During the first half-year 2007 the measures taken by the government and bodies of the state power in the local places have been aimed at maintaining the implementation of priorities of deepening the economic reforms defined by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the government?s session on February 12, 2007, as well as important purposeful complex and sector-based development programs. As a result, the main macroeconomic indicator growth rates have gained dynamics, which provides for the solid basis of successful implementation of tasks set for this year.

On July 18 this year the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan held its session in Tashkent. The session saw the discussion of the outcomes of social and economic development of the country in the first half-year 2007. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev presided over the session.

Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) The Republic of Uzbekistan, which has a great place in the development of Islamic civilization, has symbolized the universal and Islamic values. The reconstruction of cultural and architectural monuments in such historical cities as Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva is a shining example of it. At the same time Uzbekistan is famous for its great scholars who left rich legacy in Islamic enlightment. They, with their knowledge and legacy, are widely known as great scholars of science. The author of ?Jome? as-Sahih? (?Sahih Bukhari?) Imam Muhammad ibn Ismoil Bukhari, the creator of ?Al-Kashshaf? ? the commentaries on the Koran - Umar az-Zamakhshari, physician, physicist, philosopher and the author of valuable treatises such as ?The Rules of Diagnosis?, ?Disease treatment and rare plants?, ?On India? Abu Rayhan Beruni and many other scholars are considered as prominent ancestors of this great nation.

One of the outstanding tasks in the sphere of liberalisation of criminal-procedural legislation and the law application practices ? passing the right to issue arrest warrants to courts has found its legislative solution.

A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited the Republic of Uzbekistan from June 4 through June 13, 2007. The mission was headed by Ms. Sena Eken, assistant director in the Middle East and Central Asia Department of the IMF.

The government of the Republic of Uzbekistan actively realizes the principle ?From a strong state to a strong civil society?. The role and significance of the civil society institutions in strengthening the democratic values in the conscience of people, enhancing their political and civil activeness, expanding and deepening the scale of ongoing democratic reforms in the country are rather big.

With regard to adoption by the Council of the European Union the conclusion on Uzbekistan on May 14, 2007, the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan states the following.

Recently, some mass media and foreign nongovernmental organizations, in particular, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Reuters, Deutsche Welle, Uznews.net, Human Rights Watch, Institute for Peace and War Reporting, are disseminating false reports about alleged \"doubling the imprisonment term for Gulbahor Turaeva, Uzbek human rights activist\".

The 4th meeting of the Subcommittee ?Republic of Uzbekistan-European Union? on Justice, Internal Affairs, Human Rights and related issues was held in Tashkent on 8-9 May 2007. The Delegation of Uzbekistan was headed by the Minister of Justice Mr. F.Otakhanov. The EU Delegation consisted of the senior experts from the German EU Presidency, European Commission and the EU Council.

On May 1st, 2007 Sergeli District Criminal Court of Tashkent City finished the consideration of the criminal case with respect to Umida Niyazova who was found guilty in accordance with the following three articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan: -Article 223 ? Illegal border crossing; -Article 246 ? Smuggling; -Article 2441 ? Preparation or distribution of materials posing a threat to public security and order.

Having constitutionally proclaimed international law superiority, The Republic of Uzbekistan joined many international agreements directed to strengthening and protection of rights of different categories of citizens (women, children, handicapped persons) and took upon itself obligations on creation of required organizational-legal structures for promotion and protection of human rights and freedoms within its territory.

Investment Company Avesta Investment Group in cooperation with ?NAUR? ? The National Association of stock exchange market participants is organizing an ?International Investment Forum - 2007? on May 29, 2007 in Tashkent.

In 1995 in the system of state bodies, realizing human rights protection in the Republic of Uzbekistan, a new for our country institute emerged?Authorized Person of Oliy Majlis of The Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights. It was first established at the 1st session of Oliy Majlis of the first convocation by initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

Uzbekistan purposefully pursues policy of social partnership, favoring evolutionary development of civil society institutions. It serves the impulse for development of nongovernmental non profitable organizations (NGO), and the conditions for their participation in the decision-making are provided. NGOs started to play considerable role in the process of democratization and renovation of the society.

According to the working plan of the Ombudsman of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the seminar on the ?Development of the system of conducting punishment in the sphere of monitoring over the observance and ensuring the prisoner?s rights? was held on February, 2007 in Termez.

In accordance with Ombudsman?s working plan two-day seminar ?On the important issues of Ombudsman?s interaction with the state bodies and NGOs in the sphere of ensuring the adherence and the protection of human rights? was held on March, 2007 in Djizzak city.

?We have high expectations of the ?Uzinfoinvest?, the newly established agency at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade to provide the necessary information to and assisting the foreign investments. This Agency will not only provide the information to foreign businesses and entrepreneurs on Uzbekistan?s investment environment, but also will comprehensively assist in implementing the projects.? Islam Karimov President of Uzbekistan

The Center for public opinion study \"Ijtimoiy fikr\" has published the results of the sociological survey held in November-December, 2006. The survey was aimed at studying the features of development of religious consciousness and behavior of the population.

Hotel \"Sayohat\" in Tashkent will hold Asian checkers championship among youth in 22-31 March. Uzbekistan Federation of Checkers and the Ministry of Culture and Sports will be the main organizers of the tournament.

Senators and deputies, as well as scientists and cultural workers of Uzbekistan and foreign diplomats participated in tree-planting action in Tashkent. The action, which took place last weekend, was organized by Ecosan, ecology and health organization of Uzbekistan.