On July 4, 2013 was held a regular meeting of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This event, as well as the preceding meetings of the Kengash of the Legislative Chamber, factions of political parties and the deputy group of the Ecological Movement organized on the basis of the Law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Regulations of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.



In particular, factions of political parties and the deputy group of the Ecological Movement on the results of exhaustive discussions of draft laws submitted the responsible committees worked out positions and proposals that were announced during the discussion at the meeting of the Legislative Chamber.

After the adoption of the agenda proposed by the Kengash of the Legislative Chamber, deputies considered a number of projects in the first reading. The draft law aimed at further improving the organization of activities and development of farming, developed pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of October 22, 2012 “On measures of further improving the organization of activities and development of farming in Uzbekistan” drew close attention. According to deputies, the draft law will help to improve legal norms aimed at ensuring the rapid development of the agricultural sector in the country, raising the level of capitalization of farms by involving funds of farm households in their authorized capital, strengthening the economic sustainability of farms, a more precise definition of obligations of farmers in the sphere of ensuring quality and safety of their products.

At the meeting, the draft law envisaging amendments to some legislative acts in connection with the adoption of the Law “On private banking and financial institutions and guarantees of their activity” was considered. The draft law provides for scheduled inspections, including audits of banking and financial institutions, not more frequently than once every five years. All amendments provide integrity and system of legal regulation of relations connected with state control of economic entities activity.

During the discussion of the draft law “On approval of the Judicial Qualifications Board (new edition),” it was noted that it is developed in the framework of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of November 30, 2012 “On organizational measures of further improving activities of courts”. It provides for measures of radically improving and enhancing the system of organizational and legal mechanisms of selection, training of candidates for judges, further ensuring true independence of the judiciary, improving organization of activity of the High Qualification Commission for the selection and recommendation for judges under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In reviewing the draft law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Article 26 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On insurance”, it was noted that it provides a more effective control of relevant governmental organizations over the implementation by insurers of the statutory duties under compulsory insurance. According to deputies, all amendments provide for the possibility of state control bodies the relevant information from the insurers. This will allow insurers to pass the relevant governmental organizations information on insurers, insured persons and beneficiaries, as well as the insured property and the insured sum, that is the information necessary for establishing the fact of the implementation by insurers of obligations to be insured.

After extensive discussion, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis approved the main provisions of the above draft laws and adopted them in the first reading taking into account the views received by deputies. Responsible committees were charged to prepare documents for consideration on second reading.

During the discussion of the draft laws, representatives of all factions of political parties and the deputy group of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan asked questions and made suggestions. They expressed their position on each draft legal document worked out by taking into account the views of party programs and views of voters.

As representatives of UzLiDeP faction noted, one of the most important tasks, which the party has set itself of the priorities of the Pre-election program is further development of farming in Uzbekistan. In this context, main attention of UzLiDeP was drawn to the draft law aimed at further improving the organization of activities and development of farming, as it affects immediate interests of voters of the party.

At the meeting of the Legislative Chamber, members of the faction UzLiDeP specifically noted that support by the party of the draft law is due to the creation of legal conditions for the development of multi-scale farming, improving on this basis, financial stability and efficiency of farmers’ activities. In particular, deputies of UzLiDeP stated that the analysis of numerous meetings with representatives of farmers\' movement at places has revealed the importance of allowing the expansion of forming the authorized fund of farm households. Taking this into account, the project proposes the introduction to the Law “On farm households” of the new norm providing for the introduction to the statutory fund of the farm household in the mandatory property, technology and funds, stated by the head of the farm in the competition on provision of land for farming.

According to the faction UzLiDeP it will contribute to strengthening the material-technical base of farms by increasing their financial assets, additional assets, increasing mortgage capital, as well as applying idle reserves in using credit resources, directing funds for capitalizing households and to ensuring their economic sustainability.

Members of the PDPU faction noted that the adoption of this draft law stimulates the interest of farmers in increasing the level of mechanization and profitability by applying modern technology and integrated processing of agricultural raw materials, as well as creation and development of new industries in rural areas and facilities of services sphere. All this, according to the PDPU, will help deepen the ongoing work in rural areas on further addressing the issues of increasing employment and improving quality of life that meets the interests of the core constituency of the party – strengthening the social protection of people.

Members of the party emphasized that the draft law provides for exemption from payment of tax on personal income of employees engaged on seasonal agricultural work on cleaning the raw cotton, which will result in higher levels of income of seasonal workers.

According to the party, it is not least the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan responsible for carrying out the coordination of catering, procurement and processing enterprises and institutions in terms of organization of their relationship with farmers. It is assumed that the Ministry will also specify coordination of farmer facilities, protection of their rights and interests. PDPU believes that the expansion of state support measures for farmers will increase their financial stability and effectiveness of their activity.

In turn, members of the faction DPUz “Milliy Tiklanish” noted that the draft law would improve legal norms in close relationship with the processes of socio-economic and socio-political reforms, ensuring accelerated development of the agricultural sector of the country. At the same time, the party emphasized its position on those points in the draft law, which normatively fixes the further strengthening support for domestic producers by improving legal and economic instruments, especially in terms of ensuring quality and safety of products.

As representatives of the party in the Legislative Chamber noted, the existing legislation are being amended, which provides farmers the opportunity to engage a multidisciplinary activity. This approach will help to expand the scale of agricultural production in farms of the country, including the processing, storage and sale of agricultural products, works and services that are in demand in rural areas.

As part of a lively debate on the specified draft law, members of the faction of SDPU “Adolat” also took an active part. Supporting the presence of the state in the economy, the party stands for steady improvement of the quality of work of the ministries and departments, eliminating the symptoms of bureaucracy, a deeper and more comprehensive work on decision-making, that is, the methods of control should be adequate to modern challenges and requirements.

In this regard, according to the party, introduced amendments are designed to provide additional measures of governmental and other support to farm households by national and local authorities, as well as civil society institutions. A special attention the SDPU “Adolat” has paid also to the introduction of an amendment to the Tax Code that provides for exemption from state tax of farmers councils on presentation of their claims in the interests of farmers, appeals against decisions of the state and economic management, actions (inaction) of their officials to court. Members of this faction noted that the introduction of this legal norm would ensure democracy, fairness, accessibility of the court to expand the sphere of judicial protection of farms.

Deputy group of the Ecological Movement in its expressed position highlighted the issues of introducing amendments in the law providing for exemption from the single land tax for a period of five years of legal entities that have implemented a drip irrigation system in the part of the land on which drip irrigation is used. Deputies from the Ecological Movement believe that this norm will increase the interest of farmers in rational use of land and water resources, raising the level of mechanization and profitability through the introduction of modern agricultural technologies. Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan stood out and will stand out, emphasized deputies, for the adoption and implementation of legal mechanisms of encouraging respect for the natural resources.

Deputies expressed their views on other draft laws also, noting their importance for legal provision of further deepening of economic reforms in the country, development of financial and banking system, insurance, improving judicial system of the country. The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis also considered other issues relating to its competence. (Source: The Information Service of the Legislative Chamber)