August 01, 2008
Politics:
Uzbek, Russian officials discuss integration issues in CIS
Courts Sum Up Outcomes of Work during First Half of 2008
Economics:
Russian Company Invests 3 m Euro in Kukonsut Co. in Ferghana
New JV Founded in Karakalpakstan, Set to Employ 100 People
Sarbast Plus launches production of Tuborg Green in Uzbekistan
Society:
UNICEF, Uzbekistan celebrate impact of exclusive breastfeeding
Uzbekistan Implements Wild Flora Protection Project - Report
Eco-Festivals Marathon Held Nationwide, Report Says
Over 100 Crafts Schools Founded in Nation in First Half of 2008
POLICY
UZBEK, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS INTEGRATION ISSUES IN CIS
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Ilhomjon Nematov met his Russian counterpart Andrei Denisov in Moscow, Russia on July30, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.
Press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Mr Nematov is visiting Russia to attend the session of the Integration Committee of the Eurasian Economic Cooperation (EurAsEC).
The sides discussed issues of multilateral cooperation in CIS area with attention to integration process in the region in such areas as politics, economic, humanitarian and other spheres, as well as development of the Uzbek-Russian cooperation.
COURTS SUM UP OUTCOMES OF WORK DURING FIRST HALF OF 2008
The outcomes of work of general jurisdiction courts for the first half of 2008 and the process of implementing legal reforms were discussed at the extended session of Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Jahon Information Agency reported based on the Press-service of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The chairmen of supreme courts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on civil and criminal cases, regional and district and other courts of same jurisdiction are reported to have participated at the session.
The delegates to the session noted that Uzbekistan undertook profound work aimed at democratizing the judiciary, liberalizing the criminal, criminal-procedural legislation, establishing independent court system that provides for protection of rights and freedoms of citizens.
For over the past six months of this year the civil courts heard over 215.000 cases. On 93.2 percent of them the courts pronounced judgments. 97.8 percent of those cases were upheld.
In the first half of this year, compare to the same period of 2007 the number of cases heard on individual types of crimes decreased, in particular, the cases on intentional cause of bodily harms, theft, and car theft.
The participants of the session noted that the amendments and addenda introduced to criminal legislation bore positive results. Thus, for over the past six months the cases with regard to 5.951 people were discontinued by way of reconciliation of sides.
Besides, in line with liberalization of criminal punishments as a result of compensation of material damage worth over UZS 49 billion caused by crimes, by July of this year the courts assigned punishments 10.529 people not related to imprisonment.
ECONOMY
RUSSIAN COMPANY INVESTS 3 M EURO IN KUKONSUT CO. IN FERGHANA
The Kukonsut Limited Liability Company in Ferghana Province produces several sorts of dairy products, Jahon Information Agency website reported.
A few years ago the company was on the verge of economic crisis. Then the local businessmen decided to establish cooperation with Russian investors. The efforts did not go in vain but rather were effective, according to the report.
The Russian Kvadro RU Company invested three million euros to the company. The main production workshops were supplied with Swiss technologies. At the moment, company processes 6 tons of milk a day.
“We are also going to produce tomato paste and dried fruits”, the chief engineer Yusufjon Khayitmatov has been quoted as to have said. “With such a goal we are working with farmers and businessmen from the local districts of Dangara, Uzbekistan, Furkat, Uchkuprik, Besharik and Buvayda.”
At the moment, over 100 young men and women are employed with the company. As soon as the new production lines will be launched the company is expected to hire 200 more people.
NEW JV FOUNDED IN KARAKALPAKSTAN, SET TO EMPLOY 100 PEOPLE
A special attention is now paid in the Republic of Karakalpakstan to developing entrepreneurship, modernizing companies based on modern technologies and establishing the new industries in terms of attracting foreign investments, the national newspapers reported.
At the moment, the number of joint ventures operating at the Khojayli District is six. Recently KarBalt-Rutoil Limited Liability Company for processing oil has been launched alongside with Latvian investors. The new enterprise is set to process 180-200 tons of oil per day and obtain fuel oil, petrol, kerosene and diesel oil.
“Production facility is built in modern architectural style”, the chief engineer of the company Ollayor Ametov has said. “Now we are holding approbation of new technologies delivered from Russia. Specialists train the youth to use the new equipment.”
Following its official opening the company is going to employ about 100 people.
SARBAST PLUS LAUNCHES PRODUCTION OF TUBORG GREEN IN UZBEKISTAN
Sarbast Plus JV, a part of Dutch brewery Carlsberg Group, launched a new line for production of beer under Tuborg Green brand on July 31. This is the first international brand, which will be produced at the Tashkent plant of Sarbast Plus, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.
Tuborg is a Danish brewing company founded in 1873 by Carl Frederik Tietgen. Since 1970 it has been part of Carlsberg. Currently, 25 countries produce Tuborg. Tuborg Green is one of popular beers in the world and over million of people in 100 countries enjoy its taste.
Evgeniy Shevchenko, director-general of Sarbast Plus, said the main auditory of Tuborg is single-minded young people over the age of 18, who can balance work and life. "This drink is for independent and confident people, who enjoy life and easily perceive new trends in the society."
Sarbast Plus said the launch of Tuborg Green in Uzbekistan is another step of the company, directed to replace imported drinks and allow local people to enjoy international brands. Tuborg Green will be produced in branded green glassware with the capacity of 0.5 liter and as draught beer through DraughtMaster system.
Sarbast Plus JV was launched in autumn 2007 and it is modern brewery equipped with equipment of well-known producers. Total investments volume into the economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan is more than 60 million euros. Total capacity of the plant is 1 million hectoliter or 200 million bottles with the capacity of 0.5 liter.
SOCIETY
UNICEF, UZBEKISTAN CELEBRATE IMPACT OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING
World Breastfeeding Week will be celebrated from 1 to 7 August this year with the initiative of UNICEF and supported by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the Creative Union of journalists, a press release of UNICEF office in Uzbekistan said.
Though breastfeeding rates are increasing in Uzbekistan, an estimated 26.4% of children under six months of age are only exclusively breastfed (MICS 2006). While the timely initiation of breastfeeding is 67.1%, the Ministry of health reports that sharp decline of exclusive breastfeeding starts form the second month of birth, when mothers leave the maternities.
"The Breastfeeding Week, which we start tomorrow, gives us an opportunity to advocate for a very simple way to protect children's lives", said UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan Mahboob Shareef. "The aim of the week is to promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life which yields tremendous health benefits, providing critical nutrients, protection from deadly diseases such as pneumonia and fostering growth and development. Continued breast feeding after six months, for up to two years of age or beyond, combined with safe and appropriate complementary feeding, is the optimal approach to child feeding."
UNICEF has been working with the Government of Uzbekistan since 1997 creating baby-friendly hospitals where breastfeeding is protected, encouraged and supported. The program works with both mothers and medical personnel to educate them on the benefits of proper maternal and infant nutrition.
Expanding activities to primary health care level in 2006 the Ministry of Health managed to enhance the exclusive breastfeeding rate up to more then 65 % of children under six month months in pilot regions – Ferghana, Tashkent, Khorezm and Karakalpakstan regions.
Currently, there are 176 of certified baby-friendly institutions, covering more then 300.000 children throughout the country. Each of them uses 11 key principals for successful breast feeding
During the week a series of round tables, health fairs and community meetings will be organized side by side with day to day activities and consultations on breastfeeding issues. Various forms of leaflets and posters will be distributed to maternity houses and community healthcare facilities which can also be obtained from mahalla committees in each district.
This work also follows on from the evaluation of the Family education program which showed an increase in knowledge and awareness about the importance of breastfeeding in relation to health benefits such as fewer infections and allergies. This improvement was most notable among traditional Uzbek families.
UZBEKISTAN IMPLEMENTS WILD FLORA PROTECTION PROJECT - REPORT
The flora of Uzbekistan is quite diverse. It accounts for more than 4.500 types and ten percent of them belong to precinctive kinds.
Uzbekistan pays a constant attention to carefully treating plants, preventing extinction of their rare kinds, securing the stability of ecology and protecting nature.
For four years the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of Plants at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Botanika Scientific and Production Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy, State Committee for Nature Protection, as well as several international organizations, centers and financial establishments has been implementing a project aimed at protecting wild flora which a man reclaimed and adapted for its needs during its development.
“The wild plants serve for cultural sorts as a useful genic basis”, the national coordinator of the aforesaid project, senior scientific fellow at the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of Plants at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan Sotiboldi Jataev said. “Their protection and rational use are important in providing for abundance and safety of foodstuff, sustainability of ecological system of agriculture.”
Now, perhaps, territories with wild plants may be curtailed and it might lead to their extinction due to intensive development of agrarian complex in Uzbekistan. Thus, in accordance with a five-year-long project, the six types of wild plants were chosen that grow in the country and play an important role in agriculture and food industry. The scientists studied their current state, negative influence of natural and human factor on specific resources. At the moment, they are looking for acceptable methods of protecting these plants as well as the regions.
The meeting held at the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of Plants at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan was dedicated to the work now implemented as a part of the aforementioned international project as much as the prospective plans.
The scholars, workers in the sphere of agriculture and journalists participated at it. Also, the participants of the event visited Bostanlik District and learnt about the ongoing work in this direction.
ECO-FESTIVALS MARATHON HELD NATIONWIDE, REPORT SAYS
The marathon of ecological festivals started in the city of Akhangaran in Tashkent Province, Jahon Information Agency quoting the Pravda Vostoka newspaper.
The Ecosan International Organization along with the State Committee for Nature Protection, Kamolot Public Youth Movement and Union of Journalists holds marathon of ecological festivals under the motto of “Independence, ecology and healthy people” dedicated to the Year of Youth and the 17th anniversary of the country’s independence.
It is based on the Decree of the Uzbek Leader “On preparation and holding the 17th anniversary of state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.
The event aimed at propagating the country’s achievements in the sphere of environment protection, healthcare and sustainable development, public awareness of ongoing reforms, as well as inviting all groups of population to addressing the ecological problems.
The marathon includes exhibitions on nature protection, drawing of outcomes of ecological contests, concerts of pop-artists, folklore groups and festivals. This initiative was supported by local government bodies. The ecological festivals will be held nationwide until late summer. The final stage of marathon is due August 23.
OVER 100 CRAFTS SCHOOLS FOUNDED IN NATION IN FIRST HALF OF 2008
All necessary conditions are now being created for youth in Uzbekistan to obtain education and acquire profession, as well as manifest its knowledge and skills. A special attention to such issues was paid in the Year of Youth State Program, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
The Hunarmand People’s Skilled Craftsmen Association of Uzbekistan works on implementing those tasks envisaged by the Program. Usta-shogird (‘Master and apprentice’) schools are now founded at the local levels nationwide with an assistance of Association and sponsors.
“During the first half of this year over 100 such schools were established in the country”, the Chairman of Hunarmand Association M.Kurbanov said. “Hundreds of young men and women learn there the nuts and bolts and acquire the skills of national crafts in more than 30 directions such as wood carving, miniature, manufacturing atlas and adras fabrics, sewing, gold-embroidery, jewelry, making trunks, knifes and metal-ware. In particular, such work is well organized in Samarkand and Bukhara provinces, Ferghana Valley and Tashkent.”
Thanks to constant attention and care paid by the Uzbek leadership for over the years of independence this sphere further developed. Some kinds of national handicrafts which were partly forgotten have been revived. At the moment, the tradition of teaching the young generation to this handicraft named as Usta-shogird is being successfully continued.
The comprehensive support of young craftsmen in the Year of Youth, the gradual continuation of glorious traditions of masters and followers promote the further development of national culture, applied arts and handicraft.