| February 28, 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Cabinet of Ministers holds a meeting
| |
On February 25 the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic held an annual meeting. The results of reforms in 1997 and the first two months of 1998 were discussed during a six-hour meeting led by President Islam Karimov. The president expressed his positive view on the growth of the Uzbek economy and on the positive steps in the macroeconomic stabilization. The growth of GNP was 5.1 % in comparison with that of 1996. President Karimov reminded of unsatisfactory results in agriculture. As for industrial sector more than 300 enterprises have been found to be unprofitable. The State Property Committee came under fire at the meeting for serious failures in the privatization process. President also talked on the criminal situation in the country and especially on the corruption of senior government officers and at law enforcement agencies.
|
|
|
First session of U.S.-Uzbek Joint Commission
| |
The U.S.-Uzbek joint commission held its inaugural meeting in Washington this week.
The commission was created to hold annual summits for discussing political, economic and military issues between the United States and Uzbekistan. The inaugural meeting was chaired by Adviser of the Secretary of State for CIS states Steven Sestanovich and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Komilov. The greetings of Presidents Islam Karimov and Bill Clinton to the commission were also delivered, in which the U.S. president said that the United States would continue to support Uzbekistan in achieving its goal to build a vibrant and pluralistic society. On the second day the U.S. has called on Uzbekistan to speed up the pace of democratic reform and ensure respect for human rights. On Thursday Steven Sestanovich said that Uzbekistan needs to do more to assure free participation in the political process by parties and non-government organizations and by an uncensored press. He said that such participation is a critical component of stability and that the U.S. Government welcomes Uzbekistan's commitment for free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections in 1999 and 2000 in accordance with international norms and international observers. "This will be an important opportunity to demonstrate Uzbekistan's continuing commitment to democratization." At the conclusion of the first meeting of the U.S.-Uzbek joint commission, Ambassador Sestanovich and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov signed several agreements including on the enhanced military cooperation and liberalized travel between the two countries.
|
|
|
Brief news
| |
Uzbek- German joint-venture nambum specializing on writing paper processing has been put into operation in namangan. The enterprise is using local raw materials. By the way there are only four countries in the world where cotton processing waste products are used in writing paper production. | A group of specialists from the institute of electronics of the State Academy of Science invented a new a non-explosive sensitive fire-alarm. When special tests were over the device was recommended for using in early fire diagnostics. There are no nalogs of such kind of fire-alarm in the world .
|
|
Georgian Parliamentary delegation in Uzbekistan
| |
On Tuesday a parliamentary delegation from Georgia headed by the parliament chief Zurab Zhvaniya paid an official visit to our country. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with the Chairman of the Georgian parliament Zurab Zhvaniya and said that Uzbekistan is interested in promoting mutually beneficial cooperation with Georgia. In his turn, Mr. Zhvaniya spoke on political problems in Georgia and said that his country is seeking ways to have more political and economic contacts with Uzbekistan. On the same day the Georgian delegation was received by Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Utkir Sultanov. The importance of mutual collaboration between the two states were once again stressed at this meeting. Cooperation on the parliamentary level between the two countries was the main item of discussion at the meeting with Chairman of Oliy Majlis Erkin Khalilov. The Georgian guests also had a chance to look around the new building of the Uzbek Parliament.
|
|
|
Uzbek Parliament turns three
| |
The parliament of the republic marks its third anniversary. This parliament might also be called a historic one, because the nation's important political events since its independence have occurred with the participation of this Oliy Majlis. The first president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov was elected by deputies of this Parliament; the nation's main law — the Uzbek constitution was adopted there. Currently the deputies of Oliy Majlis represent four political parties and one political movement. More than a hundred acts which provide juridical rights of people have been adopted. The legislative branch of the government is trying to do its best for fruitful collaboration with other countries in political and economic issues. The activity of Uzbek parliament is under control of the institute for the monitoring of legislation.
|
|
|
INCB releases annual report
| |
This week the United Nations Drug Control Program has published the annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1997. The International Narcotics Control Board was established as an independent and half-judicial control body to monitor and promote compliance by governments with the provisions of the international drug control treaties and assist them to fulfill obligations under those documents. The Board with a head-quarter in Vienna, Austria, meets at least twice a year. Each year it issues a report on its work, supplemented by detailed technical data. This year in Uzbekistan the annual report was released on February 24, by the officer in charge of UNDCP's regional representation Mr. Srinivasa Reddy. He briefly explained the major aspects of the report divided into three chapters. The first chapter, said Mr. Reddy, is the most important one. It contains information on how to prevent drug abuse in an environment of illicit drug promotion in mass media, pop music, entertainment and even on the Internet. There are plenty of pages on the world wide web devoted to production and promotion of drugs. Most of the controversial information and ideas can easily be accessed by young people, says the report. That's why today it is essential to use all forms of communication to disseminate objective information on drug abuse and stop the campaign of drugs promotion. Right after the press- conference Mr. Reddy told FCN about new projects of UNDCP, which will be launched in Uzbekistan this year.
|
|
|
Seminar on WTO legal principles
| |
The Academy of State Construction in Tashkent hosted a seminar on judicial principles of the World Trade Organization.
|
| Email me on: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
