EBRD Annual Meeting Held in Tashkent

Total foreign investments into the economy of Uzbekistan comprised more than $650 million in 2002
Human Rights, Freedom of Press, Open Markets and Democracy was the main essence during the opening ceremony of the 12th annual meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Tashkent on May 3.

The president of the EBRD Mr. Jean Lemierre in his speech told that we are in region which need attention and the EBRD's strategy regarding Central Asian countries "is very explicit - about human rights." Since this meeting is an opportunity hence Uzbekistan have to come forward for unlocking potential through open markets and open minds. Uzbekistan is the land of human right - is only a sentence, added president Lemierre.

The official sources told this correspondent that now the EBRD will continue to closely monitor the situation in Uzbekistan. The EBRD board has established seven economic and political benchmarks against which it will assess Uzbekistan's progress in moving toward a market economy and democracy. As well as the EBRD will conduct a review within a year in the context of its country strategy up to date, added sources.

In the meantime, the official press-release of the Uzbek government says that in 2002 the total foreign investments into the economy of the country comprised more than $650 million and till date the EBRD has invested 642 million euro in Uzbekistan and the business volume.
The opening ceremony was attended by five Central Asian republic president's including the host nation, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyztan and overall was attended by representatives of 78 countries including the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Latvia, etc. Mr. Sergy Kolotukhin, Deputy Finance Minister is representing Russia.
The opening ceremony and the meeting of the board of Governors was chaired by EBRD Governor for the U.K.

Aloke Shekhar
UZBEKISTAN
Special to PRAVDA.Ru