September 26, 2008

Politics:
Event in Supreme Court Tackles Implementation of Resolution
Interior ministry, OSCE coordinator organize round table
Economics:
Tezintom increases production by 22%
JV in Ferghana Produces Export-bound Goods – News Agency
Experts to discuss development of furniture sector
Central Asian Industrial Week to be held next week
Society:
Education is basis of progress
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Published in Uzbek
Commissions for fighting human trafficking operate in regions
Meeting of Cabinet’s commission for minors held

POLICY

EVENT IN SUPREME COURT TACKLES IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION

The scientific and practical conference took place this week at the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the report by Jahon Information Agency has said.

The conference considered implementation of Resolution of President of Uzbekistan on establishing the Research center for democratization and liberalization of judicial legislation and ensuring independence of court system of June 23 this year.

Chairman of Supreme Court Buritosh Mustafaev is reported to have presided over the conference. He spoke about the efficiency of implementing the new concept of deep reforming and liberalizing judiciary system of the country. According to him, it was an important component of building a law-governed state.

At the moment, a system of sole judicial power has been established in Uzbekistan which provides for a rule of law and protection of human rights. There are Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, general jurisdiction courts, and economic courts in the country. Also, Uzbekistan adopted legislative foundations of penal, penal – procedural, and other directions of law.

Establishment of the Research center for democratization and liberalization of judicial legislation and ensuring independence of court system in line with the presidential resolution serves an important factor in further democratizing and liberalizing court and legal system, raising authority of courts and ensuring justice. Gradual accomplishment of tasks set in the document, in particular, on further deepening reforms in court and legal system, serves the best interests of people.

The Research center has enough logistical basis to well implement the set tasks and goals. It is staffed with skilled cadres who analyze and generalize all materials and data related to respective legislative base, law-enforcement and judicial practice, as well as ensuring rule of law.

At the same time, a particular attention is being paid to implementation of tasks laid with the Research center on drafting proposals in terms of bettering sphere, thoroughly studying international legal norms and principles in the sphere of judicial activity and implementing them to national legislation, extending cooperation with international organizations in administering justice.

On the outcomes of discussions and detailed elaborations the delegates to the conference are reported to have defined tasks on consolidating cooperation of the Research center with respective ministries and agencies.

INTERIOR MINISTRY, OSCE COORDINATOR ORGANIZE ROUND TABLE

The round table on the interaction of the internal affairs bodies with other law enforcement and government agencies and non-governmental organizations to protect the rights and freedoms of the citizens was organized in Tashkent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the coordinator of OSCE projects, UzA reported.

Uzbekistan is currently implementing the program of events devoted to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, approved by the decree of the President on 1 May 2008.

The provisions of the Universal Declaration are reflected in the national legislation. Uzbekistan is consistently and firmly observing the international human rights obligations. The institute of the Ombudsman, the National Human Rights Center, the Institute for Monitoring the Current Legislation are functioning in the republic.

The system of national human rights institutions includes specially created units for protection of human rights in the Ministry of Justice, General Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Internal Affairs B. Matlyubov highlighted the effectiveness of the activities carried out in accordance with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Aimed at ensuring human rights and freedoms, these activities contribute to the further deepening of democratic, socioeconomic and sociopolitical reforms.

The activities carried out by the interior bodies are focused on improvement of staff qualification, conducting seminars on human rights, publishing documents and books, raising the efficiency of mechanisms of cooperation with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, courts and national human rights institutions.

In order to improve the legal protection of citizens, in September 2008 the Ministry of Internal Affairs created the Department for Protection of Human Rights and Legal Support. The department will have units in the regions of the country, which will ensure timely consideration of the complaints of the citizens.

The OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan together with the Interior Ministry are implementing a project called “Expansion of the possibilities of department for human rights protection and cooperation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with international organizations”.

ECONOMY

TEZINTOM INCREASES PRODUCTION BY 22%

Uzbek-German joint venture Tezintom increased it production volumes by 22% in the first eight months of this year compared to the similar period of 2007. Last year, the company manufactured products worth UZS 3.2 billion.

Tezintom, which began its activity in 1997, specializes in production of building materials, including metal-tile, roofing equipment, aluminum and plastic windows and doors, lattice, gates, illuminating devices, varnish-and-paint products, etc.

Today the enterprise is also actively operating on the foreign markets. The production is exported to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tadjikistan.

According to Elyor Gulamov, general director of Tezintom, the company is annually increasing its capacity and expanding the assortment of products. Recently, the venture launched production of soap, shampoos and other washing products.

JV IN FERGHANA PRODUCES EXPORT-BOUND GOODS – NEWS AGENCY

The fourth in a row the International Uzbek Cotton Fair which will be held on the initiative of the Uzbek Leadership in the middle of October plays an important role in raising exports and direct supplies of the Uzbek cotton fiber to reprocessing companies. Year to year the number of foreign partners busied in cotton trade is expanding, the report by Uzbekistan National News Agency has said.

The growing need in Uzbek cotton at the world markets lays a big responsibility to local cotton reprocessing companies. Many such production enterprises effectively operate in Ferghana Province, according to the report.

The Uzbek-Russian Rus-Ozbektex Joint Venture which was established early this year is among them. Thanks to advanced technologies the company produces quality yarns of international standards.

“The production capacity of the joint venture is 5000 tons of goods a year,” the Russian investor Artush Golloyan said. “Despite that the joint venture was launched quite recently the number of clients is rapidly increasing. We have exported the first batch of goods to Russia and Turkey.”

By now the joint company has employed 250 young men and women. All necessary conditions have been provided for them at the company for both efficient labor and leisure.

“Foreign specialists and business people highly assess the quality of products made of the Uzbek fiber,” the company chief engineer Avazbek Ergashev said, “and such fact yet more increases the need in our products at the foreign markets.”

EXPERTS TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF FURNITURE SECTOR

Expert council of Business Forum on industrial development and small and private businesses will hold a session in Tashkent on September 30 to discuss current affairs and perspectives of furniture industry of Uzbekistan, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and UN Development Programme's "Business Forum of Uzbekistan" projects are organizing the event. The development of national furniture industry is dictated with increasing demand of population of quality furniture (over US$100 million) and creation of new jobs and attraction of additional investments in the industry. In conditions of high competition, it is necessary to increase competitiveness of national furniture industry. Currently, the share of imports in furniture is 40-45% of total market.

The session will consider issues of current affairs and perspectives of furniture industry development in Uzbekistan, including improvement of competitiveness of local production, rendering additional services and strengthening of the role of small and private businesses in the industry. The participants will have an opportunity to exchange opinion and recommendations on boosting furniture industry of Uzbekistan. The event will assist to consolidate efforts of the state and private sector to develop furniture industry in the country.

CENTRAL ASIAN INDUSTRIAL WEEK TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK

International specialized forum "Central Asian Industrial Week" will be held at UzExpoCenter in Tashkent on 2-4 October.

Central Asian Industrial Week unites four specialized exhibitions - MiningWorld Uzbekistan 2008, ChemPlastAsia Uzbekistan 2008, PromUpak Uzbekistan 2008 and Machinery Central Asia 2008 – and separate exposition Industrial Electronics&Security Systems. ITE Uzbekistan, international exhibition company, and its partner I.T.E. Exhibitions & Conferences Ltd. (UK) are organizers of the project. The Forum is the first similar event in Uzbekistan. Over 60 companies from 13 countries will participate in the event. Central Asian Industrial Week will become the largest exhibition project in Uzbekistan. The visitors of the exhibitions can acquaint with latest industrial equipment, technologies, know-how and exchange experience with the foreign colleagues.

The organizers forecasted that the forum will help to improve strengthening of positive investment image of Uzbekistan and become the key event in creation of favourable investment climate in the country.

SOCIETY

EDUCATION IS BASIS OF PROGRESS

Press conference on reforms in the system of higher education of Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent on Thursday.

The minister of higher and secondary special education A.Parpiev said that training highly skilled specialists was one of the priority directions the country’s policy, UzA reported.

New priority directions of education, specialties and science have been identified in Uzbekistan in the recent years. A special attention is paid to integration of the education, science and industry.

A major part of over 22,000 teachers at universities currently are engaged in research in the priority directions. More than 450 fundamental, scientific, technical and innovative projects are being financed by the state grant.

A great attention is attached to increasing the intellectual potential of the young generation, helping young people in demonstrating their scientific and pedagogical potential, stimuling the activities of the researchers.

The journalists received information about the electronic system of employment of university graduates, estimation of their qualification and of the activity of the employers, which is being developed in collaboration of various ministries and departments.

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS PUBLISHED IN UZBEK

One of the most priority directions of developing society and state construction, domestic and foreign policy is to ensure human rights and interests of person in Uzbekistan. Yet another confirmation of aforesaid has served the Decree of President of Uzbekistan of May 1, 2008.

In line with that document the nation gradually implements the State program dedicated to worthily celebrating of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, according to the national press.

The decree became an important document of historical significance. At the moment, along with state bodies and establishments the citizen self-governance bodies, institutes of civil society and mass media are actively participating in accomplishing the measures set in the document.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights – extremely important international legal document that asserts most humane development goals of mankind and democratic values – became a great charter of human freedoms.

Uzbekistan joined this international document in 1991. Its provisions were reflected on the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and norms of national legislation. For over the past period of time, Uzbekistan established the system of national institutes on human rights and continuous system of education on human rights. The country actively extends the non-state system of ensuring human rights and institutes of civil society. Fruitful international cooperation is being accomplished in this direction.

Marking the jubilee of the Declaration is important in disseminating information on state policy led in Uzbekistan to promote and protect human rights and freedoms, as much as considerable work accomplished to further deepen democratic, social, economic and political reforms with an aim to ensure human rights, freedoms and interests.

In the years of independence the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was published in the Uzbek language. The jubilee publication of the Declaration prepared by the National Center of Uzbekistan on Human Rights jointly with United Nations Representation in Uzbekistan became one more important step in this direction.

The new publication was issued as a brochure and printed in Cyrillic and Latin script with its circulation of several thousand copies.

COMMISSIONS FOR FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATE IN REGIONS

In Khorezm region, like in other regions of Uzbekistan, special attention is paid to protection of rights and interests of the people.

In accordance with the law on counteracting human trafficking, interdepartmental commissions have been created in all regions of the country.

The meeting on this issues was held in Urgench on the initiative of the regional women’s committee with participation of consultants on religious education, heads of educational establishments and women working in the social sphere.

The participants highlighted the need to raise the level of employment of women, especially young people, expand explanatory work, strengthen the cooperation of commissions for the affairs of the minors with urban and district administrations, as well as other structures.

The tasks requiring immediate solution were determined at the meeting.

MEETING OF CABINET’S COMMISSION FOR MINORS HELD

The meeting of the Commission for Minors under the Cabinet of Ministers was held at the public Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan.

Its participants discussed issues of education of students in Andijan, Ferghana and Namangan region on the basis of modern requirements, improving the knowledge and physical training of difficult and failing children by engaging them in sports and other activities.

In Andijan, Ferghana and Namangan region effective work to prevent crime and juvenile delinquency, protect their rights and interests, organize their leisure, educate students on the basis of modern requirements, as well as attract them to sports was being carried out.

Today, more than 5,3 million students are studying at the general education schools in Uzbekistan.

The meeting participants also discussed shortcomings in the field. They outlined measures to address them and to use the available reserves.

The acting Minister of Labor and Social Protection of A.Haitov made a report on the performance of the National Action Plan to implement the Convention on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and the Convention on the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 12 September.