DECEMBER 4 - the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

In the Central Electoral Commission

First Shipment, Then Payment

The seventh plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Senate convenes for a session in Tashkent

World’s Best Judo Team

On 12 October a session of The Cabinet of Ministers, chaired by Interim President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev was held

On 12 October a session of The Cabinet of Ministers, chaired by Interim President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev was held. The drafts of main financial-economic documents of the country for the coming year- main macroeconomic indicators forecast, concept of fiscal policy, State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Job creation and employment program for 2016 have been discussed and additional measures adopted at the session.

Adopted systemic measures on implementing priorities of the economic program for 2016 and following years, which ensured preservation of macroeconomic stability and sustainably high rates of economic growth as well as execution of main parameters of the State budget, have been deeply analysed.

The session participants discussed the proposals on the forecast of macroeconomic indicators of country’s development, developed by the Ministry of economy, Ministry of finance and the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan and providing for maintaining macroeconomic balance due to preserving dynamic growth rates of GDP, investments, industrial and agricultural production, construction works and services as well as suppressing inflation.

The proposals on further improving fiscal policy for 2017 were considered in detail, which stipulate further improvement of tax administration, strengthening revenue part of the local budgets and target off-budget funds, as well as maintaining priority status of financing social obligations of the state.

The extension of some tax exemptions, significantly mitigating the tax burden on the sectors of the economy has been identified among the most important measures on further reducing the tax burden. This measure will allow certain categories of taxpayers to strengthen their financial stability and to direct released funds for further development and modernization of production, increasing wages to workers and income of investors.

At the meeting, the basic parameters of the State budget for 2017 were discussed. Continued high level of social orientation of the draft State budget with about 60 percent allocated to finance social spending have been particularly underlined. The implementation of measures to further increase salaries of public sector employees, pensions, social allowances and stipends, strengthen the material-technical base and equipment of educational institutions, health care and other social spheres will be continued in the following year.

During the discussion, the attention of the heads of ministries, departments and territories was drawn to the need to ensure strict oversight over the efficient and targeted use of budgetary funds, allocated to the social sector and infrastructure, as well as financing of major investment projects and programs of socio-economic development of regions.

Given the importance and the social significance of continuing active measures to improve employment, the parameters of the draft Program of job creation and employment for 2017 have been comprehensively and deeply analyzed.

The draft program is aimed at further increasing the employment of the population through the mobilization of resources and reserves in the sectors of the economy, including as a result of ongoing large-scale measures for the modernization and development of industry, agriculture, industrial and social infrastructure, promotion and full support of services, small business and private entrepreneurship, expansion of all forms of home-based work.

The meeting also discussed and worked out additional measures to ensure the employment of young people, especially graduates of professional colleges in 2016/2017 academic year.

Based on the discussion at the meeting of the Government of the Republic decided to approve the forecast of key macroeconomic indicators, the concept of tax and budget policy and the draft state budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Program on job creation employment for 2017 and submit them for consideration to the chambers of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

(Source: Press-service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

DECEMBER 4 - the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

In the Central Electoral Commission

The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan held its meeting October 13, 2016, in the format of videoconference, at the Republican Press Center for the coverage of presidential elections. The event was chaired by the head of the Commission Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov.

Members of district electoral commissions for elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of political parties participating in the elections, as well as mass media took part in the meeting.

The occasion participants discussed issues related to preparations for the forthcoming presidential ballot. Commission members deliberated on the plan of activities on the effective organization of the work of precinct election commissions for the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the meeting it was noted that the task of preparing for the elections and their proper conduct places greater responsibility on precinct electoral commissions. Therefore, the Central Election Commission, district electoral commissions and the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of Civil Society intend to arrange training seminars aimed at bolstering the legal knowledge of the members of precinct electoral commissions and boost their skills in the effective organization of commission activities.

Events are projected to be held in the format of national online seminar and as regional training workshops with the participation of members of precinct electoral commissions. Particular attention will be paid to such important aspects as the legal bases of activity of precinct election commissions, equipment of polling stations, register of voters and the procedure for making amendments and addenda to the organization of the process of early voting and casting ballot on the election day, the importance of the institution of observers, the role of the media to ensure openness and transparency of the electoral process.

During the meeting the participants also deliberated on other issues relating to the competences of the Central Election Commission. Respective resolutions of the CEC have been passed on the issues discussed.

(Source: Press Service of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

economy

First Shipment, Then Payment

Leasing increasingly ranks among the most effective mechanisms for retooling of agricultural sector and providing farmers with modern technologies. Experts see it as a potential mechanism for significant enhancement of efficiency of agriculture in the coming years.

The system of leasing of equipment for farmers has been operating for more than a decade in Uzbekistan. It allows purchasing equipment on a preferential basis without bid security and with an initial contribution of only 10-15% of the total cost, using it to improve soil fertility, and gradually paying the remainder of the cost at a reduced interest rate.

Uzmeliomashlizing has been the leading company that helps farmers to take advantage of the easiest and most convenient form of purchasing expensive equipment.

During its ten-year history, the company supplied the related organizations and institutions with  more than 2,000 items of highly efficient reclamation and other specialized equipment. The purposefully allocated 1.6 trillion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 14.10.2016, 1$= 3046.85 soums) have helped to ameliorate more than 2 million hectares of land in the last seven years alone. The measures taken have increased soil fertility and, consequently, crop yields.

The introduction of advanced methods of leasing in line with international standards ranks among major aspects in the company’s focus. The conditions for the implementation of projects are now available at any point of Uzbekistan, so specialists locally provide practical assistance in preparing the leasing registration documents. As a result, the service range has been expanding, as well as the types of the equipment supplied, which number about two dozen today. In 2015 alone, the company supplied farmers with 257 items of reclamation technologies totaling 53 billion soums.

This enables specialists to actively address the problems of land reclamation and water management, which were set by the government. For example, 2,103 kilometers of irrigation canals have been laid, 96 hydraulic structures have been built, over 558,500 km of canals have been revamped, 3,852 km of drainage networks have been built, and more than 75,500 km of such facilities have been repaired over the past five years.

It is noteworthy that Uzmeliomashlizing company has been strengthening partnerships with local producers with the expansion of the scale of localization. In particular, excavators and bulldozers are purchased from UzXCMG joint venture in the Khorezm region, and mini excavators and loaders - from UzCase. Last year, the national equipment fleet made up 85% of the total number. The domestic hardware is not inferior to its imported counterarts in performance and quality, while having more affordable price.

In addition, the company is actively involved in the traditional International Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange, which is a platform for establishing and developing cooperation with foreign and domestic partners, opening new prospects for transactions on the supply of the latest reclamation and irrigation technologies.

(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)

The seventh plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Senate convenes for a session in Tashkent

The seventh plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place on 12 October 2016 in Tashkent. Invited members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of ministries and departments, representatives of other organizations, civil society institutions and the media attended the event.

Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis N.Yuldoshev presided the session.

The senators started their work with consideration of the issue "On Amnesty in connection with the twenty-fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan", submitted to the upper house of Parliament by Interim President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev in accordance with paragraph 23 of article 93 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The session participants noted that the adoption of the Amnesty act on the occasion of the twenty-fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution is another striking manifestation of humanity of our state, in which a man, his life, freedom, honour, dignity and other inalienable rights are the highest value, the essence and substance of democratic, political and socio-economic reforms. Application of the Amnesty act in relation to certain categories of individuals is of great social and educational value and is a continuation of the strategic course towards liberalization of the judicial system.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis adopted a decision on this issue. It provides for the release of sentenced women, individuals who at the time of the commission of the crime were under 18, men over 60 years of age, foreign nationals, as well as persons recognized in accordance with the law as disabled of 1 or 2 groups, citizens of other categories (subject to limitations). The decision also includes the categories of persons, not subject to the Amnesty.

In addition, the resolution of the Senate has established a procedure for judicial consideration of cases in respect of people, subject to exemption from criminal liability and punishment under the Amnesty act. Hereby, it envisages involving senators, deputies of the Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, Kengashes of people's deputies of regions, the city of Tashkent, districts and cities in the implementation of parliamentary and public oversight over the use of Amnesty decrees, as well as transparency of the procedures for its execution.

The document also includes a set of measures that determines not only the exemption from liability or punishment of a particular category of persons, but also their treatment, employment, and a number of other important measures for the social rehabilitation and adaptation of persons released from punishment.

Further on, the senators considered the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On social services for the elderly, disabled and other socially vulnerable categories of the population". Previously, the act was submitted to the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the implementation of the State program "Year of attention and care for the older generation", initiated by the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I. A. Karimov.

The law is adopted in order to further improve the legal framework for the provision of social services to the needy categories of the population, determining the General requirements and the main areas of their provision, as well as raising the role and responsibility of government, non-government organizations and business entities in this field. It is provided for to implement measures aimed at strengthening the monitoring and public control over the execution of legislation requirements in the provision of social services.

The law is a comprehensive document that enshrines the guarantees of improving the quality, level and efficiency of social services' delivery, protecting the interests of those in need.

The legal act clearly defined the main directions of state policy in the field of raising the efficiency of social services, designated the criteria and procedure for detection of categories of population in need of social services.

An important place in the law is given to the forms and types of social services in the areas of education, employment and health.

According to senators, the implementation of the provisions of this law will allow to make the system of social protection open for public scrutiny, will serve not only to streamline the process of providing social services to the population, but also further improve the socio-economic state of citizens, improve the quality and efficiency of social services, will ensure the continuation of a strong social policy carried out in the country. The senators approved the law.

The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan" was another issue considered at the session. The Law provides for introducing amendments aimed at further improvement of the existing legislation in the socio-political, socio-economic and judicial-legal spheres.

Thus, in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures for further improvement of the system of social support and medico-social assistance to vulnerable segments of the population" dated 22 February 2016, the Ministry of labor and social protection of the population has been reorganized into the Ministry of labor. The Ministry of health, territorial health departments, district and municipal medical associations have been entrusted with providing medical and social assistance to the disabled, including disabled children, war veterans, lonely elderly and other vulnerable groups of the populations, the organization of professional training of persons with disabilities and the development of inclusive education. The Ministry of Finance and its territorial bodies have been instructed to monitor the awarding and payment of social benefits and material assistance to needy families and individuals.

Based on the requirements of the adopted Decree, the law introduces amendments and additions to some legislative acts, including laws "On social protection of the disabled in the Republic of Uzbekistan", "On employment of population", "On health protection of citizens", "On self-government bodies of citizens", "On state pension security of citizens", "On guarantees of child rights", "On guardianship", "On prevention of offences", Tax and Labor codes.

As was noted by the representatives of the upper house of Parliament, the amendments and additions will contribute to further improving the system of medico-social assistance to the disabled, veterans of war and labor, lonely elderly and other vulnerable populations, to improving the level and quality of life, as well as increasing the efficiency of social protection of the population.

In connection with the adoption of the Law "On veterinary medicine" in the new edition, amendments and additions will be introduced into certain legislative acts, in particular the laws "On water and water use", "On self-government bodies of citizens", "On quality and safe food products", "On farms", "On dehkan farms", "On technical regulation", "On conformity assessment", Criminal, Tax, Budget codes, the Code on administrative responsibility.

Being introduced amendments and additions will serve to ensure uniform application of terms and concepts in the legislation in the field of veterinary medicine and other legal acts regulating relations in this sphere.

Based on the analysis of the crime situation and its dynamics, the law enforcement, the criminal code has been introduced with amendments aimed at further enhancing accountability for fraud and stealing vehicles.

According to senators, these amendments would strengthen the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of natural and legal persons, the principle of fairness of punishment, as well as raise the effectiveness of measures to combat crime in these areas.

The session also approved the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On ratifying the Convention №87 of the International Organization of Labor concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise”, approved changes to the composition of the Supreme Court and Supreme Economic Court and considered other issues under its competence.

In total, during the plenary session of the Senate 10 issues, including 4 laws, directed towards consistent deepening democratic reforms and formation of a strong civil society. Their implementation will serve as a powerful factor in further increasing the welfare of the populations, strengthening stability and prosperity in Uzbekistan.

(Source: Press Service Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

sport

World’s Best Judo Team

In the judo competitions during the Rio Paralympics, Uzbekistan was represented by one of the biggest teams. Our athletes strutted their stuff in seven weight categories (for men) and four (for women). But even more impressive were the results; the Uzbek judoka won three gold, one silver and six bronze medals, which placed it first in the unofficial medal standings. Below, the coordinator of the Paralympic judo team, Omon Gofurov, has shared the secrets of the victory.

Ten of the eleven members of the Uzbek team won medals. In your view, why did the eleventh athlete fail to win a medal?

“Because he, Sharif Halilov, has participated in the Paralympic Games for a second time only. Nonetheless, in the London Olympic he bagged a silver medal. I also believe that his switch from +73kg weight category to -81 also had a role to play. He just couldn’t have adapted properly.”

Which of the athletes had the most challenging path to victory?

“It is definitely Utkir Begmatov. It so happened that he faced very powerful competitors, almost all of whom had high titles. And to be honest, watching the competitions, we wanted him to win at least bronze. We were particularly nervous when he was fighting with a world champion from Azerbaijan, one of the world’s top Paralympic athletes. Utkir surprised us when he came out a champion.”

I would like to also touch upon the doping scandal that accompanied the Rio Olympics.

“Are you curious to know whether our athletes took doping? Like all the athletes, they were under the strict control of the World Anti-Doping Agency. In Rio alone, each athlete was tested at least twice. And none of them tested positive. We strictly complied with the WADA requirements.”

If Russia had not been disqualified, would our athletes have achieved such results?

“Definitely yes. In this sport, the Uzbeks’ biggest rivals are Australians and Ukrainians. I think that Russian judo athletes’ participation wouldn’t have that much of an impact on the team results.”

What is the secret of our team’s success?

“In recent years, our judo team has been gaining the status of the strongest team. At the Para Asian Games in Incheon we placed first in the team standings and we managed to achieve the same result in Rio de Janeiro.

Judo is similar to national kurash wrestling in spirit and technique. The latter has become particularly popular in our country over the past years. Wrestlers’ performances can be seen during weddings and other family events and national events. Parents willingly send their children to kurash clubs and it is becoming a starting point for other types of sport.”

How did you manage to pick promising athletes?

“We traveled to regions and met with coaches. By the way, areas where judo for athletes with disabilities is developing most actively are Bukhara, Khorezm and Tashkent regions. We put together national competitions where we met the best athletes, we were literally engaged in “selection”. We put together a team and then set up a training process.”

How come you didn’t mention Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya regions that are considered the historical motherland of kurash wrestling, and we know that these areas gave us the most decorated athletes.

“In picking candidates for our team, we paid attention to the athletes’ personal qualities, potential and abilities. We addressed each issue as a team and discussed the results with the athletes. When it comes to athletes from Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya, I can say that they have promising judoka, but they are not fit for the Paralympics age-wise.” 

One peculiarity of the judo team’s preparation for the games was the absence of a senior coach. There was just a curator. What else can you mention?

“Each athlete had his personal coach, with whom he or she trained for the qualifying competitions. And I replaced the senior coach, trying to coordinate the training process and organize training in accordance with all rules. We got along well and we did it. I am also a coach, a judo specialist, but I don’t have the documents that would allow me to hold a coaching position.

We have closely collaborated with the Judo Federation of Uzbekistan. The coaches that had trained the national judo team for the Olympics worked with our athletes as well. Otherwise, it was provision of athletes with necessary stuff. The Paralympic Association handled all problems in a speedy manner. The athletes had everything they needed to succeed.”

What was the biggest challenge in training the athletes?

“The most difficult part in working with Paralympians was to overcome the psychological barrier. But we succeeded in teaching them to overcome it and believing in their strength and achieving success.

We had psychologists who helped us cope with the task. But the most effective “pill” has been participation in international competitions that helped to put together the national team. The medals and prizes, scores, the comprehensive support from the Paralympic Association, the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Sports Affairs and the state in general have served as a powerful stimulus that gave strength to the athletes.”

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)