Первые вагоны из России прибудут в конце нынешнего месяца. Планируется, что остальные вагоны и запасные части к ним будут доставлены в узбекскую столицу до июля этого года.

Все 20 вагонов будут задействованы на новой Юнусабадской линии, протяженность которой составляет почти 12 км. Эксплуатация этой линии начнется накануне десятой годовщины Дня независимости республики Узбекистан, который будут отмечать 1 сентября.

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The president of our country, Islam Karimov, left for Germany today on an official visit at the invitation of German President Johannes Rau. The president of our republic spoke to journalists at Tashkent airport before his departure and briefed them about the purpose of the visit and Uzbek-German relations. In particular he said the following:

President Karimov: "Relations between Uzbekistan and Germany have been continuing since 1992. Since then Germany invested 1.4bn dollars in Uzbekistan, that is, about 53 big projects have been implemented. At present we are working on about 35 projects worth 1bn dollars and talks are under way. If we assess relations between Germany and Uzbekistan we can say without exaggeration that they are growing. When we speak about economic cooperation, we can say that our people in all parts of Uzbekistan, not only in Tashkent or other centres, I mean in every corner, it was even shown on TV yesterday, in a settlement in Surkhandarya Region, or in Karakalpakstan or in the Fergana Valley and other remote areas are using modern and highly efficient technology imported from Germany.

"When we speak about military and technological cooperation, this is not a secret, we can say that our relations with the relevant organizations and ministries are developing well. You mentioned terrorism. Speaking about terrorism I think that Germany is of great importance for Uzbekistan in its fight against threats, terrorism and international terrorism in Central Asia, in reforming our army, improving the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I should say that in the past years about 3,000 people from out Ministry of Internal Affairs visited Germany to improve their professional skills. You can imagine this number, that is, Germany is a country which is closely helping us to preserve discipline and order, to prevent unpleasant events.

"About fighting drug trafficking. Germany has the population of 82m people. I think that they feel and know very well the negative influence and threat posed by drugs to their youth. They know perfectly where the drugs come from, that is they come from Afghanistan and pass through Tajikistan and neighbouring states and even our territory. They know very well the threat posed by drugs, its damage to the young generation, and we can feel that they are ready to help us in practical ways.

"In general, there are about more than 50 inter-state, inter-governmental and inter-ministry agreements signed between Uzbekistan and Germany. During this official visit we will sign moe than ten agreements. In particular, an agreement on improving technical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany, on technical assistance, determining their legal basis, regulating financial cooperation and establishing relations with German banks and financial institutions. Documents have been prepared with the purpose of improving these relations, raising them to higher levels and we will sign them.

"Besides these, we have prepared agreements on cargo and passenger transport, cooperation between customs in fighting drug trafficking. Our National Bank has prepared four agreements on establishing cooperation with German banks. There are plans to sign about four agreements on tourism. Our experts have been working on other agreements during the last two months and we will sign these agreements, too."

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Karimov will have talks with German leaders and representatives of Germany's business circles.

In the morning, Karimov will have a meeting with German President Johannes Rau. Later in the day, the Uzbek leader will meet with Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and other government officials. In the evening, Karimov will attend the opening of the new Uzbek embassy in Berlin.

The visit is in line with the course for further development of bilateral economic relations and strengthening contacts between Uzbekistan and the European Union.

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Asia-Plus asked the head of the visa department of the Uzbek Interior Ministry, Ulfat Kadirov, who is currently in Dushanbe on a business trip, to comment on the incident.

U. Kadirov said that measures were being taken in Uzbekistan to regulate the residence of people there. In his words, in violation of the laws and inter-governmental agreements, a large number of CIS citizens now live in Uzbekistan with national passports of their own countries. All those people were given a certain period by the Visa and Registration Departments [OVIR] in regions to leave the country and obtain foreign passports and visas to stay in Uzbekistan. They were also warned about the expiry of their temporary visa and the need to obtain corresponding documents for further stay. According to Ulfat Kadirov, if those people were really moved in a way described by the Tajik authorities, than it was "bungling and excessive zeal of the local authorities". He said that the question had been put to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry and a response was expected.

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The seminar, which is being held under the auspices of NATO, has become a logical continuation of implementing joint projects aimed at developing telemedicine in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is the only country in Central Asia which accepted the concept of developing telemedicine in the republic.

The introduction of telemedicine in Uzbekistan improves communication between remote areas and central clinics, provides uninterrupted education for doctors from distant parts of the republic.

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Как сказали РИА "Новости" в государственной ассоциации "Ташгорпастранс", контракт на поставку вагонов для метрополитена заключен с российским "Метровагонмашем". Поставка будет осуществлена в мае-июле нынешнего года.

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