1. Uzbek parliamentary election results

2. Incumbent Uzbek president presents election manifesto

3. Uzbek presidential runner publishes manifesto

4. Uzbeks attend religious extremism conference in USA

5. Russian premier postpones trip to Uzbekistan until 10th December

6. Uzbek-Russian relations are developing "in context of long-term partnership"

7. Uzbek president: "We should be prepared for criticism of elections"

8. Uzbek head proposes health campaign in 2000

9. Uzbek presidential candidate publishes his programme

10. Uzbek parliamentary vote rife with official meddling: OSCE

11. Uzbek election turnout lowest in capital

12. Uzbek president tells voters he's glad to help

13. Uzbek eastern region police catch "religious extremist sympathizers"

14. Uzbek plane crashes in Moscow, five dead

15. Uzbek president receives South Korean Eximbank head

16. Police in Uzbek capital continue campaign against drug trafficking

17. Uzbek emergency officials off to Turkey for NATO-run course

18. Kyrgyz official condemns Uzbek seizure of "disputed territories"

19. Prominent Egyptian cleric meets Uzbek president, foreign minister

20. Uzbek president starts election campaign in Karakalpakstan

21. Big early turnout in Uzbek parliamentary vote

22. Five killed in Moscow plane crash

The turnout in the December 5 election was unprecedented. Almost 95 percent of the electorate had cast their votes throughout the country. This is nearly half of Uzbekistan's 24-million population. The capital city Tashkent showed the lowest turnout. The first voters were registered in Tokyo, Japan, where 88 Uzbek citizens, including diplomats and students, used their constitutional right. Over one thousand candidates from five political parties and independent groups competed for the 250 seats in the Uzbek parliament. Observers from 15 countries and seven international organizations monitored the election and agreed that the election had passed in an organized way and in the spirit of the law.

However, there were no observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The OSCE sent only a 17-member limited election assessment mission. The OSCE says, the election failed to meet democratic standards due to interference by local and regional government officials. Head of the OSCE mission Madeleine Wilkens said that these officials used their influence to promote certain candidates, forcing over 200 of them to drop out of the race the week before. Chairman of the Uzbek Central Election Commission Najmiddin Komilov argued this statement.

Nearly seven hundred thousand people didn't participate in the election for various reasons. Some were too lazy to come to a polling station and some didn't believe that their vote would mean something. Analysts say that the turnout for the presidential election scheduled for next month, will be even higher.

We are standing on the threshold of the 21st century, on the threshold of new discoveries and powerful development and renewal of our society.

The progress of our country, the wellbeing of our people and integration into the world community are the main aims of the renewal and reforms which are currently being implemented.

Taking into account these strategic and fundamental tasks and following a thorough and critical analysis of the country's internal and external situation, we should define priority areas of our political, economic and spiritual development.

What are these priorities?

Our first task is to ensure a gradual and steady growth of living standards, while paying special attention to rendering necessary help to low-income families and individuals, through stable economic growth and democratic and market reforms.

The targets for the next five years are as follows:

- to increase the minimum wage 3.5-fold and the income per capita 1.8-2-fold;

- to take resolute steps against the devaluation of the national currency and, as a result, ensure permanent growth of people's incomes;

- to increase the size of state social benefits to the population and make the social support more targeted - to make sure that the aid reaches the families which really need it;

- to involve local self-government bodies - local committees - in the implementation of these specific tasks;

- to draw up and carry out by 2005 a state programme on bringing disabled people to active social life and providing medical and social support to disabled children;

- to decrease unemployment by forming a labour market, first of all, in rural areas, and working out and implementing specific programmes on creating jobs in Karakalpakistan, the Regions and the city of Tashkent with wide attraction of foreign investments and internal reserves;

- to complete the implementation of a state programme on the development of the social infrastructure and the provision of the population, first of all those living in rural areas, with natural gas and drinking water so that by 2005 85 per cent of the entire population will be provided with drinking water and 82 per cent will be using natural gas;

- to take under strict control the implementation of health and environmental safety programmes.

All these pressing issues can be successfully resolved if we pay special attention to another high priority task, which is the liberalization of the political and economic life and the liberalization of the process of state and social development.

Political liberalization means involving the population in politics and establishing a balance of interests in society and a strong system of checks and balances. This requires a corresponding legislative and legal framework and real conditions for ensuring the main principle of democracy: the freedom of choice, the freedom of expression, the protection of human rights and the freedom of press.

The liberalization of the state and social development and the process of building a civil society involve further strengthening the principle of division of power, the consistent handing over of power to nongovernmental and public organizations and self-government bodies, and ensuring better protection of their rights and freedoms.

Economic liberalization first of all means limiting state regulation and expanding the rights and freedoms of economic entities, increasing the proportion of private ownership in all economic branches, strengthening the role and rights of proprietors, supporting, in every way possible, the development of the small and medium-sized business and strengthening the market infrastructure.

More focused attention is needed towards agricultural development in order to implement fully the programme of deepening the reforms in the agricultural sector and hand over the land to its true owner, creating the conditions in which he can make full use of the results of his labour.

The third priority is further spiritual renewal of our society. We are facing the task of forming the mentality of a free citizen and individual. In other words, we are to bring up free and harmoniously developed people who are fully aware of their rights, rely on their own strength and capabilities, have their own opinion on everything and, at the same time, harmoniously combine their personal interests with the interests of the state and the nation.

To raise the issues of implementing the youth policy and supporting young families to the level of state importance, and to continue work on strengthening women's role and place in our society.

To support in every way possible the employees of budget-funded organizations who are making their worthy contribution to society's spiritual development and enlightenment. This, first of all, concerns teachers and tutors at schools, lycees, colleges and higher education establishments and also researchers. Proper material conditions need to be created for them.

The fourth priority is professional training. I would like to stress over and over again a simple truth: whatever tasks we are setting today, whatever problems we are facing, all at the end of a day need trained personnel. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our future wholly depends on the next generation, what kind of people we educate. We must in earnest realize the following principle: the younger generation, our dear children and our youths are our joy, support and pride.

The fifth priority is the structural reform of the economy. This involves industrial modernization and re-equipment, a more efficient use of the country's rich natural resources and the development of the export-oriented and import-substituting production.

The sixth priority is to ensure stability, peace and interethnic and civil accord in society, and the inviolability of our borders and the territorial integrity of our country.

In this context, I would like to repeat that Uzbekistan in principle supports noninterference in the internal affairs of other states, the development of international cooperation, partnership on the basis of equality with all the countries of the world and settling all contentious issues exclusively by peaceful political and lawful means.

We are standing on the threshold the 21st century, we are standing on the threshold of new achievements. Our task is to rise with dignity to the challenges of the time. We must clearly see our possibilities and ensure peaceful and safe life for the people and occupy a deserving place in the world community.

There is no bigger happiness for me than the freedom of the homeland, peaceful life for my people, prosperity for my country and the wellbeing of every family living on this fruitful land.

To serve Uzbekistan faithfully today for the sake of our wise, generous and hardworking people's bright future is the meaning and essence of my life.

Adherence to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to all laws effective in the country and conscientious promotion of their consistent practical implementation and also the exercise of the country's citizens' rights and freedoms [is my election platform].

Proceeding from the interests of strengthening Uzbekistan's independence and confirming democracy in the country, creating a strong civil society and corresponding systems of state power and administration and ensuring for our homeland a worthy place among leading states in the international community, the implementation of the following tasks are to be ensured in practice as top priorities:

In the political sphere:

- achievement of supervision of state power by the people directly and through the medium of democratically elected representatives of the people;

- formation of representative bodies of state power, chiefly made up of deputies elected by the people from political parties;

- differentiation of the status of political parties depending upon the position their representatives won in representative bodies of state power as a result of elections;

- building the activities of bodies of state power and administration and of their officials on the basis of legality, party responsibility, party guarantees and the relevant supervision;

- independent exercise of the constitutionally-determined powers of the three branches of state power - the legislative and representative branch, the executive and the judiciary, and their central and local bodies;

- independence, including financial and economic independence, of citizens' bodies of self-government in the exercise of those tasks stipulated by law as being within their exclusive competence;

- further expansion of the independence of the mass media, with the ultimate aim being to achieve their genuine freedom, limited only by their responsibility as envisaged by the law;

- creation of genuine opportunities to enable any ordinary citizen of the country always to have a voice in society and have an impact on high politics;

- formation of effective mechanisms (in the form of leading, ruling and opposition political parties) prompting all state bodies and their officials to submit to the laws unconditionally and preventing them from evading this;

- active participation in public associations of all types and forms as an expression of the organizational cohesiveness of the popular masses in directing public and state affairs;

- constant improvement of the legislative and legal foundation of the noble goals pursued by the people of Uzbekistan.

In the economic field:

- genuine attainment of a situation where economic freedom is the primary, fundamental and decisive basis for all forms and kinds of freedom of each individual;

- providing genuine opportunities for each citizen to exercise his right to own property, irrespective of the type of property;

- taking account of the personal interest of every individual in attaining all the set socially-beneficial goals and fulfilling the relevant tasks;

- freedom for manufacturers in choosing the forms and types of their activity, determining pricing policy and disposing of receipts and profits as they think fit;

- large-scale development of small and medium businesses;

- free movement of goods and capital inside the country and freedom in foreign economic activity (excepting restrictions provided for by laws currently in effect);

- setting up a reliable system for providing information on the economic life of the country;

- turning taxation policy into a factor providing incentives for manufacturers;

- prevention of the illegal interference by bodies of state power and administration in manufacturers' economic affairs;

- taking measures to increase the role of bodies of state power at all levels in creating conditions for humane and socially-oriented promotion of market relations;

- adoption and constant development of laws designed to improve market relations in the guise of economic democracy.

In the social sphere

- regular implementation of measures to establish justice;

- achievement of a condition of rational employment of the population;

- elimination of unemployment;

- increasing the importance of labour as the decisive sphere where the individual's personality is realized and his material, social and spiritual needs are met;

- targeted social protection of the socially vulnerable strata of the population, reasonable compensation for the decline caused by inflation, in their income level by way of indexation of the minimum wage and pensions;

- adoption of practical measures to improve significantly the social status of children, young people and women;

- providing a high-quality medical service accessible to all;

- setting up a system of economic and legal conditions, which would stimulate active participation of private individuals and corporate bodies in implementing measures for the social protection of society;

- eradication of such negative occurrences as bureaucracy, bribery, corruption and others;

- creation of favourable conditions for active formation of a class of private owners and a middle class;

- turning all the above into an effective factor to strengthen social and interethnic solidarity in society;

- renewal and regular improvement of the legislative and legal basis of development of public relations on human and humanitarian principles.

In the sphere of spirituality

- turning our society, ethnic integrity and the social cohesiveness of the people into a space for all-round development of the individual;

- achievement of harmony of ethnic, oriental and universal values and consistent adherence to these;

- recognition of the educational role of Islam and other religions, and at the same time prevention of these being used for mercenary goals;

- confirmation of a spirit of respect for history, the national culture and spiritual heritage;

- significant enhancement of the social status of science and education as well as that of scientists and teachers working in these sectors;

- creating possibilities for all citizens to join in the achievements of the world, oriental and national cultures;

- creating conditions in which people would themselves have a personal interest first and foremost in obtaining knowledge and joining in spiritual concerns.

In foreign policy, national security and defence

- further development of the mutually advantageous cooperation with all far and near states, particularly neighbouring, Central Asian, states, which is in keeping with the national interests of the people of Uzbekistan;

- ongoing implementation of measures necessary for maintaining peace and stability in the region and all over the world;

- permanent readiness of the Armed Forces, security and law enforcement services, specially trained and equipped with modern combat equipment and arms, which will enable them to prevent any encroachments upon the country's territorial integrity and to prevent the security of Uzbekistan people from being undermined.

I am confident that all the above, the practical implementation of the above, will serve the goal of enabling every citizen and the entire people to attain a high standard of well-being, promote the prosperity of our fatherland, the restoration of its former glory and bring closer Uzbekistan's great future.

The forum was an extraordinary event in the Washington's active political and academic life, brining together prominent intellectuals. In his address, the leader of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of Uzbekistan, Abdurashid Bahromov, focused on the specific measures being undertaken in Uzbekistan to ensure freedom of worship for Muslims and for followers of other religions.

Stressing that the activity of certain religious extremist groupings had nothing to do with true Islamic values and was not in keeping with the tenets of the holy Koran, Professor Ibragimov spoke about the origins of religious extremism in various countries and provided evidence of links between radical Islam and international terrorism and drug trafficking.

US investigators pointed out that the Uzbek government had taken serious steps in reviving the religious inheritance of the nation, which is closely tied to Islamic history and traditions. However, rather strong foreign forces, which have great financial and organiziational opportunities, are striving to undermine stability in, and the independence and secular nature of development of, Central Asian countries and the process of them integrating into the international community.

The participants in the discussion from the US side also raised the question of what the USA should do to prevent the spread of religious extremism throughout the Central Asian region. (Uzbek TV)

Relations between Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation are developing in the context of a long-term partnership. The levels of contacts and inter-state legal relations are quite solid: there are more than 130 bilateral agreements and contracts. The major document determining mutual relations between the two countries is the Agreement On Basic Principles of inter-state relations, friendship and cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation signed in May, 1992.

The economy remains an important part of bilateral relations. Russia is one of the leading trade partners of Uzbekistan. Both countries are mutually interested in each other's markets. Despite a considerable fall in the volume of general trade circulation, the two sides are searching for ways of direct trade and economic interaction in the regions, territories and separate big enterprises. But the key point of trade and economic cooperation is the work of the joint inter-governmental commission for all-round cooperation. It plans to form a transnational financial and industrial group Ilyushin, cooperation in the field of transportation and transit, fuel and power complexes, etc.

Bilateral relations also have a human dimension - contacts in the fields of science, culture, information, education and sports. These relations are very important in the context of inter-state relations between Russia and Uzbekistan. Here both sides are taking joint steps towards making them dynamic and orientated towards the future. The conditions for that have all been met, the major of which is the respect which peoples of our countries have for each other's traditions, culture and customs. (Narodnoe Slovo)

President Karimov was speaking at a festive meeting on 7th December to mark the republic's Constitution Day, which falls on 8th December. The speech was broadcast on Uzbek TV, live or very shortly after delivery.

Congratulating those present at the meeting on the Constitution Day holiday, Karimov said, amongst other things:

"Now, with your permission, let me say a few words about the elections to the Supreme Assembly and local councils which took place two days ago [5th December], which are directly connected with our Constitution. Two days ago our people fulfilled their constitutional duties, demonstrated their political consciousness and voted for deputies who will perform their duties in the name of people, serve them honestly and implement their wishes and desires.

"Today, when we speak about elections, we should above all speak about opinions expressed by ordinary voters, bear in mind their wishes and draw the proper conclusions. Above all we should make it clear for ourselves that each person goes to the polling station and casts his vote with good deeds in his heart. To put it simply, he will hope that the would-be deputy whom he trusts will serve to improve his life, to settle our people's problems, will do his best for the people's prosperity...

"It is clear that there will be much criticism after the elections. We should be ready to accept it. This is because should certain so-called observers or supervisors from certain international organizations not find any shortcomings, just imagine for yourself, this might mean that they have not carried out their duties properly. If they announce that everything was all right, it would not be correct. This is a simple truth.

"Secondly, I would like to mention one thing, there are certain organizations or states amongst those that are observing our democratic reforms which support us and of course there are people amongst them who envy us. Addressing them, I would like to say that we have chosen democracy and we have not done so in order to boast to somebody. Let everyone understand good and proper that we have chosen democracy not in order to show off to Europe, America or other states, not to show off our present reforms. What is the main content of our good deeds? These are not just to please someone, it is not just for self-praise that we are democrats."

Speaking at a festive meeting in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on 7th December to mark the republic's Constitution Day, which falls on 8th December, Karimov said:

"As the continuation of all the good deeds we have done in the years 1997, 1998 and 1999, I propose to declare the year of 2000 in Uzbekistan as the Year of a Healthy Generation."

He said that the task of bringing up a healthy generation had been made a matter of state policy. "In other words, the main purpose of all the good deeds we are accomplishing in political, economic and spiritual life and in building our society and our state is bringing up a healthy generation. When we speak about a healthy generation, I understand a strong generation with a healthy mind, with a high level of spirituality and a generation brought up in the spirit of patriotism. Only a healthy nation, only a healthy generation, can build a great state."

• The city of Tashkent - 86.59 %
• Andizhan Region - 95.44 %
• Bukhara Region - 96.58 %
• Dzhizak Region - 97.25 %
• Navoi Region - 86.64 %
• Namangan Region - 94.76 %
• Samarkand Region - 93.47 %
• Syrdarya Region - 94.50 %
• Surkhandarya Region - 93.3 %
• Tashkent Region - 91 %
• Fergana Region - 94.6 %
• Khorezm Region - 96.85 %
• Kashkadarya Region - 93.59 %
• Republic of Karakalpakistan - 96.69 %

President Karimov: "I have one request to make of you: looking around and considering our domestic affairs, we can see a good many problems awaiting their solution. But we also have our plans and programmes to resolve these burning issues. For instance, to take any issue - what should be done by 2005. Take, for example, health care, what should we do? And how will we resolve the current problems and tasks? Or take, for instance, the education sector. Everything is agreed until the year 2006. Or agriculture - everthing is agreed and clear. I personally will not be calm days and nights, if, having received a letter or complaint from somewhere or having seen people speaking about their problems on television, I do not resolve these questions because my nature is such. It stems from my youth. Because if I resolve one question, one person will bless me. If I help one person or ease his troubles and find a way of resolving it, I myself will be glad.

One more point I would like to talk about, availing myself of this opportunity, is that making empty promises, or promising that everything will be all right tomorrow, or saying that problems will be settled at once, is wrong, to my mind. It is not respectful towards people. In other words, making promises on the spur of the moment and promising things as they would in Soviet times to win people's trust is a temporary thing. This time will pass soon. How will they look people in the face, after that, and how will they save face? It is a betrayal of people's trust, of people who set a high place by philanthopy and merit. From this point of view, five or six people have promised a lot at their meetings with you and I am sure that you have decided for yourselves who has made empty promises and who will justify your confidence or requests by doing real deeds.

There are many young people among us. I spoke about one thing and I want to repeat it again. The sloganl "Youth is Our Future" is well known to everyone. Many people, using this slogan to look good, give many empty promises. They say that tomorrow, God willing, everything will be fine and our children will be fine. However, I understand this another way. I understand this in the way that current problems should be spoken of. Of course, in order to resolve these problems we all should be united. My view is that that our youth should grow up as soon as possible and we should turn to practical questions. After this we can do something together with these young people. However, what should we do to achieve this? We have many problems in implementing the personnel training programme.

(More details) - An Il-114 plane, board number 91004, flight 8451 from Moscow to Tashkent, crashed at takeoff at Domodedovo airport. ITAR-TASS learnt this from the airport manager, Sergey Rudakov. The plane took off, went up a little, then something happened and it crashed into the fence 400 metres from the runway, falling to pieces and catching fire. According to the Federal Air Transport Service, the airport's fire engines arrived at the scene at 0503 Moscow time [0203 gmt] and started fighting the fire. It took six fire engines to put out the fire. According to the preliminary information, the accident was caused by a strong gust of side wind. Of the seven people on board the plane, five died and two are in intensive care. The black box was found and investigation is under way, according to Sergey Rudakov. Il-114 is an experimental plane, which was making a commercial flight at the request of the Atran company. The reasons for the flight are unknown.

(More details) - The Uzbek Ilyushin-114 cargo plane that crashed at Moscow's Domodedovo airport on Sunday [5th December] fell on to the airfield's boundary fence during takeoff, a few tens of metres from some cottages. Interfax was informed of this by the duty officer at the Russian Ministry for Emergencies. He confirmed that there were seven people on board the aircraft. Five of them were killed, and two were seriously injured and are now in hospital in the town of Domodedovo. Quoting a witness of the tragedy, an airport worker told Interfax that the aircraft fell vertically from a height of some 20-25 m. Experts take the view that a crash of this type usually occurs when one of the engines fails, he said. An airport administration official stressed that engine failure was "the most likely cause of the disaster". He added that the actual cause would be established by a special board of inquiry. Specialists working at the scene have already found the plane's black boxes. The crash occurred at about 0500 Moscow time [0200 gmt]. The plane came down some 400 m from the end of the runway and exploded. Airport staff say that the plane took off in difficult weather conditions, but no bad-weather flight restrictions were in force at Domodedovo. The Il-114 was designed by the Ilyushin aviation company. It is currently undergoing certification trials that involve the Tashkent aircraft factory's conducting trial operation. Only the cargo version of the aircraft is being used by the National Air Company of Uzbekistan [untraced]. The Il-114 was designed about ten years ago and is in the regional airline class. The plane is equipped with TVD7-117 engines, designed by the Klimov Design Bureau in St Petersburg.

Over the last 10 months, staff of the criminal investigation department of the Tashkent city Main Directorate of the Internal Affairs and its district subdivisions have seized a total of 22.63 kg of heroin, 38.57 kg of opium, 3.28 kg of hashish and 14.15 kg of marijuana in the course of the Black Poppy operation.

A total of 1,470 criminal cases have been instituted, 36 of them for smuggling narcotics and 488 for selling narcotic substances. The Black Poppy operation is continuing.

"Because of the historical situation, the ownership of over 100 similar areas (in the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border sector) has not yet been decided. In 1955 the [former Soviet] Kyrgyz and Uzbek governments set up a bilateral parity commission, thanks to the fruitful work of which disputed territories were determined. However, because the Supreme Soviets of the two [Soviet] republics failed to endorse the list submitted to them, the question is still dragging on. We are not the least against putting fences round undisputed territories, but we do not agree with the fencing off of areas which have not as yet been determined. They are not only engaged in unlawful activity but are also violating universally-accepted international norms. We have sent notes of protest several times, but without response. I repeat, the current actions of the Republic of Uzbekistan may perhaps meet their domestic needs, but in no way do they meet international norms," Salamat Alamanov told the `Kyrgyz Rukhu' newspaper of 3rd December 1999. (Kabar news agency)

The same day Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi met Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov. Warmly welcoming to Uzbekistan the grand sheikh of Al Azhar in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov said that this visit would serve to promote political, economic and cultural relations between Uzbekstan and Egypt. Mr Mohamed Sayed Tantawi said that Egypt felt affection towards Uzbekistan and the Uzbek state, which have greatly contributed to world civilization and Islam. He also conveyed greetings from the Egyptian foreign minister and announced that the latter was planning to visit Uzbekistan very soon. Mr Mohamed Sayed Tantawi also said that the Al Azhar complex, which has a thousand-year history and experience, was ready to cooperation with Uzbekistan in religious and cultural fields, and expressed his hope that this cooperation would equally serve the interests of each country.

Karimov delivered a 25-minute address, beginning by thanking the people of Karakalpakstan for supporting his candidacy and adding: "If the people of Karakalpakstan accept me as a Karakalpak, I would be very happy."

With its ancient history, culture and traditions, Karakalpakstan has a worthy place in Uzbekistan and "when we speak about Uzbekistan's future we mean Karakalpakstan's future, too", Karimov said.

Moving on to economic issues, Karimov said it was time to look afresh at the economy of the region and to switch from cotton cultivation to growing crops better suited to the climatic conditions: "If we want to look at Karakalpakstan's present life and its future, we should reconsider the structure of Karakalpakstan's economy from a scientific point of view. Why? For many years, for 30 or 40 years, Karakalpakstan has been growing cotton and other crops in line with one and the same structure, and from this point of view both agriculture, industry and other sectors have been developing in line with a certain order which was established some time in the past.

"I suggest you look at this issue from a different angle. Bearing in mind above all Karakalpakstan's harsh climate, nature and saline soil, and thinking of the destiny of people who live there, I have been considering one thing and today I must tell you this openly. When we were summing up the results for 1999 and making plans for 2000 I put forward the suggestion - though it has not yet been widely discussed - that the time had come to reduce the state plan for cotton growing and to grow other crops adapted to the region's climate. People could obtain more profit from this. From this point of view, we should set to our pens and computers, it is impossible without computers at present, and make proper calculations."

Karimov said that a good deal of work had been done to resolve the Aral Sea problem, but a great deal more needed to be done in the future. Speaking about reforms in the education sector, he said that professional colleges should be set up not only in the town of Nukus but in remote areas as well. Karimov praised the region's achievements in health care and sport and welcomed the fact that many sportsmen from Karakalpakstan had won international prizes. At the same time he pointed out that there was no football team in Karakalpakstan.

Concluding his address, Karimov voiced high praise for representatives of the intelligentsia in Karakalpakstan and wished prosperity and health to all people of Karakalpakstan.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has said it will not recognize the election, although an assessment mission is in place, saying that the ballot fails to promote democracy in the mostly desert state. Its position reflects the view of political analysts that parliament is weak, and little more than a rubber stamp for Karimov, who enjoys a stranglehold on power.

The former Communist Party boss, like other regional leaders, has been reluctant to see his control diluted, justifying a strict leadership style by saying that stability is key in a country threatened by ethnic and religious violence. Karimov narrowly escaped death in February when a series of bombs went off in Tashkent, killing 16 people. He blamed the attacks on extremist Muslim opponents who had been operating and training outside Uzbekistan.

The explosions sent shockwaves across Central Asia, a strategic oil-rich region linking Russia to the north with China to the east and Afghanistan and Iran to the south. More than 1,000 candidates, including independents and representatives from five political parties, are competing for 250 seats in the Oli Mazhlis, the single-chamber legislature. At least 50 percent of the electorate must vote for the election to be considered valid. (Reuters)