November 17, 2014
the sixteenth general session of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan 2
20th anniversary of the State joint stock railway company “O‘zbekiston Temir Yo‘llari” 3
When Any Project Is Feasible. 3
New TV channel for youth launched in Uzbekistan. 5
the sixteenth general session of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Senate General Session
Members of the upper house of parliament considered a number of important issues during Senate’s sixteenth plenary session that continued its work in the city of Tashkent.
The second day of the general session began with senators discussing amnesty in tribute to the twenty-second anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, an initiative introduced to the upper house by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in accordance with Paragraph 23 of Article 93 in the Basic Law.
During the deliberations on the issue, senators noted that the adoption of an act of amnesty occasioned to the twenty-second anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan is another bright manifestation of humaneness by our country where human rights and interests constitute the highest value, essence and meaning of democratic, socio-political and socio-economic reforms being undertaken in the nation. The meeting participants adopted a corresponding decision on the issue.
Thus, the Senate resolution envisages indemnity of following categories of convicted persons (taking into account the stipulated restrictions): women, those persons who were under 18 at the time of perpetration, men from the age 60, nationals of foreign countries, as well as a range of other categories.
The upper house of the parliament defined the order of application of its resolution on amnesty in tribute to the twenty-second anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The order establishes the procedure of judiciary consideration of cases and materials with respect to individuals redeemable from criminal liability and punishment in accordance with the amnesty act. At the same time, what is essential in the process of public oversight of the application of amnesty resolution along with provision for transparency of the procedures of its execution is an active participation of senators, deputies of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Kengashes (Councils) of people’s deputies of regions, of the city of Tashkent, of districts and towns, regional representatives of the Oliy Majlis Authorized Person for Human Rights.
Also envisioned is the implementation of a complex of measures dedicated to the social adaptation and protection of individuals being freed from punishment, provision for their complete registration and employment, placement of single, aid-needy persons into nursing homes and custodial institutions, transfer of under-aged to the supervision of parents, guardianship and trusteeship institutions, direction of them to corresponding education institutions if need be.
Afterward, the senators discussed the bill on the introduction of amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan due to the adoption of principal dimensions of taxation and budgetary policy for the year 2015. Members of the upper house stressed that the law is to secure the creation of required normative conditions for an effective realization of the concept of taxation and budgetary policy for the year 2015, implementation of some decisions of the President of Uzbekistan, as well as the uniformity of law enforcement practice in the sphere of taxation.
The law introduces amendments and addenda to the laws on Guarantees of Freedom of Entrepreneurship, on the State Pension Provision of Citizens, the Tax Code and the Code on Administrative Liability.
According to senators, the law is directed in general at further lowering the tax burden for corporate bodies and the population, at simplifying the system of taxation, consolidating the income part of local budgets and perfecting the taxation administering. The legislators approved the bill.
When considering a draft law envisaging the introduction of amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the senators pointed out that the principal provisions of this bill were elaborated in accordance with decrees of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Additional Measures to Further Improve the Investment Climate and Business Environment in the Republic of Uzbekistan” signed 7 April 2014, and that “On Measures to Further Refine Cardinally of the Business Environment and Provide Entrepreneurship with Greater Freedom” inked 18 July 2012, resolutions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Measures to Further Refine the Procedures Related to the Conduct of Entrepreneurship and to the Provision of Public Services” penned 15 April 2014, and that “On Additional Measures to Assist the Development of Civil Society Institutions” signed 12 December 2013.
The law introduces amendments and addenda to a range of legislative acts, including the Nongovernmental Nonprofit Organizations Act, the Guarantees of Entrepreneurship Freedom Act, the Natural Monopolies Act, the State Sanitary Oversight Act, the Licensing of Certain Types of Activities Act, the Bankruptcy Act, the Certification of Products and Services Act, the Tax Code, the Air Code, the Criminal Code, the Civil Procedural Code, the Administrative Liability Code and others.
The senators noted during the deliberations that the amendments being introduced to the legislation are designed to perfect the investment climate and business environment, the organizational-normative foundations in the activities of nongovernmental nonprofit organizations, to promote entrepreneurship, create more favorable conditions for entrepreneurship entities, and raise the effectiveness of civil justice and others. The bill met the approval of senators.
The session participants also discussed other issues within the competence of the Senate of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis.
During the two-day session of the upper house, 10 issues were considered, including 5 bills directed at a gradual and steadfast enhancement of democratic reforms and formation of civil society, the implementation of which is expected to become a potent factor in further uplifting the living standards, stability and prosperity in the country.
Thus, the Senate of Oliy Majlis completed its sixteenth general session.
(Source: Press Service of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
20th anniversary of the State joint stock railway company “O‘zbekiston Temir Yo‘llari”
When Any Project Is Feasible
2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Uzbekistan Railways; the country’s biggest and efficient company, the national rail carrier. It has paved a long way of development, built and reconstructed new roads, erected modern industrial complexes from scratch; implemented unique projects. Meanwhile; the highly qualified staff has been the company’s core value. Their number over the years has increased by 60%, reaching 70 thousand people.
In the years of independence the State Joint Stock Railway Company Uzbekistan Railways has built and commissioned over 1,200 km of new railway lines, exemplifying the successful introduction of technologies that are still new for many countries. For example, in September 2011, the company launched the Central Asia’s first high-speed railway Tashkent-Samarqand. The Spanish train Talgo was symbolically named Afrasiab after famous ancient town located in the Samarqand region. Today it runs between the two cities with the speed up to 250 km/h.
To date, it has already carried over 500 thousand passengers.
To ensure the effective operation of new electric trains the rail infrastructure at the Tashkent-Samarqand route was upgraded from the ground up in line with international requirements and standards. In two years, the railway staff has done an unprecedented work: they built all the infrastructure needed for the operation of up-to-date locomotives, built and reconstructed rails and stations, two-sided fence, renovated the contact network. In the future ft is projected to extend the high-speed traffic to Bukhoro and Khiva.
President Islam Karimov underscored the importance of railways for the development of Uzbekistan in his congratulatory message to the personnel of Uzbekistan Railways: “Today, it is hard to imagine the way we lived and our economic development without railways. Currently, over 60% of freight and 75% of passenger traffic is carried by rail. I would like to particularly mention the company’s contribution to the development and strengthening of railway communications, enhancement of reliability and safety of rail traffic. Over the past years the railroad workers have upgraded and rehabilitated 3.8 thousand kilometers of rails, electrified about a thousand kilometers of railway lines, owing to which the total length of railways has reached 6.5 thousand kilometers and covered all the regions of the country.”
Construction and launch of the new route Navoi-Uchkuduk-Nukus-Sultanuizdag is another important project run by Uzbekistan Railways, which has opened access to rich natural reserves, reduced the cost of transportation for bypassing the territories of bordering countries, and helped bolster the welfare of local populace. Construction of a magnificent bridge across the Amudaryo River is another strategic initiative. The titanic miracle of engineering links the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorazm Region, providing a shorter way to the capital Tashkent. The 700 meter bridge has reduced the travel time on the Tashkent-Urganch route by 5.5 hours, and the distance by 300 kilometers.
The company has launched high-speed trains Sharq and Nasaf to run from Tashkent to Samarqand, Bukhoro and Qarshi as an additional convenience for passengers. Uzbekistan Railways has built eleven new and reconstructed seven railway stations providing international standard services.
The company attaches particular importance to upgrading its locomotive fleet. Over the years or independence, it has been tangibly changed. Now new freight locomotives carry more cargo with noticeably less expenses. For instance, in the last decade alone, the company purchased 15 passenger, 12 passenger-cargo, 11 freight locomotives and 10 passenger diesel locomotives. The rolling stock has been significantly updated as well, largely owing to the Tashkent Plant of Construction and Maintenance of Passenger Cars. The factory produces comfortable passenger carriages in conformity with international quality standards. To date, it has produced 120 new and modernized 735 passenger railcars.
The recently renovated foundry and mechanical plant consistently replenishes the rolling stock. With the production capacity of 26.5 thousand tons of casting products a year, the enterprise has already localized 167 kinds of industrial produce.
Finalization of a unified independent railway structure of Uzbekistan remains the key priority for Uzbekistan Railways, as well as the construction of the electrified railway line Angren-Pap with a rail tunnel.
Among the already completed efforts within the project are the implementation of 35.5 million cubic meters of earthworks, construction of 204 artificial structures, 11 bridges, 3 overpasses, and 82 kilometers of railroads. 5.5 thousand meters of tunneling works have been carried out in the main trunk of the tunnel, and finishing works been performed on a stretch of about 1.4 thousand meters.
The President of Uzbekistan also emphasized the project’s exclusive importance for the country. “We pin great hopes on the implementation of another major scheme in the field of transport communications, that is, the construction of a new electrified railway line Angren-Pap with a 19-kilometer tunnel, jointly with our Chinese partners. Its commissioning due in July 2016 will allow for a secure connection of the Farghona Valley with the central part of Uzbekistan, completing the establishment of an integrated rail transport system across the nation. The stripe is expected to become a principal link in a new international transit railway corridor China-Central Asia-Europe,” President Islam Karimov stated in his congratulatory message.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Television
New TV channel for youth launched in Uzbekistan
New TV channel for youth – Mening Yurtim (My Country) or MY5 – has been launched in Uzbekistan.
The channel is designed for youth. Its activities will focus on formation creative and optimistic position among the youth.
Founders of the cultural-educational, musical-entertainment and youth-oriented TV channel are the Center for Youth Culture and Art, Kamolot Movement, National Association of Electronic Mass Media and Uzbeknavo.
M and Y are first letter in word Mening Yurtim. The channel will be broadcasted via 5 TV desk.
The channel will broadcast programmes for 20 hours a day. It will cover 5 million people in Tashkent city and Tashkent region. It will present various new, cultural, musical and other programmers to its audience.
The channel will broadcast documentary films on history, traditions and customs of Uzbekistan, ancient scholars, films, soap operas, cartoons, music videos, etc.
Currently, the channel is working on new content, which will be presented during full-format launch, scheduled to December 2014.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
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