August 29, 2008
Politics:
President Islam Karimov Arrives in Dushanbe, Holds Several Talks
Senate resolves on Amnesty, approves laws
Acting Commander of the US Central Command visits Uzbekistan
Economics:
Afghan Minister Holds Talks at Uzbek Railway Company
Credit-Standard Bank capital reaches UZS 9.36 bn
UzACI head meets outgoing Indian envoy
Society:
UNDP Uzbekistan, UWED sign MoU on teaching Human Development concept
South Korea Hands Over First-Aid Cars to Uzbekistan – Report
Young Business People’s Nationwide Contest Comes to an End
POLICY
PRESIDENT ISLAM KARIMOV ARRIVES IN DUSHANBE, HOLDS SEVERAL TALKS
As has been reported earlier on August 27 this year the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov left for the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan Dushanbe.
The same day the Uzbek Leader arrived in Dushanbe to participate at the meeting of Council of heads of member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon met the top-level guest at the Dushanbe Airport.
At the moment, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (for the purposes of story placed in English alphabetical order – trans.) hold the membership at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization founded in 2001 on the basis of Shanghai Five, whereas India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are the observer-countries at the Organization.
Islam Karimov and Emomali Rakhmon had talks at the Kokhi Somon Palace, according to the reports by national newspapers August 28.
In June 2000 Uzbekistan and Tajikistan signed the Eternal friendship treaty. Following establishment of diplomatic relations the two countries are known to have inked over one hundred bilateral documents.
Year to year Uzbekistan and Tajikistan boost economic cooperation. In 2007 the bilateral trade between the two states made up 207.8 million US dollars.
“Uzbeks and Tajiks are the one nation which speaks the two languages,” President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan has said, “today’s meeting serves as a fine opportunity to exchange views on the urgent issues in our relations.”
“The Tajik people will never forget the help rendered on the part of the Leadership and people of Uzbekistan during the tough times it went through,” – President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon said, “we are glad to welcome the Leader of a friendly country on the eve of the SCO Summit.”
Presidents are reported to have exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as the problems of regional security.
At the talks of President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev the leaders have underscored that the Dushanbe get-together served as a good opportunity to discuss bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation.
The two countries actively develop the trade and economic ties. In 2007 the volume of trade made up nearly 1.2 billion US dollars. In January-May this year such indicator has reached 650.3 million US dollars.
Presidents have highly assessed the current stage of cooperation between the two countries. They have exchanged opinions on further enhancing ties in political, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as cooperation in the framework of SCO, the problems of international and regional importance of mutual interest.
The same day President Islam Karimov met with the President of the Russian Federation Dmitriy Medvedev, according to the newspapers.
Uzbekistan and Russia extend cooperation based on the Treaty on allied relations signed between the two states in November 2005.
Islam Karimov has underscored that Uzbekistan considers Russia to be a reliable strategic partner and highly assesses cooperation.
The Russian President has said that the Dushanbe meeting was important in terms of furthering bilateral relations.
The cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia is gradually developing, and particularly, in economic and investment spheres. Almost 30 percent of its foreign trade Uzbekistan undertakes with Russia. Last year the trade between the two states exceeded 4 billion US dollars. For over the first five months of 2008 this indicator accounted for more than 1.6 billion US dollars. Yet it is noteworthy that the volume of industrial goods is observed to be on the rise in the nomenclature of Uzbek exports to Russia.
At the Tajik capital the two leaders are also reported to have discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral relations. Islam Karimov and Dmitriy Medvedev exchanged views on regional and international problems, according to the newspapers.
SENATE RESOLVES ON AMNESTY, APPROVES LAWS
The fifteenth plenary session of the Senate (upper house) of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan (parliament) opened in Tashkent on August 28. The Senate's speaker Ilgizar Sobirov chaired the session.
The Senate's press service said that the members of the Cabinet of Ministers and heads of state bodies were invited to the session.
The Senate started its work with adoption of the resolution on amnesty in connection with the 17th anniversary of Independence Day of Uzbekistan. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov proposed the initiative.
The resolution envisages release of women, those who were under 18 when committing a crime, as well as who have reached the age of 60 to the time when the decree takes effect. The resolution also releases the citizens of foreign countries.
Those who have committed crimes as a result of carelessness and who have not committed serious crimes are also to be released, the resolution o the Senate said.
The document also said people, who cannot serve in prison because of their state of health, particularly, first and second grade invalids, will be released.
Amnesty should not be applied to serious criminals, to those who committed crimes against peace and security and to convicts who had been amnestied previously.
Senate set order of implementation of the resolution. It said the courts will consider cases of those, who should be amnestied. At the same time, Senators, MPs of regional, district and city Councils of Public Deputies and Ombudsman will ensure public control over execution of the resolution.
After that, the Senators considered a Law "On mandatory state social insurance from accidents at work and professional illnesses". It was noted that the law helps to socially protect citizens and improve work conditions, as well as develop further social insurance system.
It was said that the law creates firm legal base for ensuring social protection to those suffered from accident at work or professional diseases.
Considering a Law "On amendments and changes to the Law of Uzbekistan "On joint stock companies and projection of shareholders", it was noted that the law focuses on strengthening protection of rights and interests of shareholders and boost and develop securities market as a whole.
The law envisages raise of minimal size of the charter capitals of the close joint stock companies, improvement of corporate management, increase role of the shareholders in management of the public companies.
A Law "On introduction of changes and amendments to Economic Procedural Code of Uzbekistan" is directed to deepen further reforms in judicial-legal system. Senators said that sets order on appeal to court decision, sets terms of submission of documents and consideration of the appeal.
Senators considered a Law "On introduction of changes to article 49 of the Criminal-Procedural Code of Uzbekistan" and said that the introduction of change will guarantee access of citizens to legal services.
In line with the current Criminal-Procedural Code, any person, even without legal knowledge and education, can act as defender of suspects. The norm did not realized right of people on access to legal aid. Now the article determines who can defend interests and rights of suspects.
Senators reviewed a Law "On introduction of changes and amendments to the Administrative Responsibility Code of Uzbekistan", which amended the article 165 and set administrative responsibility of carrying out licensed activity without license.
The amendment will help to develop production and the trade-economic activity and ensure protection of rights of consumers, the Senators noted.
Afterwards, a Law "On introduction of changes and amendments to some legal acts of Uzbekistan" was considered. The amendment completes article 2411 of the Crime Code of Uzbekistan and establishes criminal responsibility of the staff of the law enforcement bodies, who registers or reviews applications on crime commitment, for concealment of crime from records.
It also transferred investigation of some crimes from prosecutors to interior affairs bodies. This should improve quality and timeliness of investigation, as well as assist prosecutors to focus on protection of human rights and freedoms, as well as enforcement of the existing legislation.
Reviewing a Law "On museums", the Senators noted the law is aimed at regulating activities of museums, independent from ownership type, protection and increase of national museum fund.
The law should play an important role in reserving, studying and promotion of historic, cultural and spiritual heritage of nation, as well as bring up young generation in spirit of patriotism and devotion to the Motherland and national traditions.
The Senators considered a Law "On introduction of changes and amendments to Criminal Code and Administrative Responsibility Code of Uzbekistan" and noted that the law is connected with the further liberalization of criminal punishments.
The amendment to first part of the article 1861 of the Criminal Code establishes that criminal liability for illegal production or turnover of ethyl alcohol, alcohol and tobacco products comes into force if the crime was committed in significant sizes or it was committed after administrative punishment.
The corresponding changes were introduced to the Administrative Responsibility Code, which sets penalty at the size from 50 minimal wages up to 100 with confiscation of means, used to commit crime, for illegal production or turnover of ethyl alcohol, alcohol and tobacco products.
The amendment also introduces changes to article 85, which eliminates points on punishing people at the age of 13 to 16 for committing non-heinous crime and it was replaced with the paragraph, saying that people at the age of 16 to 18 will be sentenced up to 4 years for committing non-heinous crime.
Senators approved all reviewed laws.
ACTING COMMANDER OF THE US CENTRAL COMMAND VISITS UZBEKISTAN
On August 28, the Acting Commander of the US Central Command, Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey visited Tashkent, Uzbekistan as part of his regular consultations in the region, US embassy said on its website.
He met with senior Uzbek officials from the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs and the State Commission of Drug Control to discuss a broad range of issues including regional security, reconstruction in Afghanistan, human rights, and counter-narcotics efforts.
Lieutenant General Dempsey also met with leaders of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Lieutenant General Dempsey's visit coincided with a US military assistance mission in Kagan, Uzbekistan.
Local news agencies reported that Martin E. Dempsey met the Defence Minister of Uzbekistan Ruslan Marziyayev on the same day.
The sides noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and the USA are developing in many spheres, including in military. The sides considered issues on expansion of military cooperation between two states and strengthening of the regional security, UzA reported.
Martin E. Dempsey said it is good that the relations between two states are developing. "We are for deepening cooperation with Uzbekistan in all spheres," he said.
ECONOMY
AFGHAN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS AT UZBEK RAILWAY COMPANY
On August 27 the delegation of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by the Minister of Public Works Sohrob Ali Safari met with the Vice-Chairman of the Uzbekiston Temir Yullari State Joint-Stock Railway Company Akbar Shukurov, according to the Jahon Information Agency.
During the talks the sides are reported to have particularly said that cooperation in such spheres as trade, economy, energy, transport and transport communication was gradually developing between the two states. The arrangements secured at the top-level meetings of leaders of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan serve as an important legal basis in such undertakings.
An important significance acquire the relations between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in the sphere of transport and transport communications. During the talks in Tashkent the sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of railway transportation.
CREDIT-STANDARD BANK CAPITAL REACHES UZS 9.36 BN
Open joint stock commercial bank Credit-Standard is a universal lending institution serving corporate and private business. It is among the ten largest banks in Uzbekistan and occupies leading positions on reliability and stability, UzA reported.
Credit-Standard Bank was founded on August 16, 2003. The authorized capital at the time of registration was UZS 1.3 billion, now it is UZS 9.36 billion.
The bank, which regularly takes the leading place in the national rating of Ahbor-Rating agency, has managed to become one of the largest and dynamically developing banks of Uzbekistan in the five years of its activity.
The bank opened a branch network in Samarkand and Fergana, and is expanding the range of services, in particular, in retail business, and increasing the service quality.
The Banker magazine in 2006 recognized Credit-Standard as the best bank of Uzbekistan, and in 2008 it was named the country’s best bank in 2007 by the Global Finance.
Chairman of board of the bank Aziz Mirjorayev told UzA that the priority policy of the bank is the client business – providing banking services to large, small and medium enterprises, individuals, as well as local and foreign banks.
The growth of the client base was largely achieved due to high level of service. Advanced banking technologies, flexible rates and individual approach have led to dynamic growth of the number of clients. The bank is steadily developing two strategic areas – corporate and retail business.
The bank entered the money transfer market in 2004 and currently occupies one of the leading places in this segment, providing various transfer systems, such as Anelik, Migom, ExpressMoney, Blizko, Western Union, etc. At the end of 2006, Western Union called the Samarkand branch of the Credit-Standard the best Western Union unit for quality of care in Uzbekistan.
New systems like Allure and Faster are currently prepared for launch. The demand for international money transfers is growing steadily, expanding their geographic range.
Last year, the bank introduced new retail services: now clients can pay for utilities and cellular communications both in the head office and branches.
Close attention is paid to establishment and development of correspondent relations with leading foreign financial institutions – first-class banks in Europe and Asia.
Today, customers receive integrated services of foreign economic activity, qualified counseling and, individual accounting schemes.
Development of cooperation with banks is focused on expansion of counteragents in the interbank market and ensuring effective and smooth functioning of the settlements on behalf of clients. Implementation of non-trade electronic bank transfers was made possible largely by the joining of the SWIFT.
The corporate credit policy is aimed at creating a broad base, consisting of large, medium and small enterprises, and building a quality loan portfolio, diversified by category of borrowers, industries and lending periods.
Credit-Standard was one of the first Uzbekistan to introduce mortgage lending, having previously launched the consumer crediting.
Another important area is lending to real sector enterprises. Partnership relations with regular borrowers and attraction of new customers have increased the bank’s credit portfolio, which in the first half of 2008 increased more than 4 times compared to the same period in 2007.
The share of loans issued to enterprises of the industrial sector amounted to 70% of the lending capital. A large proportion of those are long-term investments.
To provide financial support to the real sector of the economy, increase export potential of the country and expands export-oriented and import substitution, the bank is actively working to attract foreign credit lines.
On a regular basis business meetings with representatives of leading international financial institutions such as the EBRD, Raiffeisen Bank, Commerzbank, Landesbank and others are held. In 2007, by attracting foreign credit line, the bank issued a foreign currency loan to a joint venture producing filter and technical fabrics for Navoi and Almalyk mining combines. Earlier, this production was purchased abroad and required considerable funds.
The development of information technologies has increases the quality of banking operations, creating conditions for a more flexible and efficient resource management. The bank introduced SMS-banking that allows customers with receive reports on their accounts to their mobile phones.
The internal document circulation is built on the basis of high-performance systems, enabling the bank to achieve high speed in dealing with daily tasks.
To create convenience for corporate customers, the bank introduced Client-Bank corporate system, which allows receiving timely information on the accounts. Credit-Standard is presently working on launching a new service – internet banking.
UZACI HEAD MEETS OUTGOING INDIAN ENVOY
Director-general of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information Abdulla Aripov met outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Uzbekistan Skand R. Tayal on August 26, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.
Abdulla Aripov expressed gratitude for his fruitful work in Uzbekistan and attention to development of bilateral cooperation in information and communication technologies.
Indian envoy underlined high growth of development of information and communication technologies industry in Uzbekistan.
The sides noted high level of bilateral cooperation between sides and discussed issues on further development and deepening of cooperation in ICT, strengthening of business relations. They noted there are huge potential to work actively in many directions of cooperation.
Skand R. Tayal said that he is ready to contribute further for development and expansion of cooperation in the ICT industry between two countries.
SOCIETY
UNDP UZBEKISTAN, UWED SIGN MOU ON TEACHING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
On August 25 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the frame of the "Introducing and Advancing the Potential of Educational Establishments for Teaching the Human Development Approach" project signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), according to the Uzreport Business Information Portal.
This Memorandum will contribute to the initiative of introducing "Human Development" academic courses into the educational process and the curriculum of higher education institution, UNDP Uzbekistan said on its website. This document was signed in the building of the university at the presence of the Heads from both sides and teachers – those who are involved in the process of teaching students practical and theoretical aspects of the Human Development Approach.
The major challenge of a "Human Development" academic course is to combine theory with an applied aspect, the main feature of which is the practical significance, the maximum proximity to the solution of specific problems. Practically applied aspect of learning discipline manifests itself in two ways: first, by analyzing trends in human development based on a system of socio-economic indicators and human development indices; and second, through the provision of issues of particular importance to the sustained growth in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
A precursor of signing the given memorandum was the fact that an academic Human Development course was successfully piloted at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) in 2008 and introduced into educational process of the International Relations, International Law and International Economic Relations MA Degree undergraduates. The curricular of the "Human Development" Course was elaborated and an advanced copy of the "Human Development" textbooks in Russian developed and published. More then 35 MA level undergraduates successfully completed the given course and gave a positive assessment to all themes which were included to the program. The "Human Development" course got positive response not only from the students but also from teachers of the university who also gave their proposals on how to improve the "Human Development" textbook. In the framework of the given project, with a view to further popularize the HD concept, UNDP is planning to carry out a series of training courses and other training events on "Human development" for teachers of leading high educational institutions of Uzbekistan.
Taking into account that UWED has been one of the most reliable, long-term partners of the UNDP in implementation of projects in the sphere of education. That plus the fact that the present time UWED prepares highly qualified specialists which are able to influence both the economic situation and welfare development in this country. It was obvious for the UNDP to choose this university as a key partner in implementing the given project.
SOUTH KOREA HANDS OVER FIRST-AID CARS TO UZBEKISTAN - REPORT
On the eve of the greatest and dearest holiday – the 17th anniversary of Independence of Uzbekistan the new facilities, manufacturing enterprises, educational and medical establishments are being put into operation, as well as spiritual and enlightenment events, meetings and talks are held in places, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
One of such events was held at the joint-stock company for providing Uzbekistan with medical equipments. South Korea handed over a gratuitous aid to the Republic of Uzbekistan – 110 ambulance cars of Hyundai model.
A large-scale work is now held in Uzbekistan to reform the system of healthcare and render population qualified medical services. The cooperation with foreign countries, in particular, with the Republic of Korea bears positive results in this direction.
At the moment, the relations between establishments of healthcare and medical education of the two countries are yet more strengthening.
By now about 350 surgical operations were held in Uzbekistan with participation of South Korean doctors. Each year numbers of Uzbek medical workers raise their level of skills at the training courses of Korean Agency for International Cooperation (KOICA).
“Handing over of these first-aid cars on the eve of holiday became a joyful event for all of us,” the chief doctor at the Tashkent municipal station of first aid Saidazim Azamkhojaev said. “These cars are supplied with necessary medical equipments and are very comfortable. They will be delivered to medical establishments in the city of Tashkent, Republic of Karakalpakstan and provinces.”
YOUNG BUSINESS PEOPLE’S NATIONWIDE CONTEST COMES TO AN END
On the eve of 17th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Independence the nationwide show-contest for the best project by young entrepreneurs came to end, Jahon Information Agency reported.
Microcreditbank Joint-Stock Commercial Bank is reported to have organized the contest.
With an aim to support the business people, expand the micro-financial services for the youth in the countryside the Republican Center for Secondary Special and Professional education, Public Youth Movement of Kamolot as well as several other organizations implement various projects.
As a result, for over the past period UZS 8 billion-worth loans were allotted to youth. 335 college students received UZS 454 million-worth micro loans.
The goal of the contest was to develop the business activity by the youth in rural areas, using by them the micro loans, as well as raise efficiency of allotted credits and services of micro-leasing.
Almost 400 young businessmen took part at the district stage of contest. Their number has made up hundred at the nationwide stage.