Birdamlik Movement

September 21th - International Day of Peace

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:48:50 +0000

The International Day of Peace is on September 21st of each year and calls for a full day of peace and ceasefire throughout the world.In this event, the “Peace Bell” is rung at UN Headquarters. The bell is cast from coins donated by children on all continents, and considered a symbol of global solidarity. It was given as a gift by Japan, and is referred to as “a reminder of the human cost of war.” The inscription on its side reads: “Long live absolute world peace.”
Observance of the annual International Day of Peace is widespread across the globe. Celebrations now take place in every country. View 2008 Events below.
The United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by Costa Rica, the third Tuesday of September (the opening day of regular sessions of the General Assembly) as the International Day of Peace devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace. (more…)

Tashkent Will Mark Its 2200th Anniversary

admin — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 04:16:34 +0000

At its 34th Session in November 2007 the UNESCO General Conference adopted a resolution on celebrating the 2200th anniversary of Tashkent and participation in the jubilee celebrations. Tashkent enjoys an invaluable place and profound role in the history of national statehood, as well as in the social and political life of Uzbekistan. It did contribute much to the development of world civilization and is rightfully named as the «Gates of the Orient». Tashkent was firstly mentioned in «Avesta» and in ancient Chinese manuscripts. And this place proved to be a happy choice, because the city managed to survive in spite of all trials - wars, sieges and invasions. In the ancient chronicles the city was known under such names as Yuni, Chach, Shash Judging from the accounts, the name «Tashkent» first appeared in the Turkic sources of the IX-XII centuries. Shash in Turkic language means stone. Kand, qand, kent, kad, kath, kud - all meaning a city - are derived from the Sogdian, kanda, meaning a town or a city. (more…)

Joint Declaration on South Ossetia Signed in Moscow

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:48:28 +0000

The leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) have signed a joint declaration on recent developments in the Caucasus at a meeting in Moscow on Friday. The group also expressed its support of Russia’s reaction to Georgian aggression against South Ossetia. The issue has also been at the forefront of EU foreign ministers’ talks in France.
Countries in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation will make their own minds up on the issue of recognising South Ossetia. This was the conclusion of Russia’s President Medvedev, following a summit of the organisation.

“All our partners in the CSTO will be guided by their own opinion on the issue of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is how it should be according to the norms of international law. They’ll be guided by their own national interests. Russia believes this is absolutely right,” Dmitry Medvedev said. (more…)

Uzbek ex-spy blames President Karimov for massacre

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:55:39 +0000

Ikram Yakubov, a former operative of the Uzbek National Security Service (MXX) who was from the inner circle of President Islam Karimov, has given a sensational interview to Radio Liberty in which he accused the president of unleashing a massacre in Andijan and committing other crimes.Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that Ikram Yakubov, 27, a former member of the MXX with a 10-year experience who served in the Foreign Ministry and the country’s Security Council, arrived in London on 1 September where he asked the British authorities to grant him political asylum.
After Yakubov found a safe refuge, Radio Liberty published his interview on which the radio’s journalists have been working for two months, checking his identity and the accuracy of his information and recording the story of his work in Uzbekistan’s dirtiest power-yielding structure - the MXX. (more…)

Credit-Standard Bank capital reaches UZS 9.36 bn

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:10:33 +0000

Open joint stock commercial bank Credit-Standard is a universal lending institution serving corporate and private business. It is among the ten largest banks in Uzbekistan and occupies leading positions on reliability and stability.Credit-Standard Bank was founded on 16 August 2003. The authorized capital at the time of registration was UZS 1.3 billion, now it is UZS 9.36 billion.
The bank, which regularly takes the leading place in the national rating of Ahbor-Rating agency, has managed to become one of the largest and dynamically developing banks of Uzbekistan in the five years of its activity.
The bank opened a branch network in Samarkand and Fergana, and is expanding the range of services, in particular, in retail business, and increasing the service quality. (more…)

Football (soccer) star Rivaldo will play in Uzbekistan

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:08:32 +0000

The best football player of the world (1999) Rivaldo has rocked AEK Athens by telling the club he is leaving to take up a lucrative contract with Uzbekistan outfit FC Bunyodkor. Former Brazil international Rivaldo told a Greek radio station Monday that he is leaving AEK Athens and will be playing this season for a club in Uzbekistan.
The 36-year-old midfielder said in an exclusive interview with Athenian radio station NovaSport FM that he talked with AEK officials and that they gave the okay for him to join Bunyodkor, even though the Brazilian star has one more season on his two-year contract with the Greek team.
”I ask forgiveness from AEK supporters, but you can’t say no to such a proposal,” Rivaldo told the radio station. “It has been a tough day. I had to make a very difficult decision. Something very positive has come up late in my career and I cannot turn it down.” (more…)

Uzbekistan Sportsmans Victories at the Beijing Olympic Games

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:15:10 +0000

Artur Taymazov from Uzbekistan defended his title in the Men’s Freestyle Wrestling 120 kilogram weight class by defeating Russia’s Bakhtiyar Akhmedov in the final on Thursday, August 21.
Taymazov went to the final in his previous two Olympic journeys. He took a silver medal in Sydney and eventually won a gold medal in Athens. Since then he won a gold medal in the 2006 World Championship and 2006 Asian Games.
In the final, Taymazov controlled the bout well. He used his experience to buffer Akhmedov’s attack and won the first period 3-0. The second period was a repeat of the first one, during which Akhmedov still could not find a chance to score and lost it 1-0.
Artur Taymazov advanced into the final after beating David Musulbes of Slovakia (1-0 and 1-0) in the semifinal. (more…)

International Finance Corporation (IFC) head visits Uzbekistan

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:06:20 +0000

Lars Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, concluded his first official visit to Uzbekistan by emphasizing that IFC would continue to increase access to finance for micro and small enterprises, contribute to improving the business enabling environment, and help develop housing finance. IFC will also seek opportunities for new investment in agribusiness and manufacturing.During his visit, Thunell met Rustam Azimov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Uzbekistan, and discussed opportunities to expand cooperation. They signed a cooperation agreement establishing a new framework for assessing the impact of regulations affecting Uzbek businesses.
Thunell signed a USD 3 million loan for Uzbek Leasing International A.O., the first leasing company established in Uzbekistan and an existing IFC client. This loan will enable the company to expand financing options for micro and small businesses. (more…)

Democracy for development; development for democracy!

admin — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:34:18 +0000

Popular support for democracy is as strong around the globe as it has ever been. But those who invest their hopes and political commitment in democracy do not aim just at free and fair elections: they aspire to a more dignified and more rewarding life. The major challenge for democracy today is to deliver on its many promises.
International IDEA and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) - a premier institution of India in the field of social sciences and humanities - jointly took forward the challenging debate on the inter-linkages between democracy and development.
The two-day “Democracy Round Table 2008: Democracy and Development” held in New Delhi, India from 17-18 June 2008, brought together eminent policymakers, academics, researchers, social activists and experts from around the globe. (more…)

Uzbekistan Again Recognized as “The Failed State”

admin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:25:12 +0000

Uzbekistan’s high position in a new list of so-called failed states can be attributed to a lack of democracy and the slow pace of economic development, say local observers. In late July, the influential American magazine Foreign Policy, and the research centre The Fund for Peace published their annual rating of failed states for 2008.
Uzbekistan - which is still considered the most unstable of Central Asian countries - has improved its position a little from last year, dropping four places from 22nd to 26th on the list. Its regional neighbours Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come in at 38th and 39th place, respectively.
The term failed state denotes a lack of political and economic stability, high conflict potential and a state’s inability to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Most observers agree with Uzbekistan’s characterisation as a failed state. (more…)

United States presidential election, 2008

admin — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:43:22 +0000

The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2008, will be the 56th consecutive quadrennial United States presidential election and will select the President of the United States and Vice President of the United States. The two major parties‘ candidates have not been officially chosen, but their presumptive nominees are John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, for the Republican Party and Barack Obama, the junior United States Senator from Illinois, for the Democratic Party. The 2008 election is particularly notable because it is the first time in U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for president and because it will be the first time an African American will be a major party presidential nominee. The Libertarian Party has nominated former Congressman Bob Barr, the Constitution Party has nominated pastor and radio talk show host Chuck Baldwin, and the Green Party has nominated former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. (more…)

UZBEK OLYMPIC CONTENDERS LEAVE FOR BEIJING, VOW TO RETURN VICTORIOUS

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:30:13 +0000

On August 2 this year the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan which will participate at the XXIX Summer Olympics in Beijing laid wreath to the Independence and Humanism Monument at the nation’s main square in Tashkent, according to the agencies.”It is a big happiness for us to defend the honor of Uzbekistan at the Olympics,” the prizewinner of Athens Olympics boxer Bakhodir Sultanov said. “While we laid wreath to the Independence and Humanism Monument we promised to ourselves to return from the Beijing Olympics victorious since we are supported by our nation as much as President.”
The athletes, coaches, public and mass media are reported to have participated at the solemn ceremony at the Museum of Olympic Glory in Tashkent held on the occasion of departure of Uzbek delegation to China’s capital. (more…)

2008 Summer Olympics

admin — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:36:13 +0000

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad is a Summer Olympics event, that will be held in Beijing, People’s Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008 and followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics from September 6 to September 17. 10,500 athletes are expected to compete in 302 events in 28 sports, just one event more than was on the schedule of the 2004 games.The 2008 Beijing Olympics will also mark the third time that Olympic events will have been held in the territories of two different National Olympic Committees (NOC): at the 2008 Olympics, equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong, which competes separately from mainland China.The Olympic games were awarded to Beijing after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 13, 2001. The official logo of the games, titled “Dancing Beijing,” features a stylised calligraphic character jīng (meaning capital), referencing the host city. (more…)

Asaka automobile plant turns 12

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:31:20 +0000

Automobile plant in Asaka, Andijan region of Uzbekistan, turns 12 on 19 July. It was on this day in 1996 that Uzbekistan became one of the world’s 28 car-producing countries.Lacetti, Nexia, Matiz and Damas manufactured at the Asaka plant enjoy high demand not only in Uzbekistan, but also abroad. Starting from this year, the plant produces new models named Captiva, Epica and Tacuma.
Uzbek cars are exported to Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. They are popular for their technical characteristics, design and optimal price-quality ratio.
The volumes of production at Asaka plant have been increasing from year to year. In 2007, the plant produced over 170,000 cars against 34,000 cars in 2002. The plant will soon reach its project capacity, which is 200,000 cars per year. (more…)

President of Uzbekistan receives US Ambassador

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:19:44 +0000

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received US Ambassador to Tashkent Richard Norland at Oqsaroy residence on 22 July.
Welcoming the US diplomat, President Karimov said the meeting was a good opportunity to exchange views on the issues of mutual interest.
Working in Uzbekistan since November 2007, you have been able to closely familiarize yourself with the life in the country, Islam Karimov said.
“You have gathered materials about the real situation in Uzbekistan, which differs from those that the US receives from other sources,” the President noted. “This is an important factor in development of cooperation based on mutual trust.” (more…)

Accident in Bukhara region of Uzbekistan

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:52:39 +0000

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, in the night of 10 July 2008, an ignition occurred at the rocket and artillery depot of the Defense Ministry’s military unit in Kagan district of Bukhara region, resulting in fire and explosion of the ammunition at the depot.On receiving the information about the fire, the regional Interior Affairs Department and the Defense Ministry troops cordoned the area of the accident. The civilians living nearby were evacuated. Soldiers of the Defense Ministry, as well as staff of the regional emergency and interior ministries have been attracted to neutralize the emergency.
According to preliminary data, 3 people were killed and 21 injured as a result of the explosions. All of the victims are being provided with necessary medical care. (more…)