August 31, 2009
Politics:
President of Uzbekistan receives US Ambassador
Senate’s 19th plenary session opens
Economics:
Ministry of Agriculture Focuses on Water
Consumer Rights under Protection
Automobile Industry Increases Output
Uzbekistan opens honorary consulate office in Hanoi
Society:
President visited International Forums Palace
Sharq Taronalari festival completed
POLICY
PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN RECEIVES US AMBASSADOR
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received US ambassador to Uzbekistan Richard Norland at Oqsaroy residence in Tashkent on August 29.
Islam Karimov noted that this meeting is a good opportunity to exchange views on the Uzbek-US relations, bilateral and multilateral cooperation in strengthening regional security and stability, National News Agency reported.
R. Norland thanked President Karimov for warm reception, said that the U.S. administration is interested in developing cooperation with Uzbekistan in various fields.
During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the Uzbek-US relations, mutual interests and issues.
SENATE’S 19TH PLENARY SESSION OPENS
The 19th plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan opened in Tashkent on 28 August. It was attended by invited members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of ministries and departments, representatives of the media. The meeting was chaired by the chairman of the Senate Ilgizar Sobirov.
The senators started their work with consideration of the resolution “On the amnesty in connection with the 18th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, submitted to the upper house of parliament by the President of Uzbekistan.
The amnesty act is aimed at the release of sentenced women, individuals who at the time of committing the crime were under 18, men who have reached the age of 60, as well as foreign citizens.
On the basis of the amnesty act, it is envisaged to free from punishment those who committed a crime on carelessness, as well as those who committed for the first time crimes that do not pose serious public danger or less serious crimes, persons with disabilities of first and second groups (except for premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances), and persons found to be suffering serious diseases that hinder their serving the sentence.
In addition, from punishment will be freed persons (except for those who committed premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances) with remaining sentence not exceeding two years, those who are firmly on the road to correction, sentenced for the first time for participating in the activities of banned organizations.
The effect of the amnesty does not apply to the following categories of persons: those convicted to long-term or life imprisonment; particularly dangerous recidivists; those who committed grave crimes, as well as persons whose death penalty was replaced with imprisonment.
The Senate determined the order of application of the amnesty resolution, which establishes a procedure for judicial review of cases and materials in respect to persons subject to exemption from punishment under the amnesty. It envisages active participation of senators, deputies and regional representatives of the ombudsman in the implementation of public control over the application of the amnesty act, as well as ensuring publicity and transparency.
It is envisaged to implement a package of measures aimed at social adaptation and protection of persons exempted from punishment, ensuring their integration and employment, placement of lonely and needy persons in homes for the disabled and the elderly, transfer of juveniles to the supervision of parents, guardianship bodies, and sending them where necessary to appropriate educational institutions.
The members of the parliament’s upper chamber also considered a number of laws, aimed at deepening of democratic reforms in the social, economic, judicial and legal spheres, as well as dynamic development of humanitarian sphere and effective solutions of social problems.
These include the Law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On free economic zones’”, developed in accordance with the Presidential Decree of 2 December 2008 “On creation of free industrial and economic zone in Navoi region”.
The law is intended to create favorable conditions for attracting foreign investments, especially direct, for organization of modern hi-tech industries manufacturing production that meets international standards and enjoys demand on the world markets.
The law introduces the concept of industrial-economic zone as a kind of free economic zone, establishes special legal, tax, customs and currency acting in the free economic zone, outlines a clear list of benefits and preferences provided to the participants in their economic activity.
The senators also considered the Law “On electrical energy”, which is aimed at protecting the legitimate rights and interests of consumers and ensuring the high level of safety of domestic electricity system, improving reliability and quality of services.
Besides, the Senate considered the law “On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in connection with the improvement of legislation on combating the legalization of proceeds from criminal activity and financing terrorism”.
It was noted that changes will help to improve the mechanisms for timely detection of suspicious financial transactions of organizations conducting operations with money or other property, enhance the effectiveness of internal control in organizations involved in the system of combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
The members of the Senate considered the Law “On introducing changes and amendments to Article 256 of the Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, developed to improve the legal system of taxation of users of subsoil resources on the terms of the production sharing agreement. The amendments are aimed at creating equal conditions in terms of tax and royalty payment and payment of excise duty for hydrocarbons for both foreign investors and residents of Uzbekistan who are members of production sharing agreements.
They also considered the Law “On amendments and addenda to the Law ‘On medicines and pharmaceutical activities’”. It was noted that the law would create a more effective legal framework for protection of consumer rights and the internal market from counterfeit and substandard medicaments, and the rights and legitimate interests of manufacturers of from illicit copies of medicines on the territory of Uzbekistan.
The chamber approved the Law “On amendments to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On protection and use of cultural heritage’”, aimed at establishing a legal basis for unification of the objects of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and their adequate protection and utilization.
When discussing the Law “On fire safety” the senators noted that this act systematizes the existing legal norms, departmental regulations and international standards. The law determines general legal, economic and social framework to ensure fire safety in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The members of the Senate also considered several other draft laws included in the agenda of the session.
ECONOMY
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE FOCUSES ON WATER
Uzbekistan has started an active phase of a project “Water Management in Ferghana and Zarafshan Valleys” implemented by the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources jointly with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Uzbekistan in the years of independence pays great attention to the development of amelioration and irrigation networks. This work also includes expansion of ties with foreign financial organizations. Thus, in late 2008, the ADB Board of Directors approved loans to Uzbekistan for the project totaling $100 mln. Of them, $15 mln will be allocated for 32 years, including an 8-year grace period provided from soft resources of the bank. The remaining $85 mln will have 26-year maturity period with 6 grace years provided from ADB’s usual resources.
Uzbekistan will invest over $44 mln.
The project will be implemented within six years starting in 2009. The executive body responsible for the targeted and efficient use of borrowed funds will be the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Objects for the project will be selected during phased selection, examination and preparation of separate priority plans for Sirdarya-Sokh, Narin-Sirdarya, Narin-Karadarya and Zarafshan basin irrigation systems in Zarafshan and Ferghana valleys. Besides, pumping stations and inter-farm systems of machine canals – “Narpay” in Samarkand region and “Besharik” in Ferghana region – will be reengineered till 2012.
CONSUMER RIGHTS UNDER PROTECTION
The State Antimonopoly Committee, Promotion of Competition and Entrepreneurship of Uzbekistan and its regional offices received 750 appeals and complaints from consumers in the first half of 2009.
Of the total number of appeals and complaints, 279 (37%) concerned utility services, 268 (36%) – trade and catering services, 75 (10%) – electricity, transport and communications, and 127 (17%) – other services, informs press service of the committee.
Besides, the helpline of the State Antimonopoly Committee received nearly 790 complaints, 270 of which were resolved in favor of consumers, and for on the rest calls consumers were provided with advice. Ten cases were directed to proper authorities, including prosecutors and tax authorities.
In one case, authorities revealed that Issiklik Manbai, a production association of Namangan region, had charged residents for non-rendered services during 2007-2009 periods. As a result of recalculation, people were returned 6.1 mln soums.
As noted Turdiev Umar, deputy chairman of the State Antimonopoly Committee, the last years’ increase in the number of complaints indicates to a growing consumer culture and increasing confidence in authorities protecting their consumer rights.
The State Antimonopoly Committee, Promotion of Competition and Entrepreneurship is a government body working on developing competitive environment, restricting monopoly activities, supporting entrepreneurship and protecting consumer rights.
AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY INCREASES OUTPUT
JSC Uzavtosanoat and Germany-based MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG established a joint venture for assembling buses in Samarkand.
The statutory fund of the new venture, JV MAN Auto-Uzbekistan, amounts to ˆ3 mln, of which the Uzavtosanoat’s share constitutes 51% in the form of fixed assets and production premises, and that of MAN is 49% in funds and equipment.
The joint venture will carry out semi-knockdown assembling of urban buses of high comfort, as well as special machinery for enterprises of heat-and-power sector and metallurgy – trucks, tractors, lifting cranes and platforms for drilling rigs.
It is expected that the new joint venture will start assembling vehicles as early as in the fourth quarter, this year.
Currently, buses and trucks in Uzbekistan are produced at Samarkand Automobile Plant, SamAuto, created in November 2006 at the Uzbek-Turkish JV SamKocAvto. In May 2007, the Japan-based Isuzu Motors acquired an 8% stake of SamAuto, whose other shareholder is Uzavtosanoat.
The factory produced trucks with load capacity of 4-18 tons, and passenger buses with passenger capacity of 37 people. According to the development program, the design capacity of the plant should reach 4,000 cars per year by 2010.
UZBEKISTAN OPENS HONORARY CONSULATE OFFICE IN HANOI
An honorary consulate for Uzbekistan in Vietnam was officially opened in Hanoi on August 27.
Attending the event were representatives from the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry and Trade of Vietnam.
Le Van Nghia, who was selected by both governments as the honorary consul in February 2009, said that the office will work with various government agencies to organize cultural exchanges, conferences and fairs on tourism and agriculture in Uzbekistan's capital city of Tashkent.
It will also liaise with Vietnamese agencies and different economic sectors to send students and officials to Uzbekistan to study, he added.
Vietnam and Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties on 17 January 1992. The two countries set up an inter-governmental committee on economic, commercial, scientific and technological cooperation.
Uzbekistan is keen to import tropical farm produce like tea, coffee and rubber, foodstuffs, handicrafts and electronics from Vietnam to satisfy domestic demands. It is able to supply Vietnam with cotton, nonferrous metals, fertilizer and machines.
Two-way trade between the two countries reached $4.8 million in 2006, $6.6 million in 2007 and $8.3 million in 2008. In 2008, Vietnam earned almost $2.5 million from exports to Uzbekistan and imported goods worth $5.8 million.
SOCIETY
PRESIDENT VISITED INTERNATIONAL FORUMS PALACE
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on August 28 familiarized himself with the International Forums Palace “Uzbekistan” built in the center of Tashkent.
The construction of the palace started in 2008 in accordance with the resolution of the head of the state.
The palace is meant to be the place for holding large international forums, cultural and other events.
The building of the palace embodies national and modern architectural style. It has a dome with a diameter of 53 meters and marble columns on the sides.
Getting acquainted with the palace, Islam Karimov said the national style was in harmony with the modern architectural solutions.
“The ‘Uzbekistan’ Palace is yet another symbol of the creative potential of our people,” the President said. “Each building in any city and especially in the capital has to comply with that city’s architecture, and this aspect was taken into consideration while building the palace.”
“The buildings we raise – be it administrative, educational, healthcare of residential buildings – have to serve not only us, but also future generations,” the head of the state added.
The height of the palace, built by Neftgazmontaj joint venture according to the project by Tashgiprogor, is 48 meters. It has a conference hall for 300 seats, a banquet hall for the same number of people and a large hall for 1,800 seats.
SHARQ TARONALARI FESTIVAL COMPLETED
The seventh international musical festival Sharq Taronalari (Oriental Melodies) completed in Samarkand. Artists from nearly 50 states performed on the stage at Registan square for almost one week.
The songs about peace and friendship, trust and love could be heard also at Mujiza theater, at Yoshlik and Sogdiana parks, as well as in Urgut, Samarkand, Taylak, Akdarya, Payarik and Jambay districts.
The closing of the festival started at 7 pm on 29 August at Registan square. The forum participants highly evaluated the organization of the event and thanked the organizers for the wonderful holiday.
Apart from demonstrating their music and dance, the representatives of various countries also got acquainted with the sites of Samarkand and the work to preserve the cultural heritage.
The Grand prize of the Sharq Taronalari went to the soloist Lale Begnazarova and the fold instruments ensemble from Turkmenistan.
The first place was awarded to Matluba Dadabayeva and the folk instruments ensemble from Uzbekistan, as well as artists from Azerbaijan.
The second place went to Levi Shemptov from Israel and artists from South Korea.
The third place was won by Laura Mollica from Italy and Kuwaiti performers.
“Uzbekistan and Samarkand left an unforgettable impression on me,” Grand prize winner Begnazarova said. “Each day was filled with bright events and impressions.”
“Your people’s aspiration to preserve and promote the national cultural heritage deserves admiration. This is a demonstration of the high respect for the history.”
Vice Prime minister Rustam Kasymov and hokim of Samarkand region Uktam Barnoyev participated in the closing ceremony.