Oily Majlis Passes Two Bills On Second Day Of Session
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 29: Oliy Majlis, Uzbek parliament, considered two issues at the start of the second day of the 12th session, Uzbek Radio`s Yoshlar channel reported at 1100 Tashkent time (+5 GMT) on 30 August. The deputies passed the bills `On bank secrets` (second reading) and `On protection measures, anti-dumping and compensational duties` after one hour of discussion. The bill `On Bank Secrets` was developed based on the experience of the USA, CIS countries, proposals of the population and the International Monetary Fund.
World Congress Of Kyrgyz Opens In Bishkek
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, August 28: A World Kurultai (congress) of Kyrgyz opened on 28 August in Bishkek, akipress.org, kabar.kg, and RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported. Three hundred ethnic Kyrgyz, half of whom are citizens of Kyrgyzstan while the rest represent the Kyrgyz diaspora, are reported to be attending the event, which will end on 1 September following ceremonies celebrating the purported 2,200 years of Kyrgyz statehood and Kyrgyzstan`s 12 years of independence, and honoring the Kyrgyz victims of tsarist repression in 1916. The event has stirred controversy because of its emphasis on Kyrgyz ethnicity, which has disturbed many of the country`s ethnic Russians, and because of President Askar Akaev`s intention to ask the congress to adopt a `Democratic Code for Kyrgyzstan.`
Independent Election Monitoring Group Set Up In Kazakhstan
Radio Free Europe
Astana, August 28: Three Kazakh NGOs -- the Confederation of Nongovernmental Organizations, the For a Law-Based Kazakhstan (ZPK) civic movement, and the Youth Congress of Kazakhstan -- have set up a Public Committee for Election Monitoring, ZPK Chairman Maksut Narikbaev told a press conference in Astana on 28 August, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
Kazakh Opposition Leader`s Pardon Appeal Never Reached President`s Office, Says Lawyer
Radio Free Europe
Astana, August 28: A lawyer for Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov, co-founder of the opposition coalition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK), told a press conference in Almaty on 28 August that her client`s appeal for a presidential pardon never reached the president`s office, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Zhaqiyanov was sentenced in 2002 to seven years` imprisonment after being convicted of abusing his office while he was governor of Pavlodar Oblast. The DVK says the charges were politically motivated.
Joint Session Of Parliament Planned For Early September
Kabar Agency
Astana, August 26: According to a circulation from the speaker of the lower house of parliament (mazhilis) of Kazakhstan, Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, on 2 September there will be a joint session of parliament in Astana.
Parliament To Consider Draft Law `On Informatisation
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 25: The 12th session of Oliy Majlis (Uzbek Parliament), to convene on 29 August, will consider the new draft of the law `On informatisation`. The adoption of the new law has become necessary because the existing one, adopted in 1993, has in many respects been duplicated by adjacent acts adopted later on. For instance, these are laws `On legal protection of computer programmes and databases`, `On principles and guarantees of freedom of information`, `On copyright and adjacent rights` and `On telecommunications`. The main reason for development of the new law is the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan of May 2002 `On further development of computerisation and introduction of information and communication technologies`, Izidor Kochmarik, chairman of the Committee of Oliy Majlis on industry, transport and communication issues, told in an interview to Narodnoe Slovo daily.
Azerbaijani Opposition Leaders Fail To Reach Agreement On Single Presidential Candidate
Radio Free Europe
Baku, August 25: The leaders of Azerbaijan`s four most influential opposition parties -- Isa Gambar (Musavat), Etibar Mamedov (Azerbaijan National Independence Party), Ali Kerimli (Azerbaijan Popular Front Party [AHCP]-reformist wing), and Rasul Guliev (Democratic Party of Azerbaijan) -- failed to reach agreement during talks in London on 24 August on selecting a single opposition candidate to contest the 15 October presidential election, Turan reported on 25 August.
Opposition Congress Held In Kyrgyzstan
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, August 23: A nationwide kurultai (congress) of Kyrgyz opposition groups was held in southern Kyrgyzstan`s Aksy Raion on 23 August, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported on 24 August. One prominent participant, NGO coalition For Democracy and Civil Society head Edil Baysalov, was quoted as saying afterward that the congress had made no positive decisions. The congress adopted a series of resolutions, however, one of which blamed President Askar Akaev for the country`s poor economic situation, and another called for the government`s resignation.
Uzbek Leader Sees Large Role For NATO In Afghanistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 29: President Islam Karimov vowed to strengthen NATO`s role in Afghanistan. The NATO role in Afghanistan could be greater, Islam Karimov told journalists during the break of the Uzbek parliament session on 29 August. `NATO should seriously work on issues of peace and stability in Afghanistan,` Karimov added. According to Uzbek leader, one of the important issues in post-war Afghanistan is creation of vertical authority, so that Hamid Karzai´s administration governs not only in Kabul, but in the whole country.
German Military Delegation Visits Armenia
Radio Free Europe
Yerevan, August 28: A German Defense Ministry delegation headed by Brigadier General Jurgen Bornemann held talks in Yerevan on 27 August with Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, Chief of the General Staff Colonel General Mikael Haroutiunian, and on 28 August with Mher Shahgeldian, chairman of the parliament Commission on Defense, National Security, and Internal Affairs, Noyan Tapan reported.
Georgia Drafts Agreement With Russia On Strengthening Border Interaction
Interfax
Tbilisi, August 25: The Georgian State Border Guard Department will hand over to the Russian colleagues its draft of a bilateral agreement on cooperation between border guards of the two nations, Colonel Kornely Salia, the department`s chief-of-staff, said on Monday. `In particular, the agreement provides for sending Georgian officers to Russian border guard units and Russian officers to Georgian border guard units. Mutual presence of border guard officials from the two countries on the Chechen, Ingush and Dagestani border sections will help improve interaction at adjacent pickets and boost reliability of communication and latest data exchange,` Salia told Interfax-Military News Agency. The agreement may be signed when Colonel General Vladimir Pronichev, first deputy director of the Federal Security Service and head of the Russian border guard service, visits Tbilisi, which is scheduled for September, Salia said.
Kazakh Security Service Shuts Down Alleged Hizb Ut Tahrir Print Shop
Radio Free Europe
Astana, August 28: The Kazakh National Security Committee has shut down an underground print shop that was allegedly turning out literature for the illegal Muslim extremist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir in Shymkent, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported on 28 August, quoting the head of the security committee office in South Kazakhstan Oblast, Vladimir Nakisbaev. Shymkent is the administrative center of South Kazakhstan Oblast. Nakisbaev said that the secret print shop was discovered on 25 August during a series of raids intended to stop the activities of banned extremist groups.
Islamist Reportedly Stepping Up Activities
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, August 27: Security worries by Kyrgyz officials about a recrudescence of the banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation) have been voiced throughout the month. They culminated in an announcement by Prime Minister Tanaev on 27 August that the country was reinforcing its border defenses in connection with Independence Day celebrations on 31 August. On 13 August Sadyrbek Kachkynbaev, an authority on religious groups from Kyrgyzstan`s southern Djalal-Abad Oblast, warned that extremist organizations were stepping up their activities, Interfax reported. He noted that discoveries of new caches of extremist leaflets, books, and magazines during the first half of 2003 had led to1,500 people being put under observation by law-enforcement agencies.
Hizb Ut Tahrir Said To Be More Active In Northern Kyrgyzstan
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, August 24: Kyrgyzstan`s National Security Service announced on 23 August that the extremist Muslim movement Hizb ut-Tahrir is becoming more active in the northern part of Kyrgyzstan, as indicated by the number of arrests in the region in the first half of this year, RFE/RL`s Kyrgyz Service reported on 24 August. According to the security service, 18 Hizb ut-Tahrir activists have been arrested in the Chui, Issyk-Kul, and Talas oblasts during this period.
Lukoil Does Not Plan To Withdraw From Shah Deniz
Interfax
Baku, August 29: Russian oil company Lukoil does not plan to withdraw from a project to develop the Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, a Lukoil Overseas representative said. `I am part of the management committee for the Shah Deniz project, but I have not heard this information. At the moment the Russian company [Lukoil] is continuing to carry out its contractual obligations,` Rim Bagmanov, general director of the Lukoil Overseas office in Azerbaijan, said in response to reports about the company`s withdrawal from the project.
Uzbekistan On Track To Reach Convertibility By The End Of 2003
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 29: Uzbekistan´s government and the Central Bank are continuing measures to simplify access of economic entities to domestic currency market and to put in order convertibility of their soum funds.
Iran, Turkmenistan Friendship Dam To Become Operational Ahead Of Schedule
Tehran Times
Mashhad, August 29: Construction of the Iran-Turkmenistan Friendship Dam to be completed 14 months ahead of schedule, deputy managing director of the dam Reza Afsharzadeh said on Friday. Speaking to IRNA, he said as per schedule the dam was supposed to become operational in 2005 but following a protocol signed between the two countries` presidents the construction of the dam will be completed in 2004. Based on the first agreement, each side was responsible to construct 50 percent of the dam but following the recent agreement made between the two countries` presidents, Iran undertook 80 percent while Turkmen took the remaining 20 percent of the construction process, he said. Around 61 percent of the construction work has been completed by now, he said.
Kyrgyz Finance Ministry Forecasts GDP Growth Of 4.1 per cent In 2004
Interfax
Bishkek, August 28: The Kyrgyzstan Finance Ministry has forecast GDP growth of 4.1 per cent in 2004, Deputy Finance Minister Sabyrbek Moldokulov said at a government meeting on Friday. He said that growth in industrial production next year, including companies working at the Kumkor gold ore field, would amount to 0.1 per cent, and not including these companies - 6 per cent.
Uzbekistan Becomes Islamic Development Bank Member
Interfax
Tashkent, August 28: The management of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has approved an official appeal from the Uzbekistani government on its intention to become a Bank member. Uzbekistani Cabinet made this statement in a special ordinance published on Wednesday. Uzbekistani government decided to ratify the provisions of an agreement on the IDB establishment of August 12, 1974 and notify the Bank`s management about this. The government appointed General Director of the Agency for Foreign Economic Ties Alyer Ganiyev IDB as the managing director from Uzbekistan and Chairman of the Board of the Uzbekistani National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity Zainutdin Mirkhodzhayev as his deputy. Under the document, Uzbekistan will hold 250 shares in the IDB, each of them having a face value of 10,000 Islamic dinars, which is equivalent to $3.475 million.
Eight Oil, Gas Blocks Discovered In Caspian Sea
IRNA
Tehran, August 27: There are considerable oil and gas reserves in eight out of 46 distinguished blocks in the Caspian Sea, said Public Relations Department at National Iranian Oil Company here on Wednesday. The Department said contract has been signed with Oil Exploration Operations Company for completion of exploratory studies on the blocks, determination of their reserves, specification of the site for exploratory drilling operation and conduction of tri-dimensional seismographic operations within a range of 2,500 square kilometers. Operations for transfer and procurement of vessels needed for tri-dimensional seismographic operations are in final stages. The contract stipulates completion of the project in one year.
Tajikistan Starts Transmitting Electricity To Russia
Kabar Agency
Dushanbe, August 26: Electricity supply from Tajikistan to Russia via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan has started. The corresponding agreement was signed by Inter UES, a subsidiary of the Russian electricity monopolist UES, and the Tajik energy company Barki-Tochik JSC. Electric energy supplied to Russia is generated at the Nureksk HES.
EBRD To Grant Azerbaijan Credit To Modernize Energy Systems
Interfax
Baku, August 26: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development plans to provide Azerbaijan with a credit of $50 million- $60 million to modernize energy systems, a source in the Azerenergy press service told Interfax. Preliminary agreement has already been reached with the Azerbaijani government for this credit, he said. The source said that at the moment a delegation from the U.S. company Burns & Roe Enterprises is agreeing a report prepared by the request of the EBRD on priority measures to increase the effectiveness of the Azerbaijani energy system, to increase generating capacity and to improve energy supply to consumers.
Ukraine Still Hopes For Azerbaijan To Join Odessa-Brody Project
Baku Today
Baku, August 25: The cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan in the field of oil and gas has significant prospects, said Boris Alekseenko, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan. `One of Ukraine`s priority tasks today is diversification of energy sources. Azerbaijan is our strategic interest from this point of view`, the diplomat has noted. Alekseenko has said that Azerbaijan also pursuits diversification of methods of oil transportation to the world markets. `Ukraine has significant capacities in the field of oil and gas transportation. I consider that Odessa-Brody-Gdansk pipeline could be actively used in transportation of Azerbaijani oil to Europe`, said the Ambassador.
Georgian Government Expects To Continue Cooperation With IMF
Interfax
Tbilisi, August 25: Georgia still has realistic chances to continue a program of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, Georgian State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze told the press on Sunday, after two-day consultations between the economics section of the Georgian government and IMF representatives. Georgia`s cooperation with the IMF will continue if the parliament on Tuesday makes up a quorum and approves the government`s proposals on adjusting the budget for 2003 and making relevant amendments to the Tax Code, Jorbenadze said. `The parliament must perform its function,` Jorbenadze said. `Political games cannot determine the country`s life,` he said. If the lawmakers fail to approve the budget adjustment, which provides for both cutting the expenditures and increasing the revenues on average by 135 million lari, or 9 per cent of the budget`s expense item, the executive branch will have to resort to another option, the minister said.
EBRD Set To Buy Into Its Third Azerbaijani Bank
Interfax
Baku, August 25: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to acquire its third stake in an Azerbaijani bank. The EBRD, which already owns 20 per cent of International Bank of Azerbaijan (MBA) and 25 per cent of Azerbaijani Microfinancing Bank, has approved plans to buy 20 per cent of Unibank, one of the country`s ten biggest banks, the EBRD`s Baku office told Interfax.
Caspian Consortium Exports To Rise 40 per cent
The Moscow Times
Moscow, August 24: The Caspian pipeline consortium, which ships crude from Kazakhstan to Russia`s Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, said Friday its exports will rise by 40 percent to 435,000 barrels per day by the beginning of 2004. The group, led by U.S. ChevronTexaco, said the increase was largely due to new oil from the giant Kazakh Karachaganak field, operated by British BG and Italy`s ENI. Russian Black Sea oil exports are also expected to rise, which, with a planned gradual rise in Iraqi supplies, sets the scene for tough competition among crude sellers in the Mediterranean market. CPC currently exports 1.3 million metric tons per month, or 310,000 bpd. `The latest forecasts for oil sector development in the Caspian region show the need to expand the capacity of the CPC pipeline,` the CPC statement quoted its general director Ian MacDonald as saying.
Russian President Sends Greetings To Islam Karimov
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 29: To His Excellency Mr Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Dear Mr Islam Karimov, I congratulate you on the occasion of national holiday of the Republic of Uzbekistan - Independence Day. Russia highly appreciates traditions of friendship and confidence tying together our peoples over the centuries. This lasting basis is a guarantee of progressive and dynamic development of bilateral relations, strategic partnership and respect of each other´s interests. I am sure that realisation of understandings, achieved during our meeting in Samarkand, will serve to strengthen Uzbek-Russian multidimensional collaboration, stability and security in the Central Asian region. I wish you, dear Mr Islam Karimov, good health and successes in your state activities, and to people of Uzbekistan well-being and prosperity. Yours faithfully, Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation.
Shaukat Leaves For Almaty To Attend IDB Meet
Paknews
Islamabad, August 29: The annual meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan next week. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz will represent Pakistan in the meeting to be attended by some 54 economy ministers along with representatives from the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Bank as well as a number of non-governmental organizations (NGO) will attend the meeting. They will study membership of Uzbekistan in the IDB, the bank balance sheet for the year 2002, Iran`s request to hold next year`s IDB annual meeting in Tehran and the policy of the bank in rendering financial aid to Africa.
US President George Bush Congratulates Uzbek Leader
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 29: To His Excellency Mr Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Dear Mr President, On behalf of American people I congratulate you and the people of Uzbekistan on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of Independence of your country on 1 September. This event is a pertinent moment to highlight once again good relations existing between our states. We appreciate courageous contribution of your government in the war against terrorism. We remain strong supporters of cooperation with your government in deed of making Uzbekistan prosperous, stable and democratic, which will serve both interests of Uzbek people and peace in the region. With best wishes of peace and prosperity in the coming year, Sincerely, George Bush, President of the United States of America.
IDB Annual Meeting To Be Held In Almaty Next Week
Tehran Times
Tehran, August 29: Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Mahdi Karbasian said here Friday that the annual meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan next week. Speaking to IRNA, he said some 54 economy ministers along with representatives from the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Bank as well as a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will attend the meeting.
The UNDP Appeals To Central Asia To Revive Silk Road
Interfax
Almaty, August 28: In order to strengthen regional cooperation and leave trade isolation the Central Asian states shall revive Great Silk Road, says UNDP Associate Administrator Zephirin Diabre. Central Asia ensures trade relations between the East and the West. We appeal to you to activate Silk Road, he said addressing to representatives of interested parties at the opening ceremony of the two- day International Ministerial Conference of Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries. In the past caravans with goods were following the so called Silk Road passing through all Central Asian states thus ensuring commerce between Asian and European countries. According to Mr. Diabre, in order Asia to leave isolation it is essential to create wide markets to be encouraged by investments. He underlined that landlocked countries have specific problems in commerce. Mr. Diabre pointed out that cooperation between the UNDP and landlocked countries will strengthen the economy and the commerce system in general. On behalf of the UNDP he promised that the organization will keep stimulating activities of donors with special emphasis on demands of landlocked countries.
Kazakhstan Development Bank And Japanese Bank For International Cooperation Discussed Partnership Perspectives
Interfax
Almaty, August 28: The management of Kazakhstan Development Bank (BRK) and Japanese bank for international cooperation discussed perspectives of joint activity including personnel exchange. The BRK press service reported that the Japanese side was interested in the BRK role in the country`s economy and principles of cooperation with foreign banks. At the same time Japanese delegation was interested in BRK plans in investing domestic production of hi-tech production and developing non- crude sector of economy.
Air Flights Between Kabul And Dushanbe Resumed
Pravda
Dushanbe, August 28: Regular air flights between Dushanbe and Kabul were resumed on Thursday. As a RIA Novosti correspondent was told in the management of the Tochikiston Airlines, on Thursday a Boeing-727 of the Ariana Afghan airlines landed at Dushanbe airport. The flights between Kabul and Dushanbe will be carried out every Thursday according to the earlier achieved agreement between the Tochikiston and Ariana companies.
Baku Awaits New Russian Co-Chairman Of OSCE Minsk Group
Interfax
Baku, August 28: The Azerbaijani administration does not think that the nearing replacement of the Russian Co-Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group will have a negative effect on the Karabakh settlement process. `I do not think this will have a negative effect on the settlement, the more so since Russia is our close neighbor,` Novruz Mamedov, head of the Azerbaijani president staff`s department of external relations, told Interfax on Thursday. Any representative of Russia `has a certain knowledge of the essence, history and specific features of the Karabakh conflict, so it will not be difficult for him to become involved in the settlement process, in contrast to the American or French counterparts, who need a certain amount of time for this,` Mamedov said.
Kazakhstan And Lebanon To Prepare Agreements For Economic Cooperation
Interfax
Astana, August 28: The first official visit of Lebanese PM Rafik Al-Hariri will promote further development of cooperation between two states, Kazakhstani PM Danial Akhmetov said. `I am convinced that the visit of Mr. Al-Hariri will give an impulse to developing cooperation between our states`, Akhmetov said at a joint news conference after their meeting. The ministries of both countries had been instructed to prepare three bilateral agreements: on trade-economic cooperation, on avoiding double taxation and on investments protection, Akhmetov said. These documents would be a base for Kazakhstani-Lebanese cooperation, he noted.
Presidential Advisor Praises Kazakhstan`s Social And Economic Reforms
The Moscow Times
Moscow, August 27: Russia is set to make use of Kazakhstan`s experience in implementing economic and social reforms, economic adviser of the Russian president Andrey Illarionov announced today during his trip over the Karaganda region, Kazakhstan. He said that Russia had plenty to learn from Kazakhstan as the latter had made a great progress in carrying out reforms. On August 28, Illarionov is expected to meet with Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Water Conference May Encourage Regional Approach
BigNews Network
Ankara, August 27: An international conference on fresh water facilitated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is set to take place this weekend in Tajikistan, and may go some way to solving pressing disputes in Central Asia. This year is the International Year of Fresh Water under the theme of `Water, Environment and Security`. `Tajikistan initiated this [conference] due to the fact that though it has huge water resources in Central Asia, the water problems are of huge importance,` Jalil Buzrukov, the coordinator of the working group organising the conference, told IRIN from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. The 55th UN General Assembly session, at the urging of Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov, decided to announce the year 2003 as the International Year of Fresh Water. The aim is to increase public awareness of the importance of fresh water, and undertake relevant action at different levels. Buzrukov also pointed out that water resources in the region were unevenly distributed, hinting at the need for regional cooperation.
Azerbaijani Premier Discusses Cooperation With U.S.
Interfax
Baku, August 26: Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage discussed the development of bilateral cooperation and the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem in Washington, the Azerbaijani Embassy to the U.S. told Interfax on Tuesday. The negotiators favor expanding Azerbaijani-U.S. political and economic ties and intensifying joint efforts to combat international terrorism, the embassy said. Aliyev and Armitage also agreed that conducting Azerbaijani presidential elections in a democratic and transparent atmosphere will be an important step in the country`s development of democracy.
Indian Company Eyes Uzbekistan Power Project
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 25: Power Grid Corporation of India is likely to lay the 300-km-long power transmission lines between Uzbekistan and Kabul..
The Lord Mayor Of The City Of London To Visit Uzbekistan
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 25: An official visit to Uzbekistan by a British delegation headed by Alderman Gavyn Arthur, the Rt.Hon The Lord Mayor of London will take place between 3-6 September 2003. The delegation includes Miss Carole Blackshaw, The Lady Mayoress, Alderman and Sheriff of the City of London David Brewer and Mrs Tessa Brewer, Mr Neill O´Connor, Lord Mayor´s Acting Private Secretary. The Lord Mayor plans to get familiar with the banking and financial sectors, foreign investment climate and progress of economic reforms. Members of the delegation will meet heads of ministries and representatives of British business and international financial institutions.
Korean Serving In Uzbekistan´s Cabinet
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 25: Kim Tae-bong is a Korean national who was appointed to be a deputy minister of Uzbekistan after attracting millions of dollars of foreign investment to the country. Kim returned to Uzbekistan on Monday after wrapping up his schedule on the peninsula for attracting Korean investment to the country, Korean Chosun.com reported. Until 1994, Kim was a star analyst at the Seoul branch of a British bank. But he quit the job because the bank had not kept its promise to give him to chance to study in Britain. In 1995, he flew with his family to Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, and began work as the head of Kabool Textiles´ Uzbekistan office. Kim has succeeded in introducing US$50 million of foreign capital over the last two years. Owing to these achievements, Kim was appointed as the deputy minister of light industry.
KOICA Grants To Uzbekistan Equipment Worth US$120,000
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 25: Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on behalf of the government of the Republic of Korea has granted equipment worth total US$120,000 to Uzbekistan. Different kinds of office equipment have been handed to the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, the Agency of Foreign Economic Relations, the Uzbek State World Languages University, the State TV and Radio Company and Samarkand State Foreign Languages Institute.
SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting To Be Held In Tashkent
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 25: Uzbekistan will host the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 4-5 September 2003, RIA Novosti reported. According to Russian Foreign Ministry´s press and information department, ministers of foreign affairs of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will participate in the meeting.
Kyrgyz PM Receives New Indian Ambassador
Kabar Agency
Bishkek, August 25: In the House of government, the meeting of Kyrgyz PM Nikolay Tanaev with new Ambassador of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on India in the KR Appuni Ramijem has taken place. The sides have discussed the issues of bilateral cooperation. A.Ramijem in his welcoming speech said that the relations between two countries have remarkably strengthened. N.Tanaev congratulated him with new post and noted that there is friendly relation between India and Kyrgyzstan, they develop very dynamically quick and constructively. Kyrgyz PM informed that Kyrgyzstan and India tightly cooperate in IT sphere, agricultural products processing, and other sectors of economy. N.Tanaev has confidently said that the relations between two countries will further develop, increasing the number of flights Bishkek-Deli.
Delegation Of US Congressional Staffers Visits Kyrgyzstan
Radio Free Europe
Bishkek, August 25: A delegation of 19 staffers from both houses of the U.S. Congress visited Kyrgyzstan on 22-24 August, `Obshchestvennyi reiting` reported on 25 August. The group was led by a senior adviser of the USA-Asia Foundation, General Electric Vice President Rob Wallace. The delegation met with President Akaev, who briefed the visitors on the political situation in Kyrgyzstan, including the February referendum on constitutional changes and the creation of the ombudsman`s office. The group also met with Kyrgyz parliamentarians and presidential-staff members. The chairman of Kyrgyzstan`s upper house, Altai Borubaev, appealed for closer ties between the parliaments of the two countries.
UES Not Pursuing Political Goals In Georgia - Shevardnadze
Interfax
Tbilisi, August 25: The Russian electricity monopoly, Unified Energy Systems (UES), is not pursuing any political goals in Georgia, having bought shares in a company distributing electricity to Tbilisi and a number of other Georgian power facilities, President Eduard Shevardnadze told a Monday press conference. `There is nothing unusual in the fact that the Russian company has entered Georgia, as many Russian companies are working not only in Europe, but also around the world. This has become common,` he said.
Uzbekistan Keen To Promote Bilateral Trade
The Star Online
Tashkent, August 24: WITH just US$6mil (RM22.8mil) in the bilateral trade book last year, Uzbekistan ambassador Aybek Khasanov is going all out to promote his brand of economic diplomacy to hasten the business tempo with Malaysia. Having arrived in February on a promotion as his country`s first resident ambassador here, the envoy wants to repay his Government`s faith in him by exploiting the economic prospects here. `The job given to me is a huge responsibility and a challenge, and it is indeed an honour and privilege to be posted to a prosperous country like Malaysia. `Malaysia is actively engaged in economic development and I will do everything to ensure that our bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade, will see more success,` he said in an interview.
Record Haul Of Heroin On Tajikistan, Afghanistan Border
Bignews Network
Dushanbe, August 28: Russian border guards have seized a record haul of more than a quarter of a tonne of heroin after a shoot-out with smugglers on Tajikistan`s border with Afghanistan. The Tajik border guards exchanged gunfire with a group of 10 drug smugglers who fled back into Afghanistan, leaving nine bags containing a total of 260 kilograms of heroin. The smugglers also left an automatic weapon and three loaded magazines.
Shield Or Sieve? Tajikistan Reviews Tactics In The War On Drugs
Radio Free Europe
Dushanbe, August 26: Viktor Cherkesov, chairman of Russia`s State Committee for Drug Control, arrived in the Tajik capital Dushanbe on 26 August for a two-day visit that concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Tajikistan`s Drug Control Agency (DCA). Both sides pledged to step up joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, and to rethink the way those efforts were conducted. Cherkesov held talks with a broad range of Tajik officials including DCA Director Rustam Nazarov and Interior Minister Khumdin Sharipov, Asia-Plus reported on 27 August. Sharipov told his guest that between January and June 2003 Tajik police, with the help of Russian troops stationed on the Tajik-Afghan border, seized more than 2 tons of narcotics, of which over 375 kilograms were heroin. On 27 August Cherkesov was received by President Imomali Rakhmonov. Discussions focused on how, by strengthening Tajikistan`s border regimes and interdiction methods, the country could become `a shield in the path of drug trafficking to Central Asia, Russia, and Europe,` in Rakhmonov`s words -- rather than a sieve, which is a rather better description of how Tajikistan currently stands up to the torrent of narcotics coming out of Afghanistan.
Disturbing Health Statistics From Nuclear Semipalatinsk
Kazakhstan News
Ankara, August 28: A former nuclear testing area in Semipalatinsk, a town in northern Kazakhstan, continues to adversely affect the health of the local population, particularly pregnant women, new figures show. Nine out of ten pregnant women in the town and in some rural areas nearby are suffering from various diseases due to their immunity system being weak. `Only 10 out of every 100 pregnant women [in Semipalatinsk] are healthy,` Rashida Galimulina, the head of the Semipalatinsk perinatal centre, told IRIN from Semipalatinsk, adding that main diseases affecting pregnant women were blood related, like anaemia, along with urinary and genital infections, and kidney diseases stemming from very week immunity. Some 60 percent of the pregnant women in the region were suffering anaemia, she added. Along with anaemia and infection there were different pathologies during the pregnancies, and some 45 percent of pregnant women treated at the perinatal centre in Semipalatinsk had been diagnosed as having hestosis, a type of obstetrical complication, Galimulina noted.
Uzbek Rights Activist Kidnapped And Beaten
Central Asia Daily
Tashkent, August 29: The Uzbek government should fully investigate the kidnapping and severe beating of a human rights defender in Tashkent, Human Rights Watch said today.
Tashkent Hosts Seminar On UN System On Human Rights
Uzbek Report
Tashkent, August 29: A training on international human rights legislation in Uzbekistan started at Grand Orzu Hotel on 29 August, Uzbek Radio´s Yoshlar channel reported. The aim of the seminar is to expand knowledge of Uzbek population and specialists in international human right laws on and working system of UN and its branches. Uzbek specialists are capable to protect human rights on the international stage, Balash Yarabik, head of Freedom House in Uzbekistan, said.
Uzbekistan Sets Up New Human Rights Body
Radio Free Europe
Tashkent, August 28: The Uzbek cabinet of ministers issued a decree on 27 August setting up a six-member board within the Justice Ministry to protect human rights, uza.uz reported on 28 August. The board is to have branches in all oblast justice departments and in Karakalpakstan. The decree orders the Justice Ministry to take additional measures to protect citizens` rights, to help develop civil society, to improve law enforcement, and to enhance the independence of the judiciary. It reminds the Justice Ministry specifically that the judicial system is subordinate only to it and not to local authorities.
Special Focus
Court Rulings Do Little To Mend Tashkent`s Reputation As Rights AbuserThe week of August 18 was a bad one for Uzbekistan`s human rights record. International rights organizations were dealt a double blow when independent journalist Ruslan Sharipov was sentenced to jail and Iskandar Khudoiberganov, an alleged Islamic militant, lost his death-sentence appeal.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/pp082403.shtmlNGO Activists Says Climate For Independent Media Deteriorating In Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan`s independent journalists are experiencing a growing number of incidents involving physical intimidation and legal harassment, a leading NGO activist said a meeting in New York. Planned changes in media legislation, likely to be introduced for parliamentary consideration in September, could foster a more restrictive atmosphere for independent media, the NGO representative added.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/eav082503.shtmlCentral Asia: Early Travelers Part 1: Missions To The Mongols
John Plano Carpini traveled through Central Eurasia during the period 1245-47, basically to assess the threat of the Mongols. Read the first part of the series on `Early Traverlers to Central Asia`.
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http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/EH28Ag02.htmlUN-Sponsored Conference Promotes Central Asian Trade
Hosting a United Nations conference on landlocked countries, Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev on August 28 sought to muster support for improved trade turnover in Central Asia. The lack of trade cooperation is seen as one of the main obstacles to regional economic development.
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http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/business/articles/eav082903.shtmlRussian Energy Expansion In Caucasus: Risks And Mitigation StrategyRussia is skillfully capitalizing on the sensitive pre-election period in Georgia. President Vladimir Putin is trying to obtain substantial concessions from President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia, without promising much in return. A recently concluded deal by RAO UES on purchase of electricity generation and distribution assets, and current attempts by Gazprom to take over the natural gas pipeline and distribution networks in Georgia, may have significant political consequences not only for Georgia, but also for the entire region and U.S. interests there.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=1675The Southeast Asian And Chinese Connection To Drug Trade In Central AsiaCentral Asia in the late 1990s gradually became a major trafficking route for heroin produced in Afghanistan. This has had increasingly serious implications for the public health, economic development, as well as security of Central Asian states, and arguably grown into being the main threat to the region`s future. Recent reports suggest that drugs from China and Southeast Asia are increasingly being trafficked through Central Asia.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=1676Military Reform In Uzbekistan: Defining The Priorities
Military reform in Uzbekistan is aimed at creating a small, mobile and well-equipped army, to deal effectively with any external threats to national security, the main threat stemming from terrorism. The U.S. and Uzbekistan signed a `strategic partnership` agreement in 2002, solidifying the relationship between the two states.
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http://www.cacianalyst.org/view_article.php?articleid=1677
Report Dated 29 August 2003