UZBEKISTAN HEArT of THE SIlK roAd - Embassy of the Republic of ...

DIPLOMAT july/august 2010UZBEKISTANHeart of the Silk Roadjuly/august 2010 £10

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u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 27UZBEKISTANHeart of the Silk RoadThe Uzbek model has proved itself • A fine countrywith a proud heritage and bright future• New Horizons for British-Uzbek Relations • TashkentHigh Tech Park • Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone• Two Places, One Heartbeat: Cambridge and Uzbekistandiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

28 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 29Greetings from the Embassyof Uzbekistan in LondonKey facts about UzbekistanThese golden valleys-dear Uzbekistan,Manly spirit of ancestors is companion to you!When the great power of people became exuberantYou are the country that amazes the world!Fr o m t h e Na t i on a l An t h e m o f t h e Re pu bl ic o f Uz b e k i s ta nRegistan Square inSamarkandWe are delighted to welcome you tothis special issue of Diplomat, dedicated to ‘Uzbekistan –Heart of the Silk Road’.For many centuries, our land has been at the crossroadsof Eastern and Western civilisations. It occupied a pivotalposition on the Silk Road during its most prosperousperiod. Today, the world-famous cities of Tashkent,Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, developed and beautifiedby generations of our ancestors, exemplify a harmoniouscombination of different cultures and traditions.Europeans have long had a special interest in our region.For example, Marco Polo, the famous thirteenth-centuryVenetian merchant and traveller, in his book on his travelsto Asia described Samarkand with admiration, calling it ‘agreat and noble city’. In the fifteenth century, Ruy Gonzalesde Clavijo, envoy of Enrique III of Castile, in his Narrativeof the Embassy to the Court of Temur, recorded not onlythe beauty of Amir Temur’s palace but also the local folkcustoms. Amir Temur and King Henry IV of England alsoconducted diplomatic correspondence with each other.We are glad that today’s generation of Europeans alsotakes a keen interest in Uzbekistan, as evidenced by a steadyincrease of cultural, educational and academic exchanges,as well as by growing tourism and trade ties with the UK,France, Germany, Italy and other countries in Europe.We are proud of our unique historical heritage, and equally,of our achievements during the years of Independence since1991. These have transformed Uzbekistan into a modern,mature and self-sufficient state with a stable political system,dynamically developing economy and secular society. Ourcountry has successfully completed the ‘transition period’and is open and ready for mutually beneficial cooperationwith foreign partners.Among Uzbekistan’s current priorities we wouldemphasise the state programme ‘2010 - Year of aHarmoniously Developed Generation’, which highlights anumber of measures aimed at creating new opportunitiesfor the young generation in such fields as education,research, healthcare, sports, leisure, culture and tourism.As for external activities, Tashkent recently hosted theAnnual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the AsianDevelopment Bank (3 May) and the Summit Meetingof the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (10-11 June).Another important goal is to establish peace and stabilityin Afghanistan by implementing social and humanitarianprojects, and also by promoting the initiative on the ‘6+3Contact Group’ (ie a group comprising the six countriesneighbouring Afghanistan, along with the US, Russiaand NATO) as an effective instrument for dialogue andlong-term settlement.We invite you to read this special issue, which includes featuressuch as key facts about Uzbekistan, views of the PresidentHE Islam Karimov on the fundamental achievements of theUzbek model of development, a message from HRH PrinceMichael of Kent, as well as the opinions of our partners in theUK about Uzbekistan, its people, current developments inbilateral relations and new horizons for the future.The Embassy expresses its gratitude to Uzbekistan Airways,Uzbekinvest International Insurance Company, JahonInformation Agency, Worley Parsons, Rio Tinto, OxusGold and Tethys Petroleum for their kind support for thispublication. www.uzbekembassy.orgAmbassador ofUzbekistan HEOtabek Akbarov (inthe centre) with FirstDeputyRector of WIUT AlanFrance (left), Rector ofWIUT Dr AbdujabarAbduvakhitov,Executive Director ofOxus Gold RichardWilkins, LordPonsonby, Dr HartleyBooth and ViscountWaverleyLocation: Situated inthe heart of Central Asia,this doubly landlockedcountry is found mainlybetween the Amudaryaand Syrdarya rivers, andit shares borders withAfghanistan, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan andTurkmenistan.Area: 447,400 squarekm (roughly the size ofSweden).Population: 28million people, Uzbeksare the main ethnic group(80%), among the 100different nationalitiesliving in the country,are Russians, Kazakhs,Kyrgyzs, Tajiks, Kara-Kalpaks, Turkmens andTatars.Capital: Tashkent(population 2.3 million).Eminent heritageand historicalfigures:The Caliph Usman’sQur’an (651), which isconsidered to be one ofthe oldest in the world, iskept in the library of theKhazrati Imam Mosque inTashkent.Imam Muhammadal-Bukhari (810- 870)– a prominent Islamicscholar best known forhaving authored theHadith collection namedSahih Bukhari, whichSunni Muslims regard asthe most authentic of allhadith compilations andthe most authoritativebook after the Qur'an.Abu Ali Ibn Sina (knownas Avicenna) (980 -1037) – one of history’sgreatest thinkers andforemost scholars ofmedical sciences. Hisrenowned work, TheCanon of Medicine, wasused as a text-book in theuniversities of Europeand beyond until theseventeenth century.Amir Temur (1336-1405) –a great ruler and strategistwho created a powerfulstate with its capital inSamarkand. He revived andimproved the institutionsof state, social and militaryadministration. Trade,science and cultureflourished under hisleadership.Ulugbek (1393 - 1449) –grandson of Amir Temur.Educated by Temur’s seniorwife, Saray Mulk Khanum.He was an outstandingruler, astronomer andmathematician. He builtthe first observatory andcreated the world’s firstcelestial map.Gulbadan Begim (1523 –1603) – daughter of EmperorBabur, the founder of theGreat Mughal dynasty.She is well known as theauthor of Humayun Nama,the chronicle of the life ofher brother Humayun, thesecond Mughal emperor,and is the earliest exampleof such a work done by awoman.The Uzbek cities ofTashkent, Samarkand,Bukhara and Khiva weremajor caravanserais(roadside inns) alongthe Great Silk Road andcontributed significantlyto trade, the exchangeof knowledge andcultural enrichment ofpeople. Uzbek landshave witnessed the riseand fall of various greatempires, including thoseof Bactria, Sogdiana, stateof Alexander the Greatand others.july/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.comdiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

30 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r tHE Islam Karimov,President ofthe Republic ofUzbekistanExtracts from the address by President of the Republic of UzbekistanHE Mr Islam Karimov at the Opening Session of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Board ofGovernors of the Asian Development Bank in Tashkent on 3 May 2010, translated by Mr Iqbol Soliev“THE UZBEK MODEL OF DEVELOPMENTHAS COMPLETELY PROVED ITSELFThe year 2009 has proved to be a genuinely serious testof strength for the world economy, and there has hardly beenany country who avoided the negative impact of the globalfinancial and economic downturn.And today, despite suggestions by respectedinternational analysts and experts that the most acute andsensitive phase of the crisis is behind us, we neverthelessare yet to overcome the rather complex, quite painful anddurable process of economic recovery.While analysing the problems that emerge in the course ofseeking a way out of the slowdown in the global economy,one’s attention is caught, first and foremost, by the shaky andlow growth rates, continuing high unemployment levels, anotable financial descent of the real sector of the economy,and falling real incomes of the population.The huge, and in some countries threatening, scales ofbudget deficit and the growing public debt may lead toserious tensions in paying off the amounts overdue andeven to defaults.Low, and in some cases declining domestic demand iswidespread, and in turn, hinders the reestablishment ofstable and sustainable growth rates in manufacturing.We believe that one should agree with a range of leadinginternational experts that the excess liquidity and theextra financial resources pumped into the banking andfinance sectors create an environment for a wild spree ofspeculative capital, inflation of so called bubble of stockand commodities markets, that in turn may well lead inthe future to a new collapse in the financial and foreignexchange markets with all related consequences.Not to mention that growing emissions and anincrease of money supply will bring about a potentiallydangerous situation of the inflation process.We have had to stress time and again that a numberof nations, especially developed ones, have boostedprotectionist measures that have struck developingcountries hard and hampered the recovery anddevelopment of the global economy in general.I would hardly be incorrect to claim that the mostpressing topic for experts and officials at both regional andglobal levels has been government regulation of the bankingand finance sector, mechanisms and instruments to securesystemic control over banking capital, as well as the role ofinternational financial institutions in this process.In the course of discussions on this subject there have beensome interesting proposals, including one on setting up aninternational financial institution that would oversee theactivities of the finance and banking sector on a global scale. It issuggested to entrust this institution with control over speculativebanking operations on the global market, including derivativesand other similar securities that can imbalance internationaltrade and the international financial markets.In this respect, the biggest interest and support deserve, inour opinion, the reforms proposed by US President BarackObama in terms of establishing a special agency to controlthe operations of American financial institutions and limit therisky deals with derivatives at the expense of taxpayers.It is believed that if the ongoing discussions and debateson this topic bring about a reasonable solution acceptableto all parties, it will undoubtedly prove to be one of thegreatest accomplishments in addressing the crisis.It is obvious that there is no need to prove that the degreeand depth of susceptibility of each particular country tothe impact of a global downturn depends first of all on themodel of reforms being implemented, sustainability andreliability of financial-economic and banking systems,and to what extent the protective mechanisms are sturdy.In this regard, I would like to briefly expound uponthe Uzbek model of development and economic reformadopted in 1992. This model is built on five essentialprinciples, as follows:1. Ridding the political system of ideological bias andprioritise the economy over politics.2. In transition from a planned and distributive systemto market economy the government must assume therole of principal reformer.3. Ensuring the rule of law, that is, everyone is equalbefore the law.4. A step-by-step and gradual implementation of reforms. As Uzbekssay, ‘Do not destroy your old house until you build a new one.’5. A strong social policy during the transition period from onesystem to another.Today we have every reason to argue that for the past period,especially in the wake of the extreme impact of economiccrisis, the model has justified itself completely.In mitigating the destructive blow of the slowdown, thesufficient resources and a reliable margin of safety of thefinancial and banking system created during the past periodhave proved utterly critical. So have sensible and balancedeconomic policy measures to protect the economy from theinfluence of speculative capital, of unmanageable turmoil anda lack of control on the global financial and stock markets, aswell as the strict control over the macroeconomic balance.The timeliness, adequacy and targeted nature of theAnti-Crisis Programme for 2009-2012 approved inUzbekistan has played a colossal role in countering thecrisis and neutralising its harmful impact.In implementing the Anti-Crisis Programme the crucialpriority has been attached, along with providing the bankingsector with the necessary assistance, to maintaining thefinancial stability of the real economy, easing the tax burdenand granting this sector - especially its export orientedenterprises - with essential privileges and preferences.Equally vital have been measures to reduce prime cost andraise profitability through modernisation, technologicalre-equipment and the diversification of production.The exclusive emphasis placed in Uzbekistan on promotingits services sector, small businesses and private entrepreneurshiphas proved decisive in tackling the recession and securingsustainable economic development.Central in meeting the goals set out in the Anti-CrisisProgramme have been large-scale projects in the social,infrastructure, transport and communication spheres,which have helped us create new jobs and raise thepersonal incomes of the population.I would like to stress that the measures in the frameworkof the Anti-Crisis Program are undertaken with an eye topolicy goals that go far beyond merely countering the crisisand neutralising its consequences.We do realise that in the post-crisis period, the countriesthat will emerge strongest are those which have alreadystarted laying the foundations for and launched long-terminnovative projects aimed at deep structural reforms and thediversification of production.In 2009, Uzbekistan approved a programme to implementcritical projects in modernisation and technologicalre-equipment for 2009-2014. It envisages more than 300priority investment projects worth over $42.5 billion in total, torenew the leading basic branches of the economy, implementextensive projects in transport and communications, createmodern production facilities and introduce resource-savingtechnologies.We certainly understand that it will be pretty difficultto accomplish our objectives without attracting foreigninvestments and providing them with the necessaryenvironment and preferences.At the same time, in financing these investment programswe attach much importance to mobilising our internalresources. In 2009, the share of domestic sources in the totalvolume of capital investments in Uzbekistan’s economy was68 per cent, and in 2010 this indicator will be not less than70 per cent.In implementing the major long-term projects we assignu z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 31particular weight to further consolidating the potential andcapacities of the Fund for Reconstruction and Developmentof Uzbekistan which was instituted in 2007. The keypurpose of the Fund, the capital of which currently reachesUS$5 billion, is primarily to finance infrastructure projectsand implement other promising ones, in cooperation withinternational partners, in modernising and reconstructingthe facilities in the core branches of the economy.For example, Fund resources were used in 2009 to launchthe construction of a state-of-the-art combined-cycle unitworth $470 million at a thermal power station in Navoi,the site of the Free Industrial and Economic Zone andinternational multimodal logistics centre at Navoi Airport.I would like to say a few words about the enormoussignificance we attach in Uzbekistan to the reform of oureducation system and the training of qualified specialists.As early as in 1997, a government programme wasput into action that envisaged complete abolition of theold system and transition to a 12-year free education,consisting of a nine-year general school and a three-yearprofessional colleges and lyceums.During the last few years more than 1.5 million youngpeople have already obtained secondary-technical andhumanitarian education at more than 1,500 newly builtcolleges and lyceums. As a rule, the graduates have two-tothreemajors and speak a foreign language, (English).That said and given the fact that over the last few yearsexpenditures for education have exceeded 37 per centand, along with those for healthcare, they have made upmore than 50 per cent of the national budget, it becomesclear what enormous potential Uzbekistan possesses inqualified cadres and human capital.Summarising the aforesaid, I would like to note withpleasure that the implementation of Uzbekistan’s developmentstrategy and the Anti-Crisis Programme allowed it, amongthe few countries in the world, to secure an 8.1 per cent GDPgrowth in 2009 with that of industrial output at nine per cent.The increase of investments in the economy exceeded 26 percent, while direct foreign investment grew 1.8 times.More than 940,000 jobs were created in the past year.Exports of goods enlarged by 2.4 per cent and this hasensured a considerable foreign trade surplus and steadygrowth of gold and currency reserves.We have secured a sustainable national budget surplus and asof 1 January 2010, external debt did not exceed 10 per cent.As leading rating agencies and international institutionsforecast, the economic growth in the Republic of Uzbekistanis expected to be 8.5 per cent in 2010.”To read the full text, please visit:http://press-service.uz/en/content/sobyitiya/#en/news/show/vistupleniya/vyistuplenie_prezidenta_respubliki_uz_2/Oqsaroy Residence of the President of Uzbekistanjuly/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.comdiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

32 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 33NEW HORIZONS FORBRITISH-UZBEK RELATIONSBy the Chairman of the British-UzbekistanAll-Party Parliamentary Group, Lord WaverleyShanghai CooperatioNOrganisationBy Dr Shirin Akiner, Fellow of the CambridgeCentral Asia Forum at the University of CambridgeCentral Asia’s economic, civil and politicalwell-being as an emergent region of strategic significanceis an imperative. Uzbekistan plays a leadership role bothinternally within the region but also in the near-region,which includes notably its border with Afghanistan.As we in the West increasingly come to appreciate theascendancy of the East, Uzbekistan plays a pivotal roleas a land-bridge – a modern-day Silk Road and criticalintermediary between powerful regions.I am pleased that recent endeavours by both the UK andUzbekistan have recognised and prioritised the need forrenewed impetus to deepen our bilateral relationship. Myrecent visit as Chairman of the first British-Uzbekistan All-Party Parliamentary Group and longer-term engagementwith Uzbekistan amply confirms this. While in the tradeand economic sphere many opportunities have long beenidentified and are being successfully implemented, moreneeds to be done to maximisethis essential relationship.One missing link to thebilateral relationship hasbeen the interaction ofparliamentary discourse;this is now being remediedthrough better understandingof each other’s perspectivesand the ability to engagedecision-making processeson the basis of first-handknowledge. The subsequentlaunch of a formal high-levelinter-parliamentary initiativeLord Waverley (left) with HEMr Ilgizar Sobirov, Chairmanof the Senate of the Oliy Majlisof Uzbekistanon Central Asia – involving each country of the regionindividually – is also strengthening the framework fordialogue and action.Recent achievements and developments in Uzbekistanbode well: the abolition of the death penalty and theintroduction of habeas corpus in 2008, a decade of positivelegal reforms, the improved multi-party parliamentaryelections of 2009 and a well-rounded ombudsmanservice, are all examples of the nation’s achievements sinceindependence.I look forward to building on the bilateral dynamicsthrough the parliamentary process, and expect a new era toresult from the forthcoming British delegation to Uzbekistanthis autumn, where guiding principles of dialogue willbe discussed on the basis of commitment to Political,Economic and Social understanding; this recognising thedesire on both sides to strengthen cooperation.‘A COUNTRY WITH GREAT POTENTIALAND AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR ITS FUTURE’says the President of the British-Uzbek Society, Lord PonsonbyThe Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO), founded in June 2001, is scarcely nine yearsold. Yet it has already established itself as a highlyinfluential regional Organisation. Its strength liesin its broad institutional base as well as its territorialoutreach. The Organisation comprises six full MemberStates – China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the RussianFederation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – also ObserverStates (Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan) and DialoguePartners (Belarus and Sri Lanka). It has establishedworking relations with ASEAN, the Commonwealth ofIndependent States and other regional structures.A gauge of the growing international standing of SCOwas the signing of the Joint Declaration on Cooperationbetween the UN and SCO Secretariats, which tookplace in Tashkent in April 2010 during UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki Moon’s visit to the region. In future,SCO is likely to pursue a policy of closer cooperationand coordination with international and regionalorganisations.The primary goal of the SCO is to improve regionalsecurity and stability. It espouses a holistic approach tothese issues, setting ‘soft’ spheres of interaction suchas culture and education on a par with security anddefence. It also seeks to strengthen good neighbourlyrelations through diplomacy, confidence-building andeconomic cooperation. One of its aims is to ensure‘the free flow of commodities, capital, technology andservices in the region within 20 years.’ Operationalresponses to specific security threats, such as drugtrafficking, organised crime and terrorist attacks,are the remit of the SCO’s Regional Anti-TerrorismStructure (RATS), inaugurated in Tashkent in 2004.The SCO ethos, popularly dubbed the ‘ShanghaiSpirit’, is rooted in a concept of harmonious, nonconfrontationalinteraction, leading to mutual benefitand mutual prosperity. The Organisation does not aimfor integration, but serves as an umbrella to facilitatecooperation between its members. Decisions arestrictly based on consensus. Thus, all Member States,large or small, are able to play an active role in shapingthe agenda. This creates a sense of joint ownershipwhich in turn enhances regional solidarity. Keyfactors contributing to the success of SCO include thefollowing:• It addresses real and urgent regional problems;• It stimulates trade and investment;• It is flexible and pragmatic: it has established anumber of multilateral institutions and initiatives, butit also encourages bilateral and trilateral cooperation –in other words, ‘variable geometry’ and• It is firmly opposed to interference in the internalaffairs of any stateDuring the year 2009-2010 Uzbekistan has heldthe Chairmanship of the SCO – a crucial period inthe Organisation’s development. Important tasksundertaken by Uzbekistan have included the review ofinternal structural procedures – an important step inconsolidating the Organisation – and the facilitationof SCO efforts to stabilise the situation in Afghanistanthrough the provision of humanitarian and economicassistance, as well as infrastructural development. Theprocess of widening the membership of the Organisation– long a thorny issue – was also revitalised. This resultedin the preparation and agreement of Rules GoverningProcedural Issues and Regulations for the Admission ofNew Members to SCO. Both documents were signedat the SCO summit in Tashkent in June 2010.Although Uzbekistan has great mineral wealthand natural beauty, its true wealth lies in its people.The people of Uzbekistan are literate and keen to showoff their immense cultural depth and achievements.Since becoming President of the British-UzbekSociety I have been pleased to see an increase in thecultural exchanges between the UK and Uzbekistanparticularly in the academic field.There has also been an increase in business activity, anda number of plans to upgrade the country’s infrastructurehave been announced which demonstrate that Uzbekistanplans to maintain its position at the heart of Central Asia. Asa parliamentarian, I am particularlypleased to see closer ties betweenthe Oliy Majlis and the Britishparliament. All these activities -cultural, academic, business andparliamentary – are founded on thegrowth of trust and co-operationbetween our people. At its heart,therefore, the British-Uzbek Societyseeks to build on that trust anddevelop a greater cooperation betweenour people. www.britishuzbek.orgLord PonsonbyDr Shirin Akinerjuly/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.comdiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

34 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 35“Navoi” Free IndustrialEconomic Zone – Oasis of hightechnologiesA SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL MEETINGPresident of the Asian Development BankHE Haruhiko Kuroda thanks the President of UzbekistanIn order to further stimulate foreigninvestments into Uzbekistan and more effectively use itsgreat economic potential, the “Navoi” Free IndustrialEconomic Zone (FIEZ) was established on 2 December2008 in the Navoi province of the country.The FIEZ is designed to promote a wide range of high-techand internationally competitive production using modernhigh-efficiency equipment, technological lines and units, aswell as the latest innovations. Its activity is coordinated andregulated by the Administrative Board and managed by theDirectorate. The operation period of FIEZ is 30 years withthe possibility that it can be extended.Business entities registered in FIEZ enjoy exceptionalcustoms, currency and tax regulations, simplified procedurefor entry, stay and obtaining work permits for non-residents.For example, they are exempt from: land tax, property tax,profit tax of legal entities, social infrastructure developmenttax, unified tax payment for micro firms and smallenterprises, compulsory contributions to the RepublicanRoad Fund and off-budget Republican School Fund.The privileges are available depending on the volume offoreign direct investments:• from €3 to €10 million - for 7 years;• from €10 to €30 million - for 10 years, with reduction ofprofit and unified tax payment rates by 50 per cent in thenext 5 years and• more than €30 million - for 15 years, with reduction of profitand unified tax payment rates by 50 per cent in the next 10 years.The Zone is located on 564 hectares next to the highwayE-40 and the Navoi International Airport, connected tointernational railway routes towards countries of Europe(via Russia and Turkey), South East Asia (via China),Middle East and the Gulf (via Iran).The use of air corridors with landing in Uzbekistan offerssubstantial economy in time and cost of transportation.Thus, the distance from South East Asia to Europe viaNavoi is 1000km shorter than via Dubai. At the sametime, the time saving during the flight is 1.5 hours, andfuel economy is 15 tons for each aircraft.A transcontinental intermodal hub onthe base of the Navoi Airport whichstarted functioning from January 2009is managed by the world leader in cargotransportations, Korean Air. Today, regularflights are carried out to a number of Asianand European cities.Automobile cargo transportation betweenChina and Europe through Uzbekistan isshorter by about 1000km in comparisonwith the route via Russia. There are alsomain railway routes passing through theNavoi region with access to the South to theports of Iran and Turkey, and on the WestFIEZ "Navoi" - internationalhub in the heart of Eurasiaand North to the ports of the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.The shortest transit connection to Afghanistan, Pakistan andIndia appeared after the Guzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan railroadhas been put into operation.The FIEZ territory is provided with reliable electric, gasand water supplies, a favourable ecosystem, as well as accessto a qualified local labour force. It also has all the necessaryconditions to create industrial complexes with full productioncycles from raw materials to ready products.Priority areas include:• electronics and electrotechnics;• precision machinery production, equipment andcomponent parts;• pharmaceutical production and medical equipment;• foodstuff processing and packing and• plastic and polymer goods.Navoi province is located in the centre of Uzbekistan, oneof the largest industrial centres of the country. The provincepossesses rich minerals and raw materials resources,including the Muruntau gold-bearing field, silica sandfields (of more than 1.5 billion tons), deposits of granite (1.9billion cubic metres), marble (420 million cubic metres),phosphorites (1.5 billion tons) and many others.Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combinat – the biggestenterprise of the province – is included in the top ten largestworld producers of uranium and gold (9999 standard).Gold bars produced by the Combinat are awarded with thestatus of ‘optimal gold delivery’ by London Precious MetalsMarket and Tokyo Commodities Exchange. Along withmining, the province’s economy is based on the productionof building materials, chemical, textile and food industries.Forty foreign investment enterprises operate in the Navoiprovince. Most of them are established with participation ofinvestors from USA, China, Republic of Korea, Russia, theUK and other European countries. The Uzbek-British jointventure Amantaytau Goldfields is also successfully workingin the province.For further information visit: www.nfiez.uz/index.php© Jahon Information Agency under the MFA of UzbekistanMonument to Amir Temur,in front of the Palace ofInternational ForumsUzbekistan inthe centre of TashkentOn 3 to 4 May 2010, Uzbekistan’s capital cityTashkent hosted the 43rd Annual Meeting of theBoard of Governors of the Asian Development Bank(ADB). On returning home after the completion of thishigh-profile event (the first ever held in Central Asiaand Caucasus), the President of the ADB HaruhikoKuroda sent the following message of appreciationto the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan IslamKarimov:Your Excellency,On behalf of the Asian Development Bank and allthose who participated at the recently concluded 43rdAnnual Meeting of the Board of Governors of theAsian Development Bank in Tashkent, I would like toexpress my deepest gratitude to you, your Governmentand the people of Uzbekistan for the outstandingmanner in which the meeting was held. Under yourleadership and with the hard work of your officials, themeeting was one of the most successful ever held.The impeccable organisation of the official eventsunder the Uzbekistan Organising Committee; theexceptional hospitality of the Uzbek people; the richhistory that your wonderful country offers, and theremarkable achievements with modern infrastructurewere constantly commented upon by the manyparticipants.The success of the Annual Meeting clearlydemonstrated that the decision to hold the AnnualMeeting in Tashkent was right. It showcased theeconomic and social achievements of Uzbekistan,especially the effectiveness of the anti-crisismeasures, the soundness of the Uzbekistan modelof development with gradual reforms and prudencein fiscal management, and the potential for futuredevelopment.Your welcome address at the Opening Ceremony,especially your strategic vision of post-crisisdevelopment of Uzbekistan and Asia in general, wasinsightful and visionary. It was appreciated by themany participants who attended. I would also liketo thank Your Excellency for setting out in yourspeech the directions for future cooperation betweenUzbekistan and ADB, truly an opportune moment forconsideration.This Annual Meeting also signified the partnershipbetween ADB and Uzbekistan by signingagreements forfinancing arrangementsexceeding $1 billionand nearly doublingthe portfolio size. I canassure Your Excellencythat Uzbekistan willremain ADB's strategicpartner in Central Asiain the time to come.With Uzbekistan'sleading role in regionalHE HaruhikoKuroda, Presidentof the AsianDevelopment Bankintegration andcooperation, ADB willcontinue and furtherstrengthen our utmostsupport to Uzbekistan.july/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.com diplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

36 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r tTrading in UzbekistanBy Dr V E Hartley Booth OBE, Co-Chairmanof the Uzbek-British Trade & Industry Councilu z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 37THE TASHKENT HIGH TECH PARKRobert Mortimer (CEO) and Geliya Chukmarova (Executive)of Mortimer Properties, on a world-class facility to showcaseI first visited Uzbekistan when I wasin the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1992. Atthat time I met President HE Islam Karimov who hadbecome the first Head of the Republic of Uzbekistanwhich obtained full Independence from the USSR in1991. Among the many things that impressed me werethe attention paid to good order and that Uzbekistaninherited a tradition of avoiding debt.Soon after leaving Parliament in 1997 I was appointedto be the UK’s representative in Uzbekistan for tradeas the joint Chairman of the Uzbek-British Trade& Industry Council (UBTIC). This Council wascreated by a Treaty arrangement between Britain andUzbekistan and aimed to sponsor and promote bilateraltrade. My Co-Chairman for most of the last 12 yearshas been Deputy Prime Minister HE Elyor Ganiev.He has typified the strong cooperation and enthusiasmof Uzbekistan to promote trade.This Council has provided a bridge between Britishbusinesses and their Uzbek counterparts and to deal withissues as they arise. Although in the post-Soviet worldUzbekistan has significantly promoted privatisation,nevertheless the importance of having a direct link to theUzbek Government for British trade has been invaluable.The Council, currently 70 strong on the British side, meetsannually in conference with an Uzbek delegation. Frequentlyit has been chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ganiev andon occasion by the Prime Minister in Uzbekistan. Betweena dozen and 20 Uzbek Ministers or senior officials representthe Republic. This provides excellent networking andbetter avenues for inward investment and trade.In addition to the annual conferences of the CouncilInternational BusinessComplex in Tashkentwhich are held alternately in London and Tashkent, thereare a series of other meetings and access possibilities tocreate new opportunities for trade and investment. Forexample, in the last two years there have been eventscovering the environment, tourism, agriculture, generalfinance and specific company delegations.Currently British trade includes more than 200 jointventures with Uzbek companies and specific initiativesinclude possible investment of $2-3billion into Uzbekistan.This ranges from a High Tech Business Park in Tashkent tooil, mining, chemical and fertiliser investments.There are huge international opportunities for furthertrade and industry within Uzbekistan. The skill andeducation of the work force, the eagerness and newfreedoms of the Uzbek side, the national resources andthe strong and hospitable attitude of the people are allregarded as strong points by the trading community.Dr Hartley Booth was given an OBE in the Queen’s BirthdayHonours List this year for his work chairing the Uzbek-BritishTrade and Industry Council and the British-Uzbek Society andso promoting UK/Uzbek interests. This is considered the firsthonour to a British citizen for cooperation with Uzbekistan.Co-Chairmen of UBTIC,HE Elyor Ganiev (left) andDr Hartley Booth(c) Jahon Information Agency under the MFA of UzbekistanIllustration: Jason FieldsUzbekistan's business and scientific innovationUzbekistan has a long history ofexcellence in science and mathematics. This excellencecan be seen today in the high level of academicperformance achieved at its many and varied universitiesand institutes. To capitalise on this excellence and inline with the government strategy for the expansionof the Uzbekistan economy, a project to build a HighTech Park in Tashkent has been initiated by MortimerProperties Ltd of the UK, in cooperation with theUniversities of Oxford and Cambridge, WestminsterInternational University in Tashkent and the Academyof Science of Uzbekistan.The concept behind the Park is to provide a platformfor turning new and existing ideas and products intocommercial ventures. The High Tech Park will bringtogether entrepreneurs, established businesses and theresearch, development and commercialisation capabilitiesof the various contributing universities and parties.The vision for the Park is to create a world-class facilitywhere Uzbekistan business and scientific innovation isshowcased to the world with the potential of becominga regional centre for technology.Currently, Mortimer Properties and its Uzbekpartners are considering site options for the Park incentral Tashkent. The Park will combine high qualitycommercial and residential buildings set in landscapedareas with water features, trees and gardens, to createan environment that will establish it as the number onebusiness address in Tashkent.The following areas have been identified as the initialsectors for research and development at the High TechPark:•Pharmaceuticals - diversity of plants;•Biotechnology - development of crops;•Sustainable energy – solar;•Nanotechnology - oil Industry and•IT and software development.The Tashkent High Tech Park aims at boostingthe competitive power of both local and internationalbusinesses, developing modern technologies, expandingexports, capitalising on the wealth of knowledge inUzbekistan as well as tapping into the highly-qualifiedhuman capital of the country. Some of the other benefitswill be the growth of inward investment by internationalcompanies, the creation of newjobs and the development oflocal skills.Mortimer Properties isproud to be working withthe Uzbekistan Governmentas well as the Universities ofOxford and Cambridge onsuch an exciting and progressiveproject.Robert Mortimer, CEO ofMortimer Properties Ltdjuly/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.com diplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

Investing in precious metalsmining and exploration inUzbekistanu z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 39Message fromHRH Prince Michael of KentOxus Gold plc is proud to be sponsoringthe Amantaytau Goldfields/Oxus Gold ScholarshipPhotograph by © Jason Andrews PhotographyHRH Prince Michael of Kent speaks at the ceremony of the presentation of thescholarship scroll to the first scholar of AGF / Oxus Gold Scholarship FoundationUzbekistan is a proud country withan ancient civilisation and a rich culture. It alsohas a relatively young population. Education playsan important role in every society and I know thatthe Government of Uzbekistan takes the educationof its young people very seriously and contributes agenerous proportion of its gross domestic product tothe improvement of the education system.Foreign investors are also playing their role. OxusGold has created and is sponsoring the AmantaytauGoldfields / Oxus Gold Scholarship Foundation incooperation with Westminster International Universityin Tashkent (WIUT). WIUT is unique in the CentralAsian region and its degrees are fully internationallyaccredited since the University is a validated institutionof the University of Westminster in London.The Foundation was inaugurated in 2008, a yearwhich President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimovproclaimed the ‘Year of the Youth.’ The Foundationsupports undergraduate and postgraduate studiesat WIUT for students from the Navoi Provinceof Uzbekistan, where Oxus Gold has its miningoperations. It has also established a Regional LearningCentre, managed by WIUT, in Zarafshan, the localtown, in order to teach English, maths and othersubjects to local students and to improve the Englishlanguage teaching skills of the local teachers.As Patron of the Foundation I am delighted that Ican play a small role within Uzbekistan’s educationalsystem and I wish Uzbekistan, and particularly itsyounger generation, every success as the country looksto the future.Oxus Gold plcAmantaytau GoldfieldsHead & Registered Office3, 1st Mirakilova Street52 Charles Street Yakkasaray districtLondon 100070W1J 5EUTaskhentUKUzbekistanTel: +44 (0)20 7907 2000 Tel: +998 71 1400864Fax: +44 (0)20 7907 2001 Fax: +998 71 1400564Email: enquiries@oxusgold.co.ukEmail: oxustas@buzton.comWeb: www.oxusgold.co.ukListed on the LondonStock Exchange(c) Jahon Information Agency under the MFA of UzbekistanStudents of modern Uzbekistandiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

40 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r tu z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 41WORKING TOGETHER INUZBEKISTANSteve McNulty, Director of the British Council in Uzbekistan,highlights the fruits of this flourishing partnershipAs the UK’s official body for cultural relations,the British Council’s aim is to build engagement and trustfor the UK between people of different cultures through theexchange of knowledge and ideas. In our 110 offices aroundthe world we seek to achieve this aim through our work inour three main programme areas: Intercultural Dialogue, theCreative and Knowledge Economy and Climate Change.As Director of the British Council Uzbekistan, I wasdelighted to be asked to contribute to this edition ofDiplomat and to write about the work we are doing in thiscountry with the support and collaboration of a range ofpartners such as the Ministries of Public Education andof Higher and Specialised Secondary Education, the StateCommittee for the Protection of the Environment and theFund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan.I arrived in Uzbekistan in August 2009 and this was thefirst time that I had ever worked in Central Asia. It was apleasure to discover what a great place Tashkent is to live andto enjoy the warm hospitality of the Uzbek people.Early meeting with key contacts showed that educationwas a very high priority on the government’s agenda atboth secondary and tertiary level, and that the FundForum had a strong programme of activities aimed atcreating opportunity and empowering young people. Itwas also interesting for me to see the importance that isgiven in Uzbekistan to preparing young people for themodern world, while at the same time teaching them arespect for national heritage, traditions and customs.It was quickly clear to me that the staff in the Tashkentoffice were doing some marvellous work in collaborationwith a range of local partners and I am delighted thatBritish Council in Uzbekistan’s diverse programmeportfolio is contributing to national reforms in educationand arts, raising awareness of climate change issues andstrengthening partnerships between institutions andpeople in Uzbekistan and the UK.Some examples of recent work which illustrate this are:• The INSPIRE regional project launched in 2009 whichaims at establishing strategic partnerships between highereducation institutions in Uzbekistan and the UK. We havealready established four very successful links and aim to raisethe total number to 12 sustainable partnerships by 2012.• The collaborative work being done by Uzbek and UKdesigners as part of our New Silk Road project which hasbeen showcased at two international fashion events – theStyleUz Art Week in Tashkent in October 2009 and LondonFashion Week in February 2010.• The Climate Generation programme launched inNovember 2009 which aims to raise the awareness of ayoung population about climate change issues. This projectwas an exciting new development in our work whichwas made possible by the support of the State Committeefor the Protection of theEnvironment.• The attendance of therectors of the Universityof World Economy andDiplomacy and Universityof World Languages at theBritish Council ‘GoingGlobal 4’ internationaleducation conference in London in March 2010.Steve McNulty, Director, BritishCouncil in Uzbekistan• Tashkent – ‘The History of One City’ photo exhibitionwhich took place in Cambridge and London in March2010 and was a good example of our partnership withthe Fund Forum, Uzbek Embassy in London andthe British-Uzbek Society. This wonderful exhibitionconsisted of around 80 photographs capturing Tashkentat the most important stages of its history from latenineteenthcentury to the present day.• Our work in English language teaching and learning wherewe are working closely with the Ministry of Public Educationon the development of a teacher training programme forteachers of English and the promotion of our on-line learningand teaching resources. We also enjoy an excellent workingrelationship with UzTEA, the national English LanguageTeachers’ Association in Uzbekistan.I have enjoyed an extremely busy first eight months inmy post and look forward to a long and fruitful futurecollaboration with our partners in Uzbekistan, and theopportunity to see and learn more about this fascinatingcountry. www.britishcouncil.org/uzbekistan.htmSuzani embroidery from nineteenthcentury, Bukhara (Uzbekistan)The Burrell Collection, GlasgowMuseums, Culture and Sport(c) Jahon Information Agency under the MFA of UzbekistanOne of the famous azuredomes of Uzbekistanjuly/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.comdiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 43Two Places, One Heartbeat:Cambridge and UzbekistanProfessor Siddharth Saxena (Montu)Chairperson of the Cambridge Central Asia Forumworking in in Uzbekistan on on the North Urtabulak Oilfield Tethys (etroleum .imited is an is an oil oil and and gas gas explora6on and and produc6on company listed listed on on the the main main board board of of the the Toronto Stock Stock Exchange (“TSX’) (“TSX’) in in Canada and and focused on on the the prolific sedimentary basins basins of of Central Central Asia Asia and and the the Caspian Region, with with its its current projects in in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and and Uzbekistan. info@tethyspetroleum.com The notion of parallel universes has longintriguedacademic minds. If, in the medieval period,Cambridge colleagues had had an opportunity to gazeupon the spires of Madrassas in Bukhara they wouldhave discovered, an almost identical parallel universeto their own, both in architectural magnificence andintellectual pre-eminence. Traditionally, Uzbekistanwas the centrepiece of the Silk Road and an importantsymbol in the imagination of academics as a means oftravel for scholars and people, enabling the exchange ofideas, increased knowledge of foreign places and provingto be the gateway for transmission of cultures acrossregions. Today, Cambridge students and scholars haverekindled an interest in Uzbekistan, and are movingswiftly along the Silk Road armed with projects onacademic ideas, people-to-people contact, a passion forlearning and the desire to increase access to knowledgethat Uzbekistan has long represented.Excited by this intellectual opportunity we launcheda new initiative in the form of the Cambridge CentralAsia Forum in 2001. Its efforts are concentrated oninteracting with academics and students with researchinterests in the region, but also with those involved inother professions (government, business, media andnon-governmental organisations) and collaborate withcolleagues in Uzbekistan.Cambridge now has the most wide-rangingprogramme on Uzbekistan, covering topics from scienceand technology, environmental and development projectsto Islamic and Judaic studies and social and politicalanalysis. In doing so we have found the academic andgovernment bodies in Uzbekistan most forthcomingand exemplary in cooperation and collaboration.The Embassy of Uzbekistan in London is not onlyefficient and warm but possesses an amazing depth ofknowledge. This has led to partnerships with civil societyorganisations and individual citizens in Uzbekistan aswell as formal institutions.Cambridge boasts well over 80 Nobel Prizes; howevera large proportion of these wouldn’t have been possibleif it weren’t for the works of Uzbek born Al-Khwarizmi,the father of the Algorithm and the mathematics ofAlgebra. Equally important is Ibn Sina, popularly knownas Avicenna, who authored the Qanun, or the Canon,a medical treatise from the eleventh century and usedas a standard text till the 1800’s across the world. Thesescientific giants found their peers in scholars of Islamiclaw and philosophy like Al-Bukhari who consolidatedthe Hadith, the second most important book of Islam.This confluence of science and religion probably ledto the development of the first Islamic educationalinstitutions, the Madrassas, in Bukhara, Samarkand,Khiva and Tashkent. Theseinstitutions also producedand trained figures likeUlugh Beg the AstronomerKing, a grand-son of thegreat Amir Temur, whoseworks were published inOxford in the seventeenthcentury as the most accurateastronomical tables and thePersian poet and astronomerOmar Khayyam who hada sojourn in Samarkandand his poetry, Rubaiyat,Professor SiddharthSaxena (Montu)was popularised by the Cambridge scholar EdwardFitzGerald.As a continuation of tradition and in the spirit ofScientific Academies created in the tenth century in Khiva,the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences was established in 1943.Today the Academy is a centre of academic researchand excellence, as well as exceptional standards oftechnological innovation. And in recognition of this,Cambridge and Oxford have joined forces to establisha High Tech Park in Tashkent in collaboration with theAcademy, Ministry of Foreign and Economic Relationsand other partners put together by the Embassy inLondon. This project will introduce technology that willenhance the everyday lives of people and, in addition,provide new employment opportunities.Ancient Uzbek lands are steeped in mysticism.One of the largest Sufi (Mystical Islam) orders in theworld, the Naqshabandiya, was started by Baha ud-DinNaqshaband, a fourteenth century saint from Bukharaand its message of harmony and culture of plurality hasbeen one of the most stabilising forces for communalharmony in places as far apart as India and Cyprus.Due to the excellent research culture and intellectualwealth that Uzbekistan has to offer, we have developedstrong partnerships. Together we have organisedinternational conferences on Physics, Technology andSustainability in Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent, whicheach attracted well over 100 academics from more than40 countries. We have a growing number of excellentstudents from Uzbekistan in Cambridge and recentlythe student-led Cambridge Uzbekistan Society wasestablished. Also with Fund Forum of Culture and Artof Uzbekistan and the Embassy, we hosted a photographicexhibition of Tashkent. Musical retreats are commonand if you were to pass by the Jesus college Chapel don’tbe too surprised to find some heart-warming Uzbektunes emanating from its hallowed surrounding!For information visit www.cambridge-centralasia.orgdiplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

44 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t / a d v e r t o r i a lu z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t / a d v e r t o r i a l 45Dr ElenaPotayenko,BusinessDevelopmentDirector,Central AsiaWorleyParsonsUzbekistan is a new andattractive market for usDavid Herman, Director, Hydrocarbons,Europe and AfricaDr Elena Potayenko, Business DevelopmentDirector, Central AsiaWorleyParsons is a Global Servicescompany. We are active in the oil and gas,petrochemicals, chemicals, power,minerals and metals, infrastructureand environmental sectors, andhave been delivering engineering,procurement, constructionmanagement and projectmanagement services to theglobal industry for over 60years.WorleyParsons has beengrowing rapidly and iscontinuously lookingfor new marketsand new opportunities.However we are also selectiveand prefer to create longtermties with countries thatwe operate in. Rather thancoming in for one project weprefer to enter the market tostay. Our Local Business Modelis our major differentiator.It encourages partnershipswith local design companiesin countries where we operate.We are a people company, and with137 offices in 40 countries and over29,100 personnel, we place great valueonto human resources. We employ andtrain local engineers and become a localengineering company delivering tointernational standards.The Central Asian market is ofgreat importance to our companyand Uzbekistan specifically is ofgreat interest. It is a beautiful country withabundant natural and human resources.It is an attractive market for us, offeringopportunities in all major sectors that wespecialise in.London is a centre ofexcellence and is the hubfor all of WorleyParsonsoperations in Europe, Africaand the Former SovietUnion Republics includingCentral Asia. We are activemembers of the Uzbek-British Trade and IndustryCouncil and have foundit to be the most effectiveand successful body amongorganisations of a similarnature.It is impressive how theeconomy of the Republic ofUzbekistan develops. The UzbekGovernment is very strategic inits approach and ensures a solidfoundation is laid for futuregrowth.Great emphasis is paid toeducation in Uzbekistan andlocal human resources arewell qualified. Uzbek people are hardworking and are keen to learn andexcel. We believe that WorleyParsonshas a lot to offer and also a lot to learnfrom Uzbekistan. We are happy to offerour extensive international expertise andglobal experience, and as we work withvarious investment companies across theglobe, we are also able to attract significantinvestors into the areas of our expertise.The Uzbek Government places strongemphasis into creating added value in thecountry versus exporting raw products.Petrochemical plants and gas processingcomplexes are just some of the areas whereWorleyParsons, in cooperation with localdesign institutes can make a significantcontribution. We have completed over600 petrochemical projects in over 30countries and have experience in over 65types of petrochemicals and polymers.WorleyParsons is the world leader inGas Processing and Sulphur technologyand we believe that this expertise is ofgreat relevance to Uzbekistan, a countryDavid Herman,DirectorHydrocarbons,Europe andAfricathat is one of the largest gas producers inthe region and where sulphur content issignificant. With over 500 gas processingplants and sulphur treatment units inour company portfolio of projects andlicensed sulphur removal technology, ourtechnical experts are best suited to adviseon the best technologies to create theproduct of the highest quality and also tomake sure that the technological process isenvironmentally friendly and sustainablein the long term.The environmental aspect is extremelyimportant and at WorleyParsons we have adedicated team of environmental engineersworking side-by-side with our processengineers throughout the design to deliverthe best solution that will maximise thequality and levels of production and alsominimise any risks to the environment.We are industry leaders targeting ZeroHarm to people and the environment.Gas Processing and SulphurRecoveryJon Lewis, Director, Process Technology,London. Global Sub Sector Leader, GasProcessing WorleyParsons. Hon Secretary,Gas Processors Association EuropeSuch is the worldwide need forhydrocarbons that all companiesinvolved in the exploration, extractionand processing of oil and gas are facedwith increasing technical challenges tosatisfy this demand. Gas Processing is noexception, with increasing emphasis onsour gas processing in many parts of theworld.The requirement of a gas processingplant is to treat the raw gas to meet theexport specification. This specificationdepends on the end use for the gas; forexample, it might be used for local orregional power; or re-injected into thereservoir to provide pressure maintenanceand so enhance oil recovery; or used asfeedstock for a number of Gas to Product(GTP) technologies including LiquefiedNatural Gas (LNG) and Gas to Liquids(GTL). There will be by-products too,typically condensate, LPG (propane andbutane, as fractionated products or as amixed stream), and sometimes ethane. Allof these have their own specification thatneeds to be complied with by appropriateprocessing.A Gas Processing plant typicallycontains several Process Units,as well as Utility and OffsiteUnits, which achieve the overallrequirement.The processes selected willbe designed to combinerobustness, flexibility,energy efficiency, andlifecycle cost efficiency.They will also need toallow for some degreeof uncertainty duringthe design phase,for example, decliningreservoir pressure, reservoirsouring, compositionalchanges, new productmarkets, and any need toprocess new reservoir fluids.One of the challenges ofprocessing sour gas is what to dowith the hydrogen sulphide onceit has been removed. Invariablyit passes to a sulphur recoveryunit where typically 99.9per cent of the sulphuris recovered as elementalsulphur. The remainder is releasedto the atmosphere after incinerationto sulphur dioxide. The impacton emissions of the sulphur recoveryspecification is shown in the table below, givenfor a sulphur recovery unit of 1,000 TPD.Sulphur Recovery Sulphur Emissions(%) (TPD)90 10095 5099 1099.9 1Whilst 99 per cent recovery may appearto be good, the emissions are 10 timesthat of a plant specified for 99.9 per centrecovery. Increasingly WorleyParsons’clients are specifying 99.9 per cent recoveryas a guarantee requirement so that thisfigure can now be considered as normalpractice. www.worleyparsons.comJon Lewis,Director, ProcessTechnology,London, GlobalSub Sector Leader,Gas ProcessingHo n Se c r e ta ry,Ga s Pr o c e s s o r sAs s o c i a t i onEu r o p ejuly/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.com diplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10

46 u z b e k i s ta n r e p o r tu z b e k i s ta n r e p o r t 47A Crossroadsof CulturesNodir DevonBegi Madrassa inBukharaHugo van Kuffeler visits the celebratedand multicultural architectureof Tashkent, Samarkand and BukharaSet at the heart of the Silk Road, Uzbekistan is acountry that wears its culture on its sleeve. The celebrated andmulticultural architecture of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukharaand Khiva exhibits the ancient and diverse nature of the country’shistorical heritage.One is immediately struck by the well-preserved relics from thetime when Central Asia was the cradle of education, trade andthe heart of an empire. Cities such as Tashkent and Samarkandproudly display the turquoise domes of the mosques and ancientplaces of worship that have called their citizens to prayer for thepast 500 years. The Silk Road was a means of spreading newprinciples, ideologies, the arts and technologies.Where Tashkent has an inspiring mix of ancient Orientalmosques, markets and Russian architecture from the turn of theprevious century, Samarkand has a wealth of architecture that wasbuilt by Timur (1370–1405, the founder of the Timurid Empire,and great great grandfather of Babur – the founder of the MughalDynasty), and his grandson Ulugbek (who was as well known forhis scientific research, as well as his leadership).These ancient cities of Uzbekistan were located on the ancientSilk Road (the route took its name from silk, the commodity tradedduring the Roman period), the trading route between China andthe West. Samarkand is a breathtaking example of these ancientcultures, with well-preserved mosques such as the Registan Squarewhich is a great example of the city-planning and constructionskills between the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. Close by isthe Gur-Emir Mausoleum (XIV-XV) which was built as a burialplace for the members of the Timur Dynasty.Some of the earliest evidence of astronomy was found in theremarkable ruins of the Observatory of Ulugbek. Built in 1420,this structure (only the bottom half remains) is a huge quadrant,40m across that was used to watch the stars and their movements.For three decades Ulugbek and other scholars charted the celestialmovements, using the astronomical sights on brass rails, the mostaccurate and up-to-date equipment of its time. Ulugbek believed‘It is the duty of every Muslim man and woman to acquireknowledge’.Samarkand and Bukhara offer a true glimpse into the pastof Uzbekistan with opulent mosques and monuments. Themarkets are a world away from western supermarkets, displayingmountains of fresh spices, nuts and fruits artistically piled towardsthe ceiling in competition with their neighbouring stalls. Manywear the traditional Uzbek hats that are a colourful symbol of theirheritage, among the furious bargaining for the right price.The Capital Tashkent, despite its 2,200 years history, nowadayshas a more contemporary feel, mainly because of its spectacularmodern national buildings, monuments and parks. The entranceto Independence Square is an epic example of the symbolic styledepicting crossing storks taking flight to show a city that is trulyproud of its heritage.Chor MinorMausoleum inBukharaIchan Kala in KhivaThe fortified,ancient city of Khivain northwesternUzbekistanjuly/august 10 } diplomatmagazine.com diplomatmagazine.com } july/august 10