Assalamu-Alaykum, dear compatriots! Distinguished friends! These days our people broadly celebrate the Constitution Day as a national holiday among other special and glorious ones in the life of our state and society that laid the ground for our independence and defined the basis of our free and prosperous future.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Secretary-General, Ladies and gentlemen, Allow me on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to welcome the participants of the 17th OSCE Ministerial Council meeting and to express our gratitude to Greece for the excellent organization of this forum.

A delegation of Uzbekistan will participate at the Third forum on cooperation “Republic Korea – Central Asia”, which will be held in Seoul on 1-3 December.

Uzbekenergo state joint-stock company selected Germany’s RWE Power AG as a partner to realize Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) component of the project “Modernization of Tashkent heating power station (construction of combined-cycle plant with the capacity of 370 megawatt”.

Uzbekistan is rendering constant and feasible assistance in restoration of the social and economic complex of Afghanistan.

More than 15 representatives of tourism sector of Uzbekistan headed by Uzbektourism National Company are participating in China International Tourism 2009 that starts Kunming, China, on 19 November.

Fifth International specialized exhibition for agriculture – Uzagroexpo – will be held at Uzexpocentre in Tashkent on 25-27 November 2009.

The number of students from Uzbekistan studying in US colleges and universities increased 28% in the 2008/2009 academic year over the previous year, the greatest increase recorded among any of the nations of Central Asia, according to a report from the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The Kengash (Council) of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held a session on 17 November, chaired by Senate Chairman Ilgizar Sobirov.

The press conference on the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan within Japan’s Official Development Assistance program was held in Tashkent.

Only by these words it is possible to characterize the existence as it stands of United Power System (UPS) of the Central Asia. The recent decision of Uzbekistan to exit from the UPS is in the center of attention of various foreign mass media. However it is noteworthy that many comments about it have superficial nature, ascertain all the known facts and reasoning, and the more importantly, practically do not reflect the valid state of affairs.

President of Uzbekistan signed a decree on increasing the salaries, pensions, stipends and social allowances on 16 November 2009.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a regular meeting on November 13. The meeting was led by the Commission Chairman M. Abdusalomov.

The state railways shareholding company \"Uzbekiston Temir Yullari” (UTY) plans to invest in 2009-2013 about $815 million in modernization of a rolling stock. The company within five years will get and will construct 2 575 freight cars in cost of $321 million, and also will direct $63 million on modernization of 6,65 thousand freight cars at company’s repair shops. Investments of UTY into development of park of carriages in 2009-2013 will total up to $81,5 million. In particular, the company plans to direct $55 million on purchase of 47 carriages, and also to repair 203 cars in cost of $27 million.

About 521,400 persons applied to labor agencies for employment in January-September 2009,or 6.8% more year-on-year.

An Uzbek-Norwegian Business Forum was held in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on 11 November. Businesses of Uzbekistan and Norway participated at the forum.

Number of permanent population of Uzbekistan grew by 335,800 or 1.2. of permanent population of Uzbekistan reached 27.869 million as of 1 October 2009.

Uzbekistan is an important partner of the European Union, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said in his message to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr Islam Karimov.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov approved an Uzbek-Azerbaijani intergovernmental agreement on military and technical cooperation on 30 October 2009.

Favourable business climate in Uzbekistan helped to double the volume of attracted foreign direct investments year-on-year in January-September 2009 to US$1.534 billion, the Ministry of Economy and the State Statistic Committee of Uzbekistan said. The share of foreign direct investments in total volume of capital investments in the reporting period made up 24.8% compared to 19% in the same period of 2008.