n line with the results of secret voting at a meeting of the Asian Banks Association (ABA) in Istanbul, the National Bank [for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan] has been elected a member of the ABA supreme body.

The forum of the banks is held annually. This time the representatives of the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan were present at the forum.

A number of decisions adopted at the forum attached special importance to the forum and raised Uzbekistan's status in the Association significantly. This happened after the results of elections for new members of the Council of Directors of the ABA, of which the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan has become a member.

The participants at the meeting discussed a wide range of issues connected with the banks' activity in the new millennium. These issues include globalization of the world financial systems and developing banking products and technologies.

One of the main issues on the agenda was selection of a place for the next ABA meeting. During the talks, the issue of the reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan in all spheres of life, in particular, in the banking system, were highly assessed.

The participants at the forum recognized the National Bank as the biggest bank in Central Asia. At the end, the Council of Directors approved Tashkent as the place for the next regular meeting of the Asian Banks Association in 2001, at which, according to premilinary reports, almost 70 foreign delegations would be present. (October 27, 2000)

Top

he distance between Zaamin and Zarbdor Districts in Dzhizak Region [central Uzbekistan] has been reduced. A bridge across a local river [the Zaaminsuv] has been built and put into service there.

Earlier the residents of neighbouring Districts had to make a multi-kilometre circuit in order to travel to see each other, wasting time and fuel and suffering the inconvenience of the journey. The estimated cost of the installation was 30m soms. The costs were met by the local administrations of both the interested Districts.

Top

delegation from the World Bank headed by its vice president, Johannes Linn is concluding its visit to Central Asia. The members of the delegation stayed in Uzbekistan three days. Vice President Johannes Linn met the members of Uzbek nongovernmental organizations at the World Bank office in Uzbekistan. The meeting discussed the issues of the World Bank's strategy of assisting the country.

Mr Linn spoke at the meeting and said that he was ready for cooperation with the regional working group on implementing joint projects.

Earlier Mr. Linn also had a chance to meet with the country's president Islam Karimov.

Top

xperts of Saryassiya customs checkpoint in Uzbek southern Surkhandarya Region inspected one of the carriages of the Dushanbe-Konibodom train [Tajik capital - northern Tajik Leninobod (Soghd) Region] and found over 3 kg of heroin which was being smuggled to a neighbouring state. A 37 years-old resident of the city of Dushanbe, Matluba Muhiddinova, had hidden the heroin inside pillows and a blanket.

Also customs experts in eastern Namangan Region have detained Aleksandr Klimov, who attempted to enter our state through secret paths from Kyrgyzstan. Later it became clear why Aleksandr Klimov tried to avoid the customs checkpoint. He was attempting to smuggle over 5.5 kg of marijuana.

Top

court in Uzbekistan's eastern Andizhan Region has sentenced a man to death and jailed another for 19 years for killing the owner of a car to rob him, steal the car and sell it in a neighbouring state, the Uzbek newspaper `Na Postu' reported on 26th October.

It said the victim was killed by two passengers he picked up in Andizhan Region's Shakhrikhan District. Police eventually arrested the men and they were "punished accordingly".

Top

ussian-Uzbek consultations, attended by experts, on a draft agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan on mutual journeys of the two countries' citizens have taken place in Tashkent.

As a result of the discussions, a draft document was agreed. The document says, in particular, that the citizens of one state can enter, exit, travel through and stay in the other state without a visa, so long as they have a document that identifies them and proves their citizenship.

As is known, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement earlier on introducing a visa regime for CIS citizens. An agreement which is being prepared for signing between the governments of Russia and Uzbekistan does not envisage a visa regime.

Top

declaration adopted by the participants in an international conference on strengthening security and stability in Central Asia and jointly fighting against drugs, organized crime and terrorism, which took place in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on 19th and 20th October, says that the forum "shares the concern of the participating Central Asian countries over international terrorism, extremism that involves violence, organized crime and the illegal circulation of drugs and arms", the Uzbek newspaper 'Narodnoye Slovo' reported on 24th October. The declaration also added that the Central Asian countries attached prime importance to the urgent adoption and implementation of the UN convention against transnational organized crime. "We commit ourselves to fighting threats to security by not violating human rights and people's fundamental freedoms, and not creating obstacles for people who wish to travel," the declaration said. The following is the text of the declaration.

In the spirit of the security platform based on cooperation which was adopted at the OSCE summit in Istanbul, the participating Central Asian countries hereby specify the following areas of activity which will create a basis for reinforcing cooperation between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan:

a) sharing the concern of the participating Central Asian countries over international terrorism, extremism that involves violence, organized crime and the illegal circulation of drugs and arms;

b) recognizing that international terrorism, extremism that involves violence, organized crime and the circulation of drugs pose an increasingly greater threat to security;

c) supporting the Political Declaration adopted by the 20th special session of the UN General Assembly, which notes that drugs ruin people's lives, destroy communities, undermine a person's stable development and generate crime. Drugs pose a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of all mankind, the independence of states, democracy, the stability of nations and the structures of all societies, as well as the dignity and hopes of millions of people and their families;

d) being convinced that the world drugs problem must be resolved multinationally;

e) being anxious about the affect on our society of serious crimes which are global in nature, and being convinced of the need for bilateral, regional and international cooperation in the field of crime prevention and criminal law;

f) displaying our anxiety in connection with the problem of transnational organized crime and the interrelationship between its various forms;

g) stressing that strengthening regional cooperation will promote stability and security in Central Asia;

h) expressing deep anxiety over the link between the illegal production and circulation of drugs, and over the involvement of terrorist groups, criminals and transnational organized crime, and announcing our firm decision to reinforce our cooperation in response to these threats;

i) maintaining that national, regional and joint action by the international community is essential for resisting these challenges, including those which come from areas that are very close to OSCE countries;

j) noting with gratitude the initiative of the OSCE and the UNPDCCP chairmanship on holding the international conference on strengthening security and stability in Central Asia and jointly fighting against drugs, organized crime and terrorism (city of Tashkent, 19th-20th October 2000), and expressing our gratitude for the hospitality of the Republic of Uzbekistan, we:

1. reaffirm that action directed against drugs, organized crime and terrorism is the responsibility of each interested state, as well as being a common and joint responsibility which requires an adequate, integrated and balanced approach in full accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the OSCE's Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE Copenhagen document, the OSCE Paris charter for a new Europe, the declarations of the OSCE summit meetings in Budapest, Lisbon and Istanbul, as well as with the conclusions formulated in the OSCE charter on security in Europe, adopted in Istanbul in November 1999;

2. recognize the existing links between drugs and terrorism, as well as the varied nature of organized crime, and understand that each of them requires an adequate, differentiated political and legal approach;

3. express our support for UN objectives in the field of crime prevention and criminal law, in particular in the field of reducing the level of crime, more effective and active ways of establishing law and order and exercising justice, respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as guaranteeing justice, humanity and professional behaviour;

4. maintain the need to study the roots of the problem of drugs, organized crime and terrorism by means of reinforcing human development, guaranteeing economic growth, improving the effective system of administration and applying democratic principles;

5. stress the responsibility of each state for creating and strengthening a fair, responsible and effective system of criminal law in accordance with UN Charter and international law;

6. stress the importance of fully observing the three international conventions on drugs control, as well as adopting and improving comprehensive national legislation and a strategy for implementing the stipulations of these conventions;

7. attach prime importance to the urgent adoption and implementation of the UN convention against transnational organized crime, as well as the relevant protocols on it;

8. think it is necessary to prevent and fight all signs and forms of terrorism by means of optimizing relevant national legislation and strategies, as well as by means of acceding to existing international conventions and implementating them;

9. recognize the significance and role of civil society and the development of democratic institutions in the fight against drugs, organized crime and terrorism, as well as the need for full observance of the principles of the primacy of law;

10. reaffirm the importance of the OSCE principle of comprehensive security, which combines respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as democracy and the primacy of law. We commit ourselves to fighting threats to security by not violating human rights and people's fundamental freedoms, and not creating obstacles for people who wish to travel;

11. stress that an effective fight against drugs, organized crime and terrorism is impossible without guaranteeing economic growth and developing infrastructure and social programmes. In this connection, we note the particular significance of the economic dimension as an equally important component of the OSCE blueprint for comprehensive security in the region;

12. welcome the initiative of the Central Asian countries aimed at strengthening coopration and trust in the region;

13. declare our intention to deepen our cooperation with regard to strengthening security and stability in Central Asia on the basis of a joint approach in the fight against drugs, organized crime and terrorism in line with the document entitled "Priorities of cooperation in the fight against the illegal circulation of drugs, organized crime and terrorism in Central Asia".

Top

rchbishop Marian Oles, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, has consecrated the region's largest Catholic church in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

Construction of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was begun early in the 20th century, but construction was halted in 1920. Under communist rule, the Catholic community in Uzbekistan was persecuted, with services banned and priests often sent to labor camps. The authorities plan to open a concert hall in the church.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Uzbekistan's declaration of independence at the end of 1991, the republic's authorities returned the church to the Catholic community, with reconstruction of the building beginning in 1993.

The Rev. Christopher Kukulka, who assisted the archbishop during the consecration ceremony, said it would take several thousand dollars to complete construction of the church. He said there are fewer than 1,000 Catholics in Uzbekistan, a predominantly Muslim country, and noted that many of the Catholics are ethnic Koreans who have settled in the Central Asian state.

In addition to Tashkent, there are Catholic churches in the Uzbekistan cities of Samarkand and Fergana. (UPI, October 24)

Top

he Georgian Defence Ministry said it will not attend a session of the CIS Defence Ministers' Council to be held in [the Tajik capital] Dushanbe [on 26th October]. The ministry did not name the reason for its decision.

Uzbekistan will not attend either. Its Defence Ministry spokesman Komil Jabbarov told ITAR-TASS on Wednesday [25th October] that the delegation of Uzbekistan will not take part in the meeting of the CIS defence ministers. He did not elaborate. (Russian news agency ITAR-TASS, October 25)

Top

ne of the biggest air companies in the world, America's Delta Air Lines, has become a partner of Uzbekiston Havo Yollari [Uzbekistan Airways] national air company. An agreement on cooperation and transportation advantages has been signed in Tashkent.

Delta Air Lines occupies the first place in the world in terms of volume of passengers transported. For the [Uzbek] national air company, Delta Air Lines has become its 75th partner among foreign airlines.

The managing director of Uzbekistan Airways, Arslan Ruzmetov, thinks that another important step has been made in developing Uzbek civil aviation and expanding opportunities to master the aviation market of both the USA and Europe.

Top

delegation led by the Uzbek prosecutor general, Rashid Qodirov, has visited China on an invitation from the Supreme People Procuratorate of China and the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation.

The delegation attended an international conference organized by the said foundation. The conference, which involved about 600 participants from more than 70 countries, discussed topical issues in the field.

The Uzbek prosecutor general held talks with the procurator-general of the Chinese Supreme People's Procuratorate, Han Zhubin. Han Zhubin showed much interest in the Uzbek experience in fighting terrorism, extremism and international organized crime. An agreement on mutual cooperation was signed after the talks.

The Uzbek delegation also held talks with Bulgarian, Tajik, Russian colleagues, and the management of the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation. The delegation also visited local prosecutor's offices in Xian and Fuzhou.

Top

rade turnover between Germany and Uzbekistan went up by 12 per cent during the first six months of 2000 against 1999. Germany's charge d'affaires in the Republic of Uzbekistan, Dr Andreas Prothmann, said that the trade turnover between Germany and Uzbekistan showed a steady tendency to grow.

Uzbekistan's exports to Germany in 1999 were worth DM146.00m, and its imports from Germany in 1999 were DM491.19m, but a considerable rise was noted in the first half of 2000. In 1999, trade turnover between Germany and Uzbekistan totalled DM637.19m.

This is a high figure. Uzbekistan occupies fifth place in the CIS as regards trade turnover. According to Dr Andreas Prothmann, German investors are primarily attracted by Uzbekistan's rich natural resources. In 1999, direct German investment in Uzbekistan totalled DM12m. German firms have a keen interest in cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Top

scheduled meeting of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held this week. The meeting was chaired by the commission's chairman, Najmiddin Komilov. The meeting considered the results of elections to vacant seats for deputies of the Supreme Assembly [the Uzbek parliament], which were held on 22nd October 2000. A total of 97.1 per cent of the electorate voted in constituency No 128, Guliston; 94.7 per cent in constituency No 141, Jarqorghon; 89.2 per cent in constituency No 160, Parkent; 89 per cent in constituency No 171, Chinoz; 99.2 per cent in constituency No 174, Beshariq, and 96.7 per cent in constituency No 198, Sokh.

Having considered a report on the results of the voting submitted by the district electoral commissions, the Central Electoral Commission has, in accordance with Articles 11 and 46 of the law "On elections to the Supreme Assembly of the Republic of Uzbekistan", registered:

Gulnoz Latipova in constituency No 128, Guliston, nominated by the Syrdarya Regional Council of People's Deputies;

Bakhtiyor Olimjonov in constituency No 141, Jarqorghon constituency, nominated by the Surkhandarya Regional Council of People's Deputies;

Behzod Yoldoshev in constituency No 160, Parkent, nominated by the Fidokorlar National Democratic Party of Uzbekistan;

Mahamadjon Yusupov (Muhammad Yusuf) in constituency No 170, Chinoz, nominated by the Fidokorlar National Democratic Party of Uzbekistan;

Alisher Otaboyev in constituency No 174, Beshariq, nominated by the Fergana Regional Council of People's Deputies;

and Jamshid Sayfiddinov in constituency No 189, Sokh, nominated by the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, as deputies of the Supreme Assembly.

[Monitor's note: Bakhtioyr Olimjonov is the governor of the troubled Uzun District in southern Surkhandarya Region; Behzod Yoldoshev is president of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences; People's Poet of Uzbekistan Muhammad Yusuf is deputy chairman of the Uzbek Writers Union and is also a member of the Central Electoral Commission; Alisher Otaboyev is the governor of Fergana Region; ex-finance minister Jamshid Sayfiddinov is the head of Cotton Bank]

Top

ighteen-year-old Uzbek tennis player Iroda Tolaganova came second in the recent 140,000-dollar Heineken Open tennis tournament in Shanghai. Tolaganova was defeated in the toughest finals match against Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States 7-6 (2), 7-5. On her way to the finals, the Uzbek tennis player beat second-seeded Jelena Dokic of Australia in the quarterfinals. zbek player Iroda Tulyaganova lost her finals match against fourth-seeded American Meghann Shaughnessy in a very tense match 7-6 (2), 7-5 in Heineken Open in Shanghai.

Top

he fact that the Customs Union [Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan] was transformed into the Eurasian Economic Community has been widely debated. Various views are being put forward in the world media concerning this. Leaders of the country's political parties expressed their opinion on this.

The secretary of the Central Council of the Fidokorlar [Self-sacrificers] National Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Asliddin Boliyev:

"The fact that this organization involving a number of CIS states, which was initially named a union of four and then of five and until recently the Customs Union, has once again "put on a different coat" indicates that the organization is intended more to pursue political ends than economic and practical ones. Considering that an agreement was signed five years ago between the Customs Union members, the parties that signed the document should already have had a free trade zone between themselves, in effect. But it is easy to put things down on paper, and it is hard to put them into practice. The past five years have proved this. Each state has sought only its own interests.

"A close comparison made between the previous and present agreements of the organization, which was previously named the Customs Union and currently the Eurasian Economic Union, indicates that there is nothing new in their content: There are the same problems and the content is unchanged. The only thing is that now it sounds attractive.

"It is true that each state does something only in pursuit of its own interests. But one thing should never be forgotten. It is nothing but a pipe dream to want to artificially speed up integration within the CIS under an attractive name. It seems to me that this move is also linked with individual ambitions. Some are trying to prolong their terms of office, while others are unwilling to lose their powers after their terms run out.

The secretary of the Central Council of the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Abdulhafiz Jalolov:

"To be frank, when I first heard the news that the Eurasian Economic Community was being set up, I wanted to say: "Saying halvah will not make one's mouth water." It is true that it is each sovereign state's right to enter into an agreement or an accord, or to set up a union with another. However, when the issue involves our neighbours and, what is more, our CIS parners, it would be wrong for us to remain indifferent.

"Attempts to copy others, like the European Community, reminds one of a baby's attempts to imitate an adult. Efficient international organizations such as the European Community are unions between countries with relatively equal development, not only political, but also economic and scientific, whereas the countries that are party to the newly-formed Eurasian Economic Community are in no position to boast of their economic development. In such a situation, there can be no talk of equal cooperation between its members. Bringing well-off countries closer together is a completely different thing from a union of poor countries that can hardly manage by themselves.

"Another issue: Is the CIS, which comprises several European and Asian states, not an example of a community of Eurasian states anyway? Why have some CIS countries had to set up separate organizations such as unions of four or two, instead of realizing the CIS potential to the full and using its opportunities for economic cooperation? Who and what are the obstacles to developing the CIS economies? Or are there other intentions behind this?!"

The first secretary of the Political Council of the Adolat Social Democratic Party, Turghunpolat Madaminov:

"Does this organization have a firm foundation? It is in this that we must try to find the essence of the issue. It is easier said than done. Has the Customs Union resolved any issue? They are all left on paper. Moreover, it has added more confusion to the essence of things and new contradictions have arisen. Analysing other aspects of the issue, I do not doubt that the Eurasian Economic Community is a pipe dream. There is no future for an organization like this, which lacks a strong foundation."

The chairman of the Central Council of the Milliy Tiklanish [National Revival] Democratic Party, Ibrohim Ghafurov:

"It was the Customs Union yesterday. And today it has been changed into the Eurasian Economic Community. Interesting, isn't it? So quick to change. What is meant by such changes? After all, can mutual equality be maintained in organizations like this? Does the organization not fear that it may find itself under the hegemony of a great and powerful state [Russia]? The Russian press said that the five countries involved would have common economic, social and humanitarian policies. If this is the case, the countries may lose their independence. Certain analysts described the Eurasian Economic Union as a big success for Russia. Does this also count as a success for its other members?"

Top

he topic of a five-day seminar, which is being held in the capital [Tashkent] and attended by the representatives of the prosecutor's office, [Uzbek] National Security Service and Customs Committee and by American FBI experts, is internal security.

Patrick Kelly, FBI special agent: "For the last two or three years certain directions have been worked out under which the FBI might quite fruitfully cooperate with Uzbekistan lawenforcement agencies, in particular, in the sector of fighting such types of crimes as drug business, money laundering and corruption."

The seminar itself is not being held in the form of questions and answers, each direction is being discussed in details in the form of live discussions.

Bakhtiyor Nabiyev, international department of the republic's prosecutor's office: "We consider the present meeting as a grounding for establishing and expanding further our relations with the US law-enforcement agencies. "We do not think that somebody is teaching us. We think that, in this particular case, this is an exchange of experience, that is we are showing them what we can and know, they are showing us what they can and know. "In general, we are looking for things in common, because we have different systems. We are not saying which system is better or worse, we are saying that they are simply different, they differ. However, there are certain things in common, above all, the fight against terrorism, drug mafia, against other dangerous crimes, that is, what is topical at present, and against which we can and should fight together." Gordon Zubrod, deputy federal prosecutor of the State of Pennsylvania: "A globalization process has been observed in both the economic and criminal world for the last 10 years. Our country has been gripped by this process for quite long time now. Any state may face this soon-er or later. I would like to note that the law-enforcement agency experts of your country are real professionals. They know what they are doing."

Top

ashington has promised to increase US assistance to Central Asian countries in combating drug traffic.

Wendy J. Chamberlin of the US State Department [principal deputy assistant secretary of state for international narcotics] voiced the promise in Tashkent on Tuesday [24th October].

Chamberlin, who attended an international conference in the Uzbek capital on drug traffic prevention, expressed satisfaction with the forum, which was held from Thursday to Saturday. The conference was organized by the UN Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Chamberlin also said that drug traffic prevention measures taken by Tajikistan have been ineffective.

The United States plans to allocate $500,000 to enable Tajikistan to tighten control of its border with Afghanistan, she said. Afghanistan's Taleban movement is saying it is ready to take measures against illicit drug production, but facts prove the reverse, she noted. (Russian news agency Interfax, October 24)

Top

rosecutors in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan on Tuesday accused 12 members of an outlawed Islamic group of murder and terrorist acts, which they say killed at least 73 people. Uzbekistan has launched a crackdown on what it says are fundamentalist Muslim groups plotting to overthrow President Islam Karimov's secular rule. He narrowly escaped death in bomb blasts in February 1999, which he blamed on the groups.

Human rights activists say the crackdown sometimes violates the rights of peaceful Muslims. The prosecutor's office has now handed over the results of an investigation to the Supreme Court and asked it to start trial proceedings against the 12 suspects, according to a statement published in the official media.

Among the accused, all of whom belong to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, are warlords Dzhuma Namangani and Takhir Yuldashev and the exiled leader of banned opposition party Erk (Freedom), Mukhammed Salikh.

All of them stand accused of plotting to overthrow the government through violent means and of orchestrating the 1999 bomb attacks. Of the 12 men named, only three are under arrest. Namangani and Yuldashev are believed to be hiding in Afghanistan after leading incursions into Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Salikh lives in an undisclosed location in Europe.

The document said Yuldashev and Namangani had been involved in creating radical Muslim organisations in the early 1990s and helping the Islamic opposition in the 1992-97 civil war in neighbouring Tajikistan.

The men were also accused of helping set up training camps for rebels in Afghanistan, which neighbours Uzbekistan, as well as a series of murders and armed attacks. More than 100 people have been arrested for taking part in the February 1999 attack on Karimov and six already executed.

Central Asian leaders as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin have often talked of radical Islam as one of the gravest threats facing their countries. (Reuters, October 24)

Top

rial of 12 members of the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and of the opposition Erk Democratic Party will start on 30th October 2000 in Uzbekistan, the official `Khalq Sozi' newspaper reported on 24th October.

The leaders of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Tohir Yoldoshev, known as Tohir Yoldosh, and Jumaboy Khojiyev, known as Juma Namongoniy, and the chairman of the Erk Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Salay Madaminov, known as Mohammad Solih, who are currently abroad, will be tried in absentia.

The indictment issued last week by the Republican General Prosecutor's Office charged the organizations with organizing the military incursion into southern Surkhandarya Region and Tashkent Region in July and August this year and with carrying out bomb attacks in Tashkent in February 1999.

"The Panel of Judges For Criminal Affairs of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan has resolved to start considering the indictment by the Republican General Prosecutor's Office on the criminal case against Tohir Yoldoshev, Jumaboy Khojiyev, Salay Madaminov (Mohammad Solih), Murodilla Kaziyev, Ulughbek Bobojonov, Homidjon Rahmonov, Yoldosh Umarov, Najmiddin Jalolov, Shovkat Karimov, Ulughbek Makhmudov, Olimjon Abdulvohidov and Usmon Shukurov on 30th October 2000," the paper said.

It said that representatives from the Uzbek ombudsman, members of the public and relatives of the victims would be invited to court "in order to ensure the presence of the public during court sessions".

The paper said that the trial would go ahead even if some of the defendants did not appear in court.

"Taking into account the fact that the actions of the accused in this criminal case are extreemly dangerous for society and the state, as well as in order to preserve our people's peace and tranquility, prevent killings of innocent people, and in line with Article 410 of the Criminal Procedural Code, it has been decided that the trial will go ahead even if some of the accused do not appear in court without excuse," it said.

Top

he leader of the banned Uzbek Erk Democratic Party, Muhammad Solih, has urged the leaders of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan to prove that his party had no links with the Islamic Movement. In an interview broadcast by Iranian radio on 23rd October, in connection with the completion of the investigations into the recent cases of Islamic rebel insurgency on the Uzbek terrotory, Muhammad Solih said that no efforts had been made to establish contacts with the Islamic Movement and that their views completely differed from each other and they had different methods of fighting. He also said that the claims by the Prosecutor's Office was a lie aimed at stepping up oppressing the people and that not many people will be pleased with this lie in Uzbekistan this year. Excerpts from the report follow.

[Presenter] Another event that drew the attention of many commentators and the media in the past week was the fact that the Uzbek Prosecutor-General's office had completed its investigation into the recent cases of Islamic rebel insurgency on Uzbek territory.

These were the details of the Uzbek Prosecutor General's Office investigation into the recent cases of terrorist acts in Uzbekistan. In connection with this, we asked the leader of the banned Uzbek Erk Democrtic Party, Mr Muhammad Solih, to comment on the subject.

[Solih] Hello, esteemed compatriots. The claims made by Uzbekistan's prosecutor are not new. They are a repeat of the accusations made against me last year. They have only added to the charges they levelled at me prevously. The way they announced and spread it throughout the world was more open and hypocritical - sorry for such an expression - than the one they used last year.

I think that, this year, this lie will please very few people in Uzbekistan. More people might have believed in this lie last year because suddenly explosions took place and the people were not ready for such things. However, the oppression exerted by the government on the people after the explosions bears witness to the fact that the government itself prepared all these things in accordance with its own scenario and used this event as a mean to step up oppression against the people.

I think the accusations being made against us is a dirty effort by the government aimed at refreshing its old lies me. I would like to address the leaders of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan through your radio and ask them to state openly that there have been no political or other contacts between the Erk Democratic Party and the Islamic Movement, that no efforts have been made to establish such contacts and that no meetings were held to discuss this. This should be done not for the sake of us alone; our people need this. The Erk Party and the Islamic Movement also need this, as our views completely differ from one another and because we have different methods of fighting as well. This is not the first time I have said this. I also spoke about it last year when the government launched a campaign against us.

The leaders of the Islamic Movement should also speak about this openly because the government of Uzbekistan is so shameless - sorry to use such an expression - that it may draw conclusions even when we keep silent. If we keep silent, it will draw conclusions and use it for its own benefit, adding to its slanders against us. That is why something should be said and some things should be cleared up.

[Q] Mr Muhammad Soleh, it is known that in all democratic and law-based countries only a court has the right to accuse someone, or, in other words, to pass a verdict. How would you assess the fact that the Uzbek media have been circulating the accusation drawn up by the Uzbek Prosecutor's Office?

[A] This is not the first document accusing us. They began to accuse us just two or three days after the explosions [in Tashkent]. They named us without arresting anyone or having any evidence about the case, which means that the government knew whom to blame beforehand and that it had prepared beforehand a list of people to blame. They knew beforehand whom to arrest, whom to send to jail, and whom to search for through Interpol. The government's present action is nothing more than a continuation of the lawlessness and arbitrary action.

Top

congress of the [ethnic] Uzbeks living in Kyrgyzstan has adopted an appeal to the entire people of the country, calling to support the incumbent Kyrgyz president, Askar Akayev, in the forthcoming presidential elections.

The congress was held in the town of Osh and was attended by representatives of the 800,000-strong Uzbek population of Kyrgyzstan. The event was organized by the Uzbek national and cultural centre headed by a deputy of the Supreme Council [parliament], academician Muhamadzhan Mamasaidov, jointly with the Society of Uzbeks of Osh Region, which is headed by a parliament deputy, Davran Sabirov. (Kabar News Agency, October 24)

Top

olice in the Tajik capital Dushanbe have arrested a member of the Hezb-e Tahrir Party, the organization banned in neighbouring Uzbekistan known as the Uzbek Islamic Party, the Tajik news agency Asia-Plus reported on Monday.

Asia-Plus quoted the press office of Dushanbe's internal affairs directorate as saying that an "operational search revealed that a resident of the capital's Mashal street, Khayrullo Mamadaliyev, was a member of the illegal religious party".

A book in Uzbek entitled The Islamic State, and 26 propaganda leaflets in Russian and Tajik were also confiscated during the search of his house, the report said.

Top

egotiations took place between the managements of the Ozbekiston Havo Yollari [Uzbekistan Airlines] national airline and the Russian State Civil Aviation Service. The Russian delegation at the talks was headed by the Russian first deputy transport minister and head of the State Civil Aviation Service, Aleksandr Neradko. Both sides signed a protocol on expanding cooperation.

Top

rchbishop Vladimir of Tashkent and Central Asia spoke about the importance of understanding Islam correctly, saying that extremists were distorting this religion and misleading people who have no proper knowledge of Islam, and he also spoke about the principles of Orthodox and Islamic dialogue.

Archbishop Vladimir: "The religious situation in Central Asia is relatively favourable at present. However, the activity of sects of foreign origin is giving rise to a certain alarm. This is an invasion at present: over 120 sects have appeared in Kyrgyzstan alone. Foreign missionaries are trying to gamble on the spiritual vacuum created by the irreligious regime of the former USSR, but these totalitarian sects "buy human souls for money" and openly use hypnosis, ciphers, narcotics and other devilish means. The activity of sectarians does not lead to enlightenment, but it leads to spiritual discord, and it is a direct provocation to interreligious and interethnic enmity in Muslim Central Asia.

"Almost all sectarian brochures and leaflets contain attacks on Islam and Orthodoxy. Foreign preachers sometimes scornfully and humiliatingly speak about the Muslim religion and the founder of Islam, Muhammad. Do false "teachers" really not understand what they are doing, or do they understand it only too well?"

Top

he Uzbek government increased the size of pensions and social benefits starting from August 2000, setting the minimum monthly state retirement pension rate at 4,675 soms. To compensate for this increase, the state allocated an additional 7bn soms. As in every culturally developing country, independent Uzbekistan has set the minimum monthly social benefit rate at 2,835 soms for all elderly people and those who have not worked long enough to qualify for a regular pension.

Currently there are 2.9 million citizens receiving pensions. A presidential decree to this effect raised the rate of social benefits of all kinds 50 per cent as of 1st August 2000, in order to provide more for the disabled. There are currently 187,000 disabled in the republic and the current ratio of the disabled to the population is only 16 in every 10,000.

As part of a move to provide economic support for people in this category, 230m soms have been allocated through the republic's Ministry of Social Security since the start of 2000. Each elderly person will receive 7,200 soms in addition to their pension payment. Medical treatment will be given to 44,000 elderly and disabled people at health centres and their local branches.

[Note: Uzbekistan's official exchange rate is about 300 soms to the dollar, the commercial rate is 675 soms to the dollar and the present blackmarket exchange rate for the Uzbek currency som fluctuates between 700 and 800 to the dollar]

Top

zbek GDP grew by 4.2 per cent over the first nine months of 2000, Uzbek Prime Minister Otkir Sultonov told an expanded format government meeting on 20th October to sum up the results of the social and economic development. He said that industrial goods output had increased by 6.4 per cent and that of consumer goods by 7.1 per cent. Sultonov also said that average monthly inflation rate was 1.6 per cent against the forecast 1.7 per cent. However, privatization is lagging behind and no progress has been made in reforming the municipal economy, Sultonov said. The following are excerpts from report by Uzbek radio:

Heads of ministries and departments, leaders of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Karakalpakistan, heads of Regional and the Tashkent city administrations, heads of state committees, corporations, concerns, associations and unions and representatives of the mass media participated in the meeting. Uzbek Prime Minister Otkir Sultonov chaired the meeting.

[Sultonov] "There has been a 4.2 per cent growth in GDP over the review period. The output of industrial goods increased by 6.4 per cent and that of consumer goods by 7.1 per cent. The foreign trade balance remained positive. Revenues were 0.06 per cent up due to this and to an increase in the tax collection level. The budget balance was ensured. The average monthly inflation fell to 1.6 per cent against [the planned] 1.7 per cent. It should be pointed out that payment discipline was strengthened and acccounts receivable and accounts payable fell. This improved the financial situation of enterprises. It is necessary to point out especially that small- and medium-sized businesses contributed 13.4 per cent of GDP. If individual entrepreneurs are added to this, the figure was 31.2 per cent.

"In the social sphere, 348,000 jobs were created. The average size of allowances increased by 2.4 per cent.

"[Sultonov] There is a lot of unfinished work in privatization. The mechanism in this area needs to be improved. Work should be stepped up to sell packages of shares to foreign investors. Export targets need to be fully met. The most important task is to fulfil the investment programme completely. There are many questions and problems in this field. No specific results have been achieved in reforming the municipal economy. Economic relations in agriculture do not meet requirements. This should be admitted. The lack of an effective system of contractual relations, bureaucratic obstacles in the system of paying by cheque and other problems still remain here."

Top

he president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, wants to profoundly consider and study his political stance on the recognition of the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan]. However, Uzbekistan did not have diplomatic relations with the Islamic Emirate in the past which were based on good neighbourliness. But, after the conquest of [northeastern] Takhar Province and the [word indistinct] of the opposition forces, he gradually realized that Uzbekistan should choose the way of talks, mutual agreement and understanding as its official policy towards the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan], which is the fundamental embodiment of the Afghan nation's will.

So a diplomatic representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan made an official trip to Pakistan and held a meeting with the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] to Pakistan. He held talks and negotiations and has accepted the fact that Uzbekistan is to profoundly consider and study the realities instead of following a wait-and-see policy. Four years of maintaining friendly relations with Turkmenistan and other neighbouring countries have proved that the Islamic Emirate is backing the policy of talks and understanding and does not wish to display any hostilities towards neighbouring and non-neighbouring countries.

The Islamic Emirate has suffered many problems, but has ensured security and stability in more than 95 per cent of Afghan territory. It is also redoubling its all-out efforts to find a way out of the current disaster, which is the result of an imposed war, and is taking productive measures to rehabilitate a war- ravaged Afghanistan. But the countries which have been hostile to the oppressed people of Afghanistan in the course of history want to stand between fact and fiction under the pretext of drug smuggling, terrorism and fundamentalism.

Fortunately, the process of time has clarified the point that the Islamic Emirate is not planning to embark on hostilities against any neighbouring countries, but instead it is willing to follow a policy of negotiation and wants to resolve all problems through talks. (Afghan Taleban radio from Balkh Province, October 20)

Top

he Spanish state credit agency, Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO), and a Spanish bank, Banco Bibao Viscaya Argentaria, have given the Uzbek Health Ministry a privileged loan to finance a project to fit up an Uzbek emergency treatment centre, the Uzbek newspaper `Narodnoye Slovo' reported on 17th October.

Under a 10.62m-euro contract with an Uzbek medical exports firm, the Spanish company Suministros de Comercio Exterior, S.A. will deliver the equipment and train medical staff for the republican emergency treatment centre in the capital, Tashkent, the paper said.

Top

strategy for forming Uzbek public opinion on managing water resources and the environment has been presented at the National Press Centre. The meeting was initiated by a national working group of Uzbekistan and the BDPA international consultancy group (France) [possibly the Office for the Development of Agricultural Production, in French: Bureau pour le développement de la production agricole (BDPA)].

The BDPA company won the World Bank international tender and now, in close cooperation with the NWG (National Working Group) of the Central Asian countries and the Global Environment Facility, is carrying out a training programme on the rational use of water resources.

It is not accidental that efforts are currently concentrated on this field. The ecological crisis in the Aral Sea region is a problem not only for the countries of the Central Asian Region. It has assumed a global scale. A huge desert, the Aralkum [Aral sands], with an area of 33,400 sq km has formed on the site of the former [Aral] sea and engendered problems of a social, medical and economic nature which cannot but worry the international community. In his address at the UN Millennium Summit, President Islam Karimov [of Uzbekistan] recalled and expressed his great concern about this.

The strategy which has been worked out so far, and which is due to be implemented up to 2002 and beyond, envisages tackling urgent regional problems: management of water resources, security of dams and management of reservoirs, monitoring of transborder waters and restoring marshland areas.

Progressive technologies for rational use of water resources in the Aral Sea basin are being proposed in order to resolve the above issues.

Top

drug courier had his business trip broken at the first post of the [eastern] Fergana Regional customs directorate, close to the approach to the [Uzbek] border village of Vodil. A Volga car, or rather its driver, attracted the attention of the customs officers. Their experience and professional skills suggested to them that there was something suspicious about the nervous behaviour of the young man when he was stopped for a routine check at the customs checkpoint.

Thus, a resident of the village of Isfana in [southern] Lyaylyak District in the neighbouring country [Kyrgyzstan], a fifth-year student at Osh state law university, Farhod Kurbanov, was in accordance with the law subjected to a body search. The customs officers' suspicions proved right: the detainee had a white substance with a sharp smell - drugs - tied to his body under his clothes.

A laboratory examination at the Fergana Region customs directorate revealed that the substance was heroin, weighing a total of almost 1 kg. A criminal case has been brought under Article 246 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and an investigation into the incident is under way. (Uzbek TV)

Top

entral Asian countries agreed Friday to work together to stop the spread of drug trafficking and terrorism that they blame on Afghanistan's hard-line Taliban militia.

The joint statement from five former Soviet republics came at the end of a two-day conference in Tashkent, where officials from Europe and the United States also warned of threats from war-riven Afghanistan.

"The trafficking of narcotics from Afghanistan and other criminal and terrorist activity that it fuels, pose a corrosive challenge to the governments in the region -- a challenge we cannot ignore," said Pino Arlacchi, executive director of the United Nations' drug control program.

"An important element in our strategy is to strengthen the control capacities of all countries around Afghanistan," he said in a statement.

Gains by the Taliban in Afghanistan's civil war have raised fears of a flood of refugees, attacks by Islamic guerrillas and drug trafficking. Taliban, which practice a strict form of Islam, claim they control 95 percent of Afghanistan.

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakstan endorsed a joint statement to strengthen law enforcement cooperation to fight the drug threat -- including using special drug courts.

Wendy Chamberlin, the No. 2 official in the State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said hundreds of millions of dollars in drug revenue supported Taliban forces.

"This enormous amount of money not only finances the war machine of the Taliban but also provide resources for the Taliban to pursue expansionist covert operations in South and Central Asia," Chamberlin told journalists.

She said drug cultivation in Afghanistan occupied 20,000 acres when the Taliban seized power in 1994, and has expanded to 65,000 acres. U.S. officials have information that the Taliban tax drug growers to raise money, she said.

She added that U.S. officials do not see effective results from law enforcement bodies on Tajikistan's long border with Afghanistan. That border, also guarded by troops from Russia, is the frequent scene of clashes between guards and drug traffickers.

The secular governments of Kyryzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have battled Islamic guerrillas in the mountainous area where the three countries' borders come together. They say the Taliban have aided the fighters, who are said to be intent on carving out an Islamic state.

The conference was attended by representatives of 67 countries and was sponsored by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention and by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. (AP, October 21)

Top

t would have been a major upset, if the title holder, Saudi Arabia, was to leave the Asian cup in the early stages; feeling the pressure, the Saudis were able to show their class in their last and crucial game of the first round, when they overcame Uzbekistan 5-0 .

Coaches Comments:
Saudi Arabia's coach, Nasser Jawhar, said he was pleased with the performance of his team, who got back into shape after being squeezed inside the neck of a bottle. Jawhar, though, conceded that his team still suffers from a number of weaknesses that ought to be resolved on the field. He will be working hard to resolve these problems in the coming games. According to Jawhar, the team is endowed with a number of talented players who will lead the squad to the finals.

Uzbekistan's coach, Yuri Sarkisian, said he was surprised by the referee's cancellation of the team's first goal in the first half of the game. The loss of this goal caused the morale of the team to sag. Sarkisian said the team did not know how to behave, although they mustered a number of chances to score goals. He likened the regression in the Uzbek team's play to Japan's dismal performance before Qatar. Sarkisian stressed anew that his team's poor showing is due to the fact that Uzbek players had not competed against such strong teams before.

GOALS: Marzouq Al-Otaibi (17'), Mohammed Al-Shalhoob (36',77' and 85') and Nawaf Al-Temyat (87').

BOOKINGS: Saudi Arabia: Ahmed Dukhi (71')
Uzbekistan: Sergey Lushan (51'), Davrajon Fayziev (75'), Nicolay Shairshov (83') and Alexander Khvostunov (62').

UZBEKISTAN: Pavel Bugalo, Mirdjalal Kasimov (Nagmetulla Kutibayev 81'), Sergey Lushan, Atabek Shamuradov (Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov 46'), Nikolay Shirshov, Maksim Shatskikh, Andrey Akopyants, Davrajon Fayziev, Sergey Lebedev, Alexander Khvostunov, Rustam Durmanov (Umid Isakov 46').

Top

zbek player Iroda Tulyaganova lost her finals match against fourth-seeded American Meghann Shaughnessy in a very tense match 7-6 (2), 7-5 in Heineken Open in Shanghai. The purse was $140,000.

Top