in the country and are interested in mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthening the friendship ties between our states, he added.
The French State Secretary for European Affairs also held negotiations at the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan, UzA reported.
UZBEKISTAN, SINGAPORE SIGN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
The cooperation between Uzbekistan and Singapore, one of the most developed as well as trade and financial capitals of the world, is actively developing, Jahon Information Agency reported.
The state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Singapore in January last year served as strong impetus for comprehensive development and consolidation of mutually beneficial and diversified relations between the two states. Comprehensive package of documents signed during that historical visit took the legal basis of development of the Uzbek-Singapore relations up to a qualitatively new level.
For over the last years the states exchanged visits of various delegations. They discussed development of cooperation in trade and financial, economic, political, cultural, humanitarian, and other spheres.
Yet another evidence of the actively developing cooperation of the two states became signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement between Singapore and Uzbekistan in Singapore on avoiding double taxation and preventing the income tax evasion.
During the talks in Singapore the members of Uzbek delegation said that the arrangement on signing this agreement was achieved during the visit of President Islam Karimov to Singapore.
Speaking of the signed document the Minister of Finance of Singapore T.Shanmugaratnam said that the document would promote further active attraction of Singaporean capital to the Uzbek economy.
“We hope that out business people will be able to get advantage of favorable investment climate created in Uzbekistan. The agreement will also promote penetration of the Uzbek businessmen to the market of Southeast Asia”, - the Singaporean Minister of Finance said.
ECONOMY
IMF HIGHLY ASSESSES RESULTS OF UZBEK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
On July 14, 2008 the Board of Executive Directors of International Monetary Fund (IMF) held meeting in Tashkent dedicated to discussions of the IMF personnel’s report on the outcomes of consultations with the Republic of Uzbekistan in line with the article IV of the IMF Charter in 2008, the agencies reported.
The IMF Board of Executive Directors highly assessed the results of economic development of Uzbekistan characterized by the stably high rates of economic growth, gradual strengthening of macro-economic stability and successful accomplishment of structural reforms.
On the outcomes of discussions the Board concluded that balanced macro-economic policy and gradual accomplishment of structural reforms in Uzbekistan provided for sustainable high economic growth rates, further strengthening of positive trade and payment balance, growth of gold and currency reserves, as well as decrease of the state debt to one of the lowest levels among the countries with transition economies.
IMF Executive Directors noted the indicators of economic growth at the level of over 9 percent a year that puts Uzbekistan in the rank of most dynamically developing CIS countries.
The delegates to the Tashkent meeting paid a particular attention to the outpacing development of production, active attraction of foreign investments that have ensured expansion of GDP growth basis at the expense of such rapidly developing new branches of economy as gas and chemical, mining, heavy and light industry, transport, communications and services.
The Board of Executive Directors confirmed the favorable economic forecasts of IMF Mission for this year by noting that impressing results of economic policy, firm adherence of President and the Government of Uzbekistan to preserving the macro-economic stability and progress in structural reforms give full confidence in achieving the results of economic development set for 2008.
TASHKENT HOSTS 9TH SESSION OF IRAN-UZBEKISTAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION
A delegation of business circles of the Islamic Republic of Iran headed by Trade Minister Said Masoud Mirkazemi is staying in Uzbekistan on 29-31 July. The ninth session of the Iran-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation was held in Tashkent on 30 July.
The Iranian delegation includes representatives of large Iranian companies working in the sphere of oil and gas, construction, textile, pharmaceutical, food industries, as well as motor-car construction, trade, etc.
The activity of Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation plays vital role in the strengthening and development of bilateral relations. The commission's last, eighth, session was held in Teheran in February 2007.
At this year's 9th session the Iranian side was familiarized with the economic development of Uzbekistan, investment climate, as well as the opportunities of expanding investment cooperation in the sphere of chemical industry, pharmaceutics, agricultural products processing.
Iran is among top 10 economic partners of Uzbekistan. Commodity turnover between Uzbekistan and Iran made up US$565 million in 2007, while Uzbekistan has positive trade balance worth US$506.2 million (exports comprising US$535.6 million and imports standing at US$29.4 million). The main export items are cotton fibre, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, organic fertilizers, silk, etc.
More than 117 joint ventures are operating in Uzbekistan today, including 24 companies with 100% Iranian capital which are engaged in the production of consumer goods, textile and agricultural products, building materials, carpets, and services. 29 representative offices of Iranian firms and companies are registered in the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan.
Iranian businesses are very interested in the establishment of mutually beneficial contacts with the Uzbek enterprises, creation of joint ventures, implementation of various investment projects. The visit of the delegation of Iranian business representatives has once again showed the interest in the fixing bilateral business ties with the Uzbek partners.
ASSISTING PRIVATE ARBITRATION IN UZBEKISTAN
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan has published a manual "on arbitration for practicing lawyers and disputing parties".
The manual has been published as a part of the joint project with the Coordinator of the OSCE Project in Uzbekistan "Assisting the development of arbitration in Uzbekistan". It is intended to help raise general awareness of the importance of disputes settlement in courts of arbitration.
The manual is the first publication in Uzbekistan to cover the practical issues relating to arbitration in constantly functioning courts of arbitration in Uzbekistan and is intended to help entrepreneurs find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about private arbitration.
One of the authors of the book, an Executive Secretary of the Court of Arbitration under the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sahiba Gafarova said the manual was published with the financial assistance of the Coordinator of the OSCE Projects in Uzbekistan within the frame of the joint project with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan titled "Assisting the development of arbitration in Uzbekistan" and was to be circulated free of charge.
The manual covers the practical issues concerning the settlement of disputes in the constantly functioning courts of Uzbekistan: it provides general background on the concept of arbitrary hearing, explains the issues concerning relative subordination between the courts of arbitration and state courts, and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of arbitrary hearings.
It also provides practical recommendations on the composition and formulation of the arbitrary agreement, describes the procedures of the arbitrary investigation (submission of the claim, selection of the arbitrary judge, hearing of the case, ruling of the decision), and binding power of the court's decision. The manual also contains the samples of the main documents that may be used by the parties during an arbitrary hearing.
The manual will be useful to the parties participating in an arbitrary investigation, practicing lawyers, and legal scholars, as well as teachers and students of law faculties.
All those who wish to receive such a manual for free may turn to the arbitrary court under the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan (address: 6 Bukhoro Street, Tashkent, tel: (99871) 2394329). Moreover, those who wish to download the electronic version of the book may do so on the website of the Arbitrary Court.
SOCIETY
SCHOLARS WORK ON UNIQUE FINDINGS OF SURKHANDARYA REGION
One may speak of many monuments of culture located in Surkhandarya as an invaluable source of learning about ancient civilizations as much as the history of Homeland. More than 300 archeological, architectural and monumental statues are well-known in the region. Bulk of them was reconstructed and now they worthily represent history.
On the initiative of the Uzbek Leader the Khakim at-Termiziy architectural complex was reconstructed and bettered. The ancient architecture is full of bright colors of modernity. That promotes the growth of inflow of domestic and foreign tourists. Recently a book on creative heritage of the scholar of 9th century – Khakim at-Termiziy – who profoundly contributed to the development of the world science was published.
A partial renewal and works on conservation were held in Fayoz-tepa town. A small museum with relics which tell on the history of ancient monument was founded there. It became a venue for meetings and conferences with participation of foreign scholars.
The French archaeologist Mark Olivier Peru says: "I have been working in Surkhandarya for over four years now – the region of outstanding history and ancient culture. The results of excavations showed that religions and cultures crisscrossed here from of old. There are many monuments which need further studies."
The Termez archeological museum is being added with new exhibits that shed light on history of this land. Most of them witness about early origins of the written language. The scholars at the Termez State University now are on the threshold of sensational discovery. A stone with ancient pictographic signs was found at the Darband Village in the district of Baysun.
"The finding belongs to the third or second millennium B.C. and it is almost 5.000 years old," Shopulat Shaydullaev, the Ph.D in History, believed. "One or two pictures on ceramics are known to science. Such case when they are brought together happens for the first time".
Despite for many years and natural cataclysms, the pictures and signs are kept very well. It witnesses about the fact that in those ancient times there was a unique and complex technology for making the firm paints. Nevertheless, the later analysis and study of finding will clarify some questions the scholars have in terms of the aforesaid.
The scientific works of last years of the group of scholars at the Termez State University were issued in the book of "Origin and development of written language on the territory of Uzbekistan", Jahon information agency quoted Pravda Vostoka newspaper.
‘CHILDREN OF PEACE-LOVING NATION’ CAMPAIGN HELD IN SYRDARYA
A youth campaign under the motto “We are the children of peace-loving nation” is now held in the towns and districts in Syrdarya Province, according to Jahon Information Agency.
More than 1.000 young men and women are participating at the event held by the Council of regional office of Kamolot Public Youth Movement along with the regional municipality to help to organize substantial leisure time for students, broadly propagate the healthy way of life among them, bring up the young generation in the spirit of faith to Homeland and respect to national values.
In the framework of the campaign the exhibition of talented amateur artists such as Farzona Atakhanova, Feruza Jumaeva and Khilola Tillaboeva was demonstrated at the Syrdarya District. Besides, the national folk games and the contests of drawings on asphalt and young people of political studies were held among the youth at the Mirzaobod District, according to Agency.
UNFPA SUPPORTS YOUTH TRAINING ON SOCIAL ADVERTISING
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supported conducting the Youth Training on creating Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on youth issues with focus on healthy lifestyle promotion on 21–29 July.
This activity was organized by the National Association of Electronic Mass Media (NAESMI), NAESMI Public Fund and Kelajak Ovozi Youth Initiatives Centre.
This training event was tailored to train the participants from all provinces of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Tashkent City on addressing important youth-related issues through creating effective social advertisement products.
"Our goal is to ensure that youth participating at this educational activity realizes significance of covering such issues as reproductive health, healthy lifestyle, gender equality, HIV/AIDS prevention and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and will receive all necessary information to develop good quality PSAs for healthy lifestyle promotion among youth in the country," commented Feruza Fazilova, UNFPA National Officer on Reproductive Health.