he UN Secretary-General's envoy for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, who replaced in this post the well-known diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, has held a meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov. They discussed regional problems and, in particular, the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan. The [Uzbek] Foreign Ministry told RIA that during the talks both tried to find ways to peacefully settle Afghanistan's internal conflict. Tomorrow Francesc Vendrell will visit ancient Samarkand and on [19th February] Saturday he will leave for Moscow.

ndia has finalized aviation bilateral with Uzbekistan to increase the air service with it. Under the agreement signed with civil aviation authorities in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek Airways (UA) has been permitted to utilize the unused entitlement of Indian carriers under a code-share arrangement. The designated airlines of Uzbekistan will be permitted to use the unutilized entitlement of Indian side between Uzbekistan and Delhi up to 850 seats per week.

ountries of the CIS will hold a large-scale exercise code-named Shchit-2000 (Shield) in Central Asia in March. The exercise will involve Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It will include a staff training session in Uzbekistan and live fire exercises with the participation of infantry, artillery and aviation units, the staff for the coordination of CIS military cooperation told Itar- Tass on Wednesday.

Such exercises have become a tradition in the CIS armies. In March 1999, the staff for the coordination of CIS military cooperation held four-day staff military games. Its participants prepared proposals on the planning of peacekeeping operations in one of the CIS republics in Central Asia.

In October and November 1999, CIS countries held a large- scale exercise code-named Yuzhny Shchit Sodruzhestva (Southern Shield of the Commonwealth) which involved Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The focus was on measures to fight international terrorism. The exercise tested the mechanisms devised for the implementation of the Collective Security Treaty, as well as regional and bilateral security agreements.

delegation headed by a special envoy of the chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, arrived in Uzbekistan February 16. The aim of this delegation on Afghanistan is to consult with our republic's officials about ensuring peace and and stability in the region, resolving Afghan problems peacefully by means of political talks and making the confronting sides come to an agreement. The delegation on Afghanistan from the Organization of the Islamic Conference will hold several lots of talks.

zbek President Islam Karimov has slammed the Uzbekistan government's economic performance for last year but said 1999 macroeconomic targets had by and large been met. "We have to admit that not all the tasks for 1999 have been completely implemented," he told a Cabinet meeting in a speech published by Uzbekistan's press on Tuesday. However, macroeconomic targets had on the whole been reached, he said. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased 4.4%, industrial output 6.1%, agricultural output 5.9% and retail turnover 10.5%.

With a budget deficit of 3% of GDP, expenditure proved only 1.9% greater than revenue. Average monthly inflation was 1.9%, which was lower than the 1998 average monthly rate. The country's cash supply increased 10.2% compared to a target of 12.8%. The economy's accounts receivable shrank to 1.8 billion sum from 76.8 billion, Karimov said.

total of 224 crimes were committed in the capital [Tashkent] last week. Out of these, 168 were solved "hot on the heels" of the crime. The crime solution rate by different types of crime was as follows: the police solved two out of the three cases of robbery attacks, eight out of the nine cases of theft, five out of the six cases of hooliganism, three cases of rape and 36 drug-related crimes. They also solved one murder and one case of car theft.

he UN Secretary-General's envoy for Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell, will start an official visit to our country today. On the first day of his visit, the high-ranking guest will visit the Tashkent Museum of Applied Arts. He will visit the UN office in Uzbekistan. On 17th February Mr Vendrell will be received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The guest also plans to visit the State Museum of Temurid History. On 18th February, Francesc Vendrell will see the sights of the ancient and eternally youthful city of Samarkand and also visit the Imam al-Bukhari complex.

n February 14, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Joseph Presel presented thirteen of sixteen High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) worth 2.65 million dollars to Uzbek government officials at the Tashkent International Airport. The vehicles arrived aboard a U.S. Air Force- C-5 cargo plane.

These military transport vehicles are the first Foreign Military Sales equipment transferred to Uzbekistan, and are being provided through a grant from the U.S. Government. Deputy Commander of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Colonel George Mosely, arrived on the flight with the twelve vehicles and was present at the transfer ceremony. The remaining three vehicles will be delivered later this month.

The HMMWV is the all-purpose vehicle of choice of the U.S. Armed Forces. It has a wide-wheel base and on-demand four-wheel drive, which makes it capable of traversing even the most difficult terrain. The vehicle can be configured to haul up to twelve passengers and cargo, and can operate with either diesel fuel or gasoline. U.S. forces use these vehicles for personnel and transport, as ambulances, and as combat vehicles.

The HMMWVs were purchased by the Government of Uzbekistan to improve inter-operability of NATO's forces and those of Uzbekistan. The vehicles are also expected to provide added mobility to Uzbekistan's Armed Forces.

mass grave containing the remains of 62 people has been found in the village of Salar in the northern suburbs of the Uzbek capital,`Narodnoye Slovo' wrote on 10th February.

Excavation work from late April to November 1999 uncovered a three-metre high burial mound containing human remains lying "under a heap of rubbish, in four layers", the leader of the Prometey (Prometheus) expedition which uncovered the remains wrote. "Builders of the Salar Hydro-Electric Power Station worked here in 1942-1947. The corpses of victims of political repressions were brought here," the article said. "Evidently, they were buried in haste. A vineyard was planted on top," Zarifa Eshmirzayeva said.

She said excavations would continue in spring 2000 and that the task now was to discover the identities of the dead. The bodies have now been reburied "in the presence of Muslim and Orthodox clergy", the article added.

The Prometey expedition has also uncovered remains of those killed in the Second World War in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, Eshmirzayeva wrote. It began excavation work in Salar in 1998 after receiving reports of finds of human remains in fields there although there had been reports of human bones turning up since the 1960s, she said.

zbekistan intends to sign a concession agreement with Oxus Resources, a UK mining company, on the development of the large Khandiza nonferrous metals deposit in the Central Asian republic's Surkhandarya Region.

The Uzbek State Geology Committee and Oxus Resources have already signed a framework concession agreement, a government insider told Interfax. Oxus would make an initial investment of 15m dollars over three years. Once the Khandiza deposit goes on stream, the British company will pay an annual 1m dollars plus 5 per cent of net profits, although the percentage is subject to review if the price of nonferrous metals goes up. The final concession agreement will be drafted before May this year and, it is anticipated, will be signed towards the middle of the year, the source said.

Oxus resources and the geology committee signed a primary agreement to explore Khandiza two years ago. The geology committee said the deposit contains a proven 700 tonnes of lead, 1.54m tonnes of zinc, 180,000 t of copper and 2,300 t of silver, with incidental selenium, cadmium, gold and indium.

zbek President Islam Karimov issued a decree today appointing Lt-Gen Yuriy Agzamov to the post of defence minister. Agzamov was previously deputy prime minister and commander of the southwestern special military district, the head of state's office informed Interfax.

Agzamov was born in 1949 in Tashkent. He graduated from Chirchik higher military tank school in 1970 and from the military academy of armoured troops of the USSR armed forces in 1977. He is married and has two children.

he Uzbek parliament endorsed the list of members of the government proposed by President Islam Karimov at a sitting on 11th February, Uzbek radio reported the same day. Of the new appointments, Bakhtiyor Hamidov was appointed first deputy prime minister and Bakhtiyor Alimjanov was appointed minister of macroeconomics and statistics and deputy prime minister; Anatoliy Isayev was appointed minister of agriculture and water resources and deputy prime minister; and Abdusamad Polvon-zoda, formerly the first deputy chairman of the republic's Supreme Court, was appointed minister of justice. The post of miniser of defence was left vacant, to be included on the agenda of the next parliamentary sitting, the radio said. The following is the text of report by Uzbek radio on 11th February.

[Announcer] After a short break the parliamentary session continued its work. In line with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers is to be proposed by the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan and endorsed by the Supreme Assembly. Consequently, Uzbek President Islam Karimov recommended the composition of a new government to the Supreme Assembly.

The deputies endorsed the prime minister, his deputies, ministers and chairmen of state committees. In accordance with the president's recommendation, Otkir Sultonov was appointed prime minister of the republic. Also, Bakhtiyor Hamidov was appointed first deputy prime minister;

Bakhtiyor Alimjanov was appointed minister of macroeconomics and statistics, deputy prime minister;

Anatoliy Isayev was appointed minister of agriculture and water resources, deputy prime minister;

Oktam Ismoilov [former governor of Syrdarya Region], was appointed the chairman of the Committee on State Property and Supporting of Entrepreneurship, deputy prime minister of the republic;

Hamidulla Karamatov, Valeriy Otayev and Mirabror Usmonov were appointed the deputies of prime minister;

Rustam Yunusov was appointed deputy prime minister, the chairman of the Ozbekistonavtoyolqurilishvafoydalanish [Uzbek highway construction and use] concern;

Dilbar Ghulomova was appointed, deputy prime minister, the chairwoman of the Women's Committee;

Abdusamad Polvon-zoda [the first deputy chairman of the republic's Supreme Court] was appointed minister of justice;

Oqiljon Obidov was appointed minister of social security;

Zohirjon Almatov was appointed minister of internal affairs;

Ghofurjon Mukhamedov was appointed minister of municipal economy;

Khayrullo Jorayev was appointed minister of culture;

Shavkatbek Ibrohimov was appointed minister of labour;

Rustam Azimov was appointed minister of finance;

Feruz Nazirov was appointed minister of health;

Abdulaziz Komilov was appointed minister for foreign affairs;

Elyor Ghaniyev was appointed minister for foreign economic relations;

Bahodir Kasymov was appointed minister for emergency situations;

Jora Yoldoshev was appointed minister of education;

Saidahror Ghulomov was appointed minister of higher and secondary specialized education;

Ergash Shoismatov was appointed minister for power engineering and electrification;

Bahodir Khojayev was appointed the chairman of the State Committee on Architecture and Construction;

Said-Azim Oripov was appointed the chairman of the State Customs Committee;

Nurmuhammad Ahmedov was appointed the chairman of the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources;

Ergash Qurbonov was appointed the chairman of the State Committee for Land Resources;

Bahodir Mahsitov was appointed the chairman of the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports;

Rustam Shoghulomov was appointed the chairman of the State Press Committee;

Botir Khojayev was appointed the chairman of the State Tax Committee [previously he was the first deputy chairman of this committee];

Polat Khabibullayev was appointed the chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technologies;

Ghofurjon Teshayev was appointed the chairman of the State Committee for State Border Defence;

The issue of a nominee for the post of minister of defence will be included in the agenda of the next sitting of the Supreme Assembly.

he second sitting of the Uzbek parliament was held in Tashkent on 11th February. In a special 90-minute programme screened later the same day, Uzbek TV carried excerpts from the proceedings, including parliament's endorsement of the membership of committees and commissions, and addresses by President Islam Karimov. The president spoke first about the need for Uzbekistan's political parties to have firm ideas and put them into action, and then reported to parliament on his proposals for the members of the Cabinet of Ministers. The new cabinet will have 34 rather than the previous 37 members, and five of the deputy prime ministers will be assigned specific areas of responsibility. Karimov added that some government members "who failed to perform the duties they had assumed and who failed to prove themselves in their work" had been transferred to other posts, or dismissed, whilst younger people "who strive for innovation" had been appointed to senior posts. The following are excerpts from the programme, incorporating sections processed from earlier bulletins:

[Correspondent] The second sitting of the first session of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly [parliament] was held today [on 11th February]. The parliamentary sitting was attended by Uzbek President Islam Karimov and cabinet members, heads of republican organizations, foreign ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps and the national and foreign media. The parliamentary speaker, Erkin Khalilov, presided over the sitting.

On these issues, President Islam Karimov urged there should be more debate and competition among parliamentary factions and said the following:

[Karimov, shown speaking from rostrum] I have listened to your address with great attention, but what worries me is the same as before. You are the second to take the floor among parties and the second faction will be endorsed by the parliament. However, is there any difference between your ideas and that of the first speaker, any opposition between them, or not?

Words to the effect that the president is supporting us, that he wants to become the president on our behalf, as our nominee, made the Fidokorlar party a little bit proud, it started to scorn others. I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to say from this tribune that if Fidokorlar works showing respect for others as well, recognizing their achievements, admitting our customs and traditions and recognizing also our administrators in the Regions, irrespective of their party membership, instead of doing things hastily and carelessly without thinking them through thoroughly - if it does this, then tomorrow Fidokarlar can win a great deal of respect.

It is impossible to root out bribery just by shouting out the words, by declaring that we will root out bribery: if you remove one bribe-taker, another one will take his place tomorrow. We must bring up a new generation and then there will be no bribery and no violence. I would like to take this opportunity to say that the Fidokarlar party has been somewhat negatively affected by the opinion that I will topple everybody and that then we will be dominant. One must be composed and long-sighted. A party becomes strong only after its ideas penetrate people's minds. After an idea penetrates the masses, the people's mind, it grows into a strong force. There is no other way to attract people and to achieve great things. Remember that. This is my opinion.

From this point of view, speaking about the People's Democratic party, there is one thing in their spirit: we are the heirs of the former Communist party, it is not correct to say heirs, we can say successors, we are the biggest party and therefore the government may be formed of our members and the bodies of executive power may be formed of our party members. This is absolutely wrong. We have not yet reached that level. If four or five parties struggle against one another and win, that is a good thing. But today it is impossible. Just know that.

We have five or six parties and none of them can yet claim that it is the dominant one. Because at present times are different, our society is different and our people are different. Free thought, broad thinking and different thinking are in our minds, in our blood and bones. It is not correct to accumulate and forcefully implant the ideas of one party in all, it is impossible. If we think about the coming day and future, we must gradually realize this point of view, must make it our rule and then achieve something. It is impossible to achieve anything by hasty and careless deeds.

I must say once again that if a party does not have its own ideas and ideology, than it is not a party, it is a temporary phenomenon. Winning a post, hastily setting and achieving a goal, in the limited sense of the word, will sideline people. We must take another way. From this point of view I am telling Izidor Andreyevich Kochmarik [head of People's Democratic Party parliamentary faction] that you are saying that you are the strongest and biggest party. A party is not known for its numbers. It is known for its idea, its level of influence on people, the extent to which it penetrates people's minds and appeals to them.

[Correspondent] After a break, President Islam Karimov was given the floor to speak about another issue on the agenda for the sitting - the Uzbek cabinet's relinquishing its authority and the new cabinet composition.

[Karimov] Good afternoon, esteemed friends, respected people's deputies. You know that under Article 98 of the Uzbek Constitution and Article 4 of the law on the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers will lay down its powers before the Supreme Assembly. In line with our Constitution, the president will submit the new composition of the Uzbek government to the Supreme Assembly for endorsement.

Speaking about the new composition of the government, I would like to draw your attention in particular to the following important aspects of this issue. Above all, I find it appropriate to mention the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers in terms of number. As you know, the previous cabinet numbered 37. In other words, there were posts of prime minister and his deputies, 15 ministers and 11 government committee chairmen. Under Article 98 of our constitution, the chairman of the government of the Republic of Karakalpakistan is included in the Cabinet of Ministers ex officio.

The number of members of the new cabinet submitted for parliamentary approval is 34. There is a reduction of three posts in the cabinet staff, including one deputy prime minister and two government committee chairmen. The post of deputy prime minister for transport and communications has been cut and those responsibilites will be assumed by the deputy prime minister for power. The state committees for forestry and ensuring safety in industry and the mining will be cut. A main directorate is to be set up under the Agriculture and Water Ministry to replace the forestry committee and a special agency to replace the committee for ensuring safety in industry and the mining.

You must have noticed that of the nine deputy prime ministers left in the new cabinet, only four will discharge their duties as deputy prime ministers and the remaining five will take on the post of deputy prime ministers by virtue of the importance and position of the areas in their charge and in order to have greater influence.

The new cabinet, whose composition is submitted for your approval today, also appoints as first deputy prime minister the individual holding the post of deputy prime minister and of macroeconomics and statistics minister.

It should be emphasised that only two of those being recommended, Mirabror Usmonov and Dilbar Ghulomova, were endorsed at the second session of the Supreme Assembly of the first convocation and the remaining deputy prime ministers were appointed to their posts later.

A number of government members who failed to perform the duties they had assumed and who failed to prove themselves in their work have been transferred to other posts, or dismissed.

At the same time, young staff who meet modern requirements and strive for innovation and who have proved successful in their practical performance, have been appointed to senior posts and they are currently trying to justify this great trust placed in them by performing well. The Supreme Assembly members have approved these changes on the basis of their authority and our public knows this.

Among the new nominees recommended anew for the posts of deputy prime ministers at the first session of the Supreme Assembly of the second convocation is the acting Syrdarya Regional governor, Oktam Ismoilov. At the same time as holding the post of deputy prime minister, he is also recommended for the post of chairman of the state committee for managing state property and supporting entrepreneurship. I think there is no need to describe this nominee, as the majority of deputies know him very well. This man has previously held many senior posts at state level, including that of deputy prime minister.

Now, let us speak about ministries and state committees. Five of the nominees recommended for the chairmanship of ministries and state committees were endorsed at the second session of the Supreme Assembly of the first convocation and 14 at later sessions. And the remaining five candidates are being presented afresh for your approval. Thus, the new cabinet composition and the nominees for these posts are being recommended for your approval today on the basis of information available to you.

The issue of recommending a candidate for the post of defence minister will be put on the agenda for the next session. I would like to draw your attention to another issue. We all know that the development of agriculture, which is the largest sector of decisive importance, needs special attention. Therefore, the tasks of funding this sector, attracting investments in this area, improving its financial state and, in a word, tackling its economic problems will also be put in the charge of First Deputy Prime Minister Bakhtiyor Hamidov, along with Bakhtiyor Alimjanov who is in charge of agriculture. I should admit openly that Hamidov is assuming the post of first deputy prime minister because of this. In other words, there will be two officials in charge of the agriculture sector, two pulling the cart.

If I were to be asked what was the main weakness of the nominees being recommended for your approval, I would be frank in answering it: this weakness is true of the prime minister, Sultonov, and also of other government members. They most of the time lack the courage to take responsibility and lack determination. We must face this. They may be good, knowledgeable and well aware of the requirements of the times and treat people well - we admit that they have gained a great deal of experience in improving our society and implementing reforms in practice under very complex circumstances in past years - but, I should lay special emphasis on the fact that a government member should have a big heart. He has to be able to take on a responsibility whenever necessary. This is the requirement of the times.

[Correspondent] The deputies ratified accords on deepening comprehensive cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation in the military and military equipment and on extradition between Uzbekistan and China; and an agreement between Uzbekistan and Germany on avoidance of dual taxation on incomes and property.

Some decrees by the Uzbek president were also endorsed. The judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, [Yoldosh] Jorayev, and the judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, [Mashhura] Safayeva, were relieved of their posts due to their election to the Supreme Assembly. At this point the second sitting of the first session of the Uzbek Supreme Assembly of the second convocation completed its work.

zbek President Islam Karimov told an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on 11th February that in spite of a 4.4 per cent growth in GDP and a positive economic balance in 1999, many targets had not been met, and market reforms were limping. Too little progress was achived in privatization, and state organizations, he said, showed "intolerable interference" in economic activity, hampering the development of small and medium business.

A meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers to sum up the performance of socioeconomic development of the country for 1999. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

The republic's social and economic development and the progress of economic reforms in 1999 were considered by the Cabinet of Ministers. The priority tasks following from the report by the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, at the first session of the Supreme Assembly were also discussed.

The meeting heard the report by President Islam Karimov on these issues. In his speech, our head of state stressed that macroeconomic stability had been achieved last year. The stable development of all the sectors of the real economy had been achieved. GDP increased by 4.4 per cent. The increase in production of industrial output was 6.1 per cent, in agriculture it was 5.9 per cent, in the sphere of paid consumer services it was 12.6 per cent. The average monthly inflation rate was 1.9 per cent. The foreign economic balance was positive. The population's standard of living was improved. The meeting also stressed that the mechanism of mutual payments had been strengthened. Over 1999 the fixed-period debts receivable fell from 76.3bn to 1.8bn soms. Work on bankruptcy and rescuing economically insolvent enterprises was stepped up.

In all 9.1bn soms were received from denationalization and privatization last year, against 8.8bn soms in 1998. A total of 67 enterprises were sold to foreign investors last year. The president stressed that along with this, not all the tasks set up for 1999 had been fulfilled in full. The physical volumes of many kinds of industrial output were lower than had been forecast. The export rate did not reach the necessary level as forecast. Reforms in the market sphere are to a great extent being carried out only formally.

Privatization of enterprises has not been taken to its logical conclusion, the formation of a new owner. No efficient market for contract work has been created. Entrepreneurship and private initiative have not yet become a powerful market factor of economic growth. The market infrastructure is still slow to develop. It was said that the interference of state structures and other controlling bodies in the economic activity of enterprises were intolerable phenomena.

To this end, the coordination council for controlling the organization of inspections was instructed to tighten up its work in order to restrict the interference of state structures and various inspection and controlling bodies in the economic activity of enterprises, and in the first place, in private business activities. The number of various kinds of inspections and audits are to be considerably reduced and strict control must be established over the schedule for carrying out these inspections.

It was also stressed that complete freedom had to be given to small and medium business. If representatives of small and medium business achieve good results for themselves and their families, this will be a good support for our state. The problems of allocation of small credits by commercial banks need to be solved fundamentally in order to enable farmers, peasants and representatives of small and medium business to obtain small credits without extra red tape and bureaucracy. To this end, concrete measures will be drawn up to increase the role of economic courts to protect the interests and rights of entrepreneurs.

Concluding his speech, our head of state said that the economic processes taking place had to be correctly assessed and that we should not be satisfied with just a certain degree of success. If today we are not aware today of the morrow, and do not correct the existing mistakes, we will have difficult times. If today we do not draw the necessary conclusions, in future it will be too late. And therefore we should create a good ground to guarantee our future and to take a worthy place in the world economic community. And one of the real steps for this should be the comprehesive development of enterpreneurship. The president's policy of effective development of all spheres of our life should be supported thoughout the country. And we should give our utmost in terms of strength and knowledge for the successful development of our motherland.

The relevant resolutions were adopted on all the issues discussed at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting. (Uzbek TV)

zbek President Islam Karimov told journalists in a break in the parliament sitting on 11th February that groups had been set up in each of seven areas of public life to assess the tasks involved in deepening reforms in Uzbek society. Each group is made up of members of parliament, experts and, Karimov emphasized, representatives of the press. The director of Uzbekistan's Human Rights centre, Akmal Saidov, heads a group reviewing "the liberalization of our political life". Karimov also called for journalists, "patriots" and even representatives of foreign countries to put forward their proposals for liberalizing Uzbek society. The president also criticized the US State Department for its role in what he described as a "game" involving the Radio Liberty reporter Andrey Babitskiy. The following excerpts from report by Uzbek radio on 11th February

[Announcer] As we have reported in our reports, the second sitting of the first session of the second convocation of the Supreme Assembly of the Republic of Uzbekistan opened in Tashkent today. [passage omitted: the Uzbek president, offiicals, journalists and representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps are attending the session; the speaker of the parliament opened the session; the composition of the parliamentary commissions and the human rights commissioner were approved; representatives of party factions made speeches at the session] As usual, during a break, President Islam Karimov gave an interview to representatives of local and foreign media.

[Karimov] In order to achieve the goals set, at the first session of the second convocation of the Supreme Assembly [22nd January], we tabled the tasks of deepening reforms in seven fields, working towards comprehensive liberalization. These tasks are general tasks. Each task has many issues behind it. In general, my goals are, for instance, to find out what should be done to deepen and liberalize reforms in our political life. What should be done to liberalize and deepen reforms in the economy sector and on which tasks should we focus our attention? What sort of task do we have? The third task, if you noticed, is what we should do to build the state system or generally to liberalize the state system.

The fourth area is spiritual life. This means further deepening our current achievements. I indicated the general tasks for what we should do in order to form a national idea and ideology and bring it to the mind of the general public, above all to the minds of young people. Security issues, foreign policy, judicial and legal issues were mentioned, in general. I signed a resolution yesterday. Separate groups on each seven sectors have been set up. In other words a separate political group on the liberalization of our political life led by Akmal Saidov [director of the Uzbek Human rights centre] has been set up. Deputies, scientists and a number of committed people are involved in this issue.

Regarding the second task, the economic issues and the construction of the state system, we set up separate groups on each of these. I said while signing the documents that, above all, there must be representatives of the press along with deputies, committed people and specialists in these groups. In other words in each group of the seven groups [changes tack] on the liberalization of our life and issues of deepening the reforms we set up separate groups in seven areas. However I signed the document on the condition that representatives of the press were included along with specialists in each group. In other words each group above all should solve two tasks in its sector. The first task is to critically examine today's laws and to evaluate critically the norms of current laws, to assess which are obsolete, which lag behind and do not meet current requirements, and to adopt new laws. These groups should draw up their proposals within two months. After that we will consider them in parliament. Then we will set up special groups to draw up draft laws on every issue.

The second task is that today in order to liberalize our life [changes tack] the current system, above all, the leading sector, [to find out] in which matters this is weak, in which issues we do not meet modern democratic requirements. They have also been set the task of considering there critically and drawing up special measures. They should prepare these two issues within two months. What is my goal?

The general public or generally those who call our homeland their homeland, patriots and people devoted to the homeland, [who says that] here is the president speaks so much, for God's sake, let me add my contribution as well, here the president invites me and I will draw up my opinion and submit, here is (Furkatbek) [Radio Liberty correspondent] he is an Uzbek lad even if he receives wages from over there, he is an Uzbek and what if he submits his opinions? Of course tomorrow he will also pass on from this world and, God willing, he, thinking what he has done for his homeland, will say to his children and grandchildren: I did not only criticize Uzbekistan, I also made my contribution and put forward such proposals. To say, we also participated, actively participated, to say this, it does not matter whether they are journalists, representatives of foreign countries or others staying here, all of them have the right. For God's sake submit your proposals and then we will discuss them.

Let's get together in the open and discuss what we should be be adding to one law or another. The time has gone when we can say no, this is not fitting, this is old, this is that and that is another. What time has come? Come out in public and do not be afraid. Nobody will bite your head off. America's Department of State requests information from the Russian president about what happened to Babitskiy alone. Thousands and thousands of people are dying there in Chechnya and the Department of State does not ask about them. The Senate does not ask about them. Are there not other people along with Babitskiy? They are, aren't there? They are also alive and living souls. They do not ask about them. Babitskiy is a man freely travelling from one place to another and the entire world got involved in this game. Is equality of rights the same for all or separate for one and different for another? Where I am leading here? Let us get together in the open and talk about our life from a critical point of view. Let us talk about this in a free atmosphere. Who prevents this? Give you thoughts if you have any. If it is a real thought which will improve our life tomorrow and has something to do with the interests of our people and society and our bright future, for God's sake, the more such thoughts the better. We need to have as many as possible of these thoughts and then we can select them thoroughly and after that adopt them as laws. I am in favour of this. I dream about this. I live with this.

he Uzbek parliament has ratified a treaty on the further development of all-round cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia in the area of defence and the military-industrial sector. The second meeting of the first session of the second Uzbek parliament confirmed the composition of 12 committees and four commissions, and their chairmen. The deputies registered the factions of the country's five political parties and two blocs - from representative power bodies and the initiative groups of voters. The deputies of the Oliy Majlis [parliament] confirmed a new cabinet, which now consists of 34 members.

he Shield-2000 drill of CIS member-countries in central Asia in March will be an important factor of their joint struggle against terrorism, chief of the Uzbek Armed Forces General Staff's main operational department Colonel Rustam Khudoyarov said on Sunday. The drill will involve servicemen of Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The importance of CIS pooled efforts on terrorism was profited by last year's developments in south Kyrgyzstan, the Colonel remarked. "The anti-terrorist operation of Russia in the Northern Caucasus shall be also taken into account," he said. "One can expect some gangs to try escape Russia's strikes by moving southward -- Afghanistan and Pakistan." Uzbekistan will send its paratrooper, aviation and artillery units to the drill. There will be a staff training in Uzbekistan before the military exercises.

he parliament of Uzbekistan approved a new cabinet by proposal of President Islam Karimov on Friday. The defense minister's post, which hitherto belonged to Colonel-General Khikmatulla Tursunov, was announced vacant.

In the words of Islam Karimov, they will decide on the new defense minister at the next parliament session. Under the rules of the parliament, it has plenary meetings no less than twice a year. The President may appoint an acting defense minister to be in office till the parliament's approval. The new cabinet has three members less. The posts of a vice- premier and chairmen of two state committees are abolished.

"The fact that the majority of ministers keep their offices does not mean they have done a good job. I would have gladly replaced them, but I have a deficiency of high-ranking executives. We have not trained new progressively-thinking executives and the ones we have are so overwhelmed by the past stereotype that we have slim hopes for success," Karimov said. The Uzbek parliament also approved membership of 12 committees and four commissions before closing the first plenary meeting on Friday.

he Uzbek-US Zarafshan-Newmont joint venture recovered 16.7 tonnes of gold from tailings at the giant Muruntau open pit last year, compared with 11.724 tonnes in 1998. Yevgeniy Tolstov, chief engineer at the Navoi Mining and Metals Plant (Kyzylkumredmetzoloto), one of the partners to the joint venture, told Interfax the joint venture has produced more than 50 tonnes of gold since it went on stream in May 1995. Tolstov stressed that Zarafshan-Newmont was Uzbekistan's first successful gold joint venture. Zarafshan-Newmont, established in February 1992, is half owned by Newmont Mining. The other half is owned by the Navoi Plant and the Uzbek State Geology and Mineral Resources Committee.

ewmont Mining of the US has decided to put on hold a project to mine the Kyzylalmasay and Kochbulak gold lodes in Uzbekistan in view of unstable world gold prices. "This is not the sort of project for foreign investors or the Uzbek government to put their money into at present," Ronald Cambre, Newmont Mining's CEO, told reporters. Newmont will not, though, be pulling out of the Angren Gold Company, a joint venture in which it owns 40 per cent of the equity and which will develop the fields. The project will start once gold prices pick up, Cambre said. He did not say when this might happen, only that the project's implementation would depend on the world market.