his decision has been taken to further ensure traffic safety and prevent road accidents. A number of changes have been made to the traffic regulations in order to ensuring this.

The draft has been thoroughly scrutinized by the relevant institutions and departments. It corresponds to the international requirements. The new wording gives broader understanding of traffic regulations. A new chapter entitled "traffic in housing estates" has been introduced which is to ensure the safety of pedestrians and preserve buildings and facilities.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the new wording of this document and instructed the relevant organizations to carry out explanatory work within the shortest possible period of time.

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We should undeviatingly continue our positive work to liberalize our country's economic and political life. In order to implement these tasks, we should above all guarantee peace and stability in the Central Asian region. At present life itself shows that the problem of security is a topical one for all countries. Our efforts in preventing and putting an end to threats to peace, stability and regional security are of great importance for bringing order, uniting the potential of Central Asian countries and reinforcing mutual solidarity.

The multiethnic people of Uzbekistan, heirs of great ancestors, people with rich historical values, have the right to set themselves great tasks, and taking as their basis our incomparable traditions and universal human values, our people can achieve their sacred goals.

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he second division National Football League for the 2000-2001 season will begin from January next, according to a press release issued here today by Alberto Colaco, the new secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Colaco also said that the Junior Nationals, which was not held last season, would now be completed by the second week of February. These things were decided in the AIFF executive committee meeting held yesterday. The dates for the other pending tournaments would be finalised in the next meeting, the release added.

The committee has also decided to request the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to send reputed Uzbek coach Rustam Akhramov back to India as the Director of Coaching to plan and implement a programme for coaches and youth development.

Another Uzbek coach, Islam Akhmedov, would continue to look after the India under-19 and under-15 teams. Preparation of these teams for the next Asian championships would begin immediately, Colaco said. Guidance from scientific experts from the Sports Authority of India would be taken to help in the preparation of these teams.

Sukhwinder Singh would continue to be the chief coach of the senior India team for the Millennium Cup. Akhmedov, however, will take up the job in case JCT does not release Sukhwinder because of the National League. The preparatory camp will begin from Dec 22 at Bangalore. The list of probables is likely to be announced on Dec 19.

Later, talking from Goa, the AIFF secretary said “I am trying to reach Sukhwinder in Mumbai. I will release the list of footballers immediately if Sukhwinder has it ready. The national coach is in the western metropolis as JCT is playing an NFL tie there tomorrow.

A sub-committee consisting of CR Vishwanathan, Diengdoh and Colaco himself has been constituted to frame new regulations governing registration and transfer of players.

The committee would finalise its report within a month, the release added.

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pecial planes loaded with humanitarian aid from the Ecosan and Ecolot funds will be sent to the Aral basin region on the New Year eve. The load will consist of drugs, children’s clothing and footwear, carriages for disabled people, nutrition, disinfecting means and water pumps.

A number of ministries and agencies, international organizations and diplomatic missions are also involved in this aid action.

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he agreement between the governments of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on travel by their citizens to the other country came into effect on 18 September 2000. Many of our compatriots have asked the Biznes i Politika newspaper to explain some provisions of this document, in particular the visa application procedures.

In order to get more information on the subject, we contacted the Uzbek embassy in Dushanbe [the capital of Tajikistan]. The third secretary of the embassy, Abdurahmon Usmanovich Pulatov, kindly agreed to meet us and speak about the new travel regulations.

[Galimov] Abdurahmon Usmanovich, why was there any need to introduce the new travel regulations for the citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan?

[Pulatov] First, I would like to note that the agreement signed between the governments of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on mutual travel by citizens, which came into effect on 18 September 2000, was intended to put the citizens' trips to the two countries in order.

[Galimov] When and how can our compatriots apply for a visa?

[Pulatov] A citizen of Tajikistan who wants to travel to Uzbekistan will have to contact the embassy of Uzbekistan in Dushanbe to apply for a visa, producing a foreign-travel passport and an invitation from a private individual or an organization in Uzbekistan. A citizen of Uzbekistan who wants to travel to Tajikistan will have to follow a similar procedure. For this he will have to contact the embassy of Tajikistan in Tashkent [capital of Uzbekistan].

[Galimov] For what periods are visas issued?

[Pulatov] Visas are issued for one month, six months and one year.

[Galimov] Are there concessions for certain categories of people?

[Pulatov] Firstly, the agreement stipulates visa-free travel for a stay of up to 30 days in the other country for the two countries' citizens who hold diplomatic passports. This rule also applies to citizens who hold national passports and are visiting as a member of an official state or government delegation.

Senior officials with the rank of at least a deputy minister or equivalent status, as well as the heads of local administrations and their deputies who go to the other country on an official business trip do not need a visa and may stay in the other country for up to 30 days if they have a national passport, official ID or travel authorization.

Secondly, citizens of Tajikistan who reside permanently in areas and towns in Tajikistan that border on Uzbekistan may travel to Uzbekistan without a visa and stay there for up to five days. The same rule applies to citizens of Uzbekistan permanently residing in areas and towns in Uzbekistan that border on Tajikistan. It should be noted that whether these people live in border areas and therefore their right to visa-free travel will be determined by the border services on the basis of the residence registration stamps in the citizen's passports.

[Galimov] What must residents of border areas in Tajikistan do if they want to stay in Uzbekistan for more than five days - let's say for six or seven days?

[Pulatov] They will have to get a visa. A citizen will also have to get a visa if he wants to travel to other, non-border areas of the other country. Lists of border areas are given in appendices to the agreement.

[Galimov] What should air or railway personnel and the drivers of trucks involved in international freight haulage do? Are there any concessions for them?

[Pulatov] This matter was taken into account when drawing the agreement. Visa-free travel is stipulated for civil air crews, the teams serving passenger trains, refrigerator cars or locomotives, the people accompanying railway cargoes, employees of intergovernmental courier services, international freight haulage drivers and the employees and representatives of government bodies. Citizens who maintain one country's facilities that are located on the territory of the other country may travel without a visa to the neighbouring country to perform their duties.

I would like to note that residents of Tajikistan who permanently live in Ayni, Kuhiston-i Mastchoh and Panjakent Districts [all place names in northern Tajikistan] may travel from these Districts to other areas of Soghd Region without a visa by vehicle and railway transport, crossing Samarkand, Dzhizak, Syrdarya and Tashkent Regions of Uzbekistan for a period of three days. This rule will be in effect from 1 October to 1 June. Residents of Fergana and Namangan Regions of Uzbekistan do not have to get a visa either to travel to Syrdarya and Tashkent Regions, crossing Tajikistan's Soghd Region and vice versa.

[Galimov] You have already mentioned during the conversation that one provision of the agreement says that citizens living in a border area of one country may visit and stay in the other country for five days without having a visa. However, there are complaints saying that the Uzbek side has been violating this provision of the agreement. How would you explain this?

[Pulatov] We have not received any such complaints in Dushanbe.

[Galimov] We know about cases in which citizens of Tajikistan were detained in Uzbekistan and special notes were made in their passports. What about the last point? Is this move by the Uzbek side not a violation of the procedure for foreign citizen's to be in Uzbekistan?

[Pulatov] Yes, I know that citizens of Tajikistan with domestic passports are being detained in Uzbekistan and special notes are being made in their passports or other identity cards. However, I want to say that only those people who cross the border in violation of the agreement and enter Uzbekistan illegally are being detained. That is why various sorts of punitive measures are being applied to them.

[Galimov] Do those residents of Tajikistan who hold dual citizenship have to get a visa to enter Uzbekistan, I mean when they have a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation?

[Pulatov] Those citizens of Tajikistan, who have got Russian citizenship may enter Uzbekistan without a visa if they hold the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation. Those who have a Tajik passport with an extra page indicating Russian citizenship will have to get a visa to enter Uzbekistan.

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