he Tashkent Regional Interior Board has been carrying out an anti-terrorist campaign, scheduled to last from 27th November to 15th December, the Uzbek newspaper Adolat reported on 8 December. During the first five days alone, several dozen robberies were solved, "ammunition and leaflets of a religious and extremist nature were found, and two murder cases and a number of economic crimes were cleared up". The reason for conducting such a campaign was to guarantee peace and stability in the country and security on the borders, the report said.

The passports of tens of thousands of people were checked. "As a result, measures were taken against 221 people who had violated passport regulations, administrative measures were applied against 169 of them, documents were prepared to deport 230 people, and 74 of them have been deported beyond the republic's borders," the report added.

Top

The World Customs Organization secretary-general, Michel Manet, visited the State Customs Committee to familiarize himself with the statistics centre and the work of the computerization, automation and other departments. He also visited the country's customs museum and a health department attached to the customs service.

It is not by accident that the secretary-general of the World Customs Organization is visiting Uzbekistan, as Uzbekistan and Russia are the only CIS members of that organization's finance department.

During talks between Michel Manet and senior Uzbek customs officials, the sides discussed promoting cooperation in preventing the smuggling of contraband goods, arms and drugs through Uzbekistan, and raising the standards of the Uzbek customs service to meet international requirements. The sides also exchanged opinions on issues of bilateral interest.

Top

esterday Uzbekistan marked its national holiday - the Constitution Day. On Thursday the country's top government officials, artists and intelligentsia gathered at the Turkestan concert hall in Tashkent to celebrate the holiday with official speeches and a concert presentation.

President Islam Karimov spoke about the significance of the constitution, its advantages over the old, Soviet-Uzbek constitution and the rule of law. The president reminded that 2000 was the year of a healthy generation and he spoke about the programs and projects of the government in 2000 addressed to improving the health and well being of children in the country. At the end of his speech, President Karimov proclaimed the first year of the 21st century "The Year of a Mother and a Child" and promised new programs in the new year. A gala-concert concluded the gathering hosted by the government.

Top

his year's Constitution Day became a happy event for some of Uzbek citizens. On Thursday President Karimov presented government titles and awards to them at his residence.

Three months ago, on the eve of Independence Day, national newspapers carried a list of politicians, artists, poets and writers, farmers and law enforcement people who were entitled to various government awards. This week they actually received their awards from the hands of the president. Four of them also received the titles of the "Hero of Uzbekistan." The president also gave out the orders "For great merits" to the relatives of Uzbekistan's late prominent writers, poets and artists.

Top

he Uzbek Post and Telecoms Agency has revoked the license of Indonesia's Buztel to design, build and operate fixed cellular communications.

Agency licensing department Khalik Sadykov told Interfax that the license was revoked due to violations of its conditions, which required the company begin installing a AMPS or GSM network within 12 months of obtaining the license.

He said Buztel received the license in 1996, but has yet to begin implementing its project. It has therefore lost its licenses.

He said the licensing commission also revoked the licenses of two other cellular operators - Uzbek-Malaysian JV Uzmakom has lost its license to design, build and use international telephone lines, Uzbek-American JV Rubicon lost its license to set up an Iridium satellite network.

According to Sadykov, the revocations do not affect these companies' mobile telecoms operators licenses.

Khadykov said the mobile licenses of all operators expire in 2001. Prolongation is directly dependent on conformity to the conditions in the original licensing agreement.

Uzbekistan has six cellular operators with licenses to provide mobile services throughout the country. Uzdunrobit and Rubicon operate AMPS, Koskom, Daewoo Central Paging Co. Buztel, And Uzmakom - GSM.

Top

The convention that gathered delegates from the WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF put the beginning to a new era in the Uzbek professional boxing. Uzbekistan already has a WBO world champion, Artur Grigorian, who last week beat Columbian Antonio Pitalua in Hannover in the last, twelvth round in the light weight category. That was 33 year-old King Artur's thirteenth WBO title. Artur's professional records include 31 straight victories with 20 knock-outs.

The Uzbek Professional Boxing Federation presented to the WBO a list of boxers for future fights and made preliminary agreements with Peruvian and Chilean federations on fights.

Top