DUSHANBE


, January 7, Asia-Plus — Next summit meeting of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) is scheduled to be held in


St. Petersburg


on January 25, according to information from the Ministry of Economic and Trade (MET).

The MET source says issues related to cooperation in the area of integrated currency market as well as interaction between border services of member nations of the Community in settling crisis situations are supposed to top the summit’s agenda. 


Uzbekistan


is expected to be admitted to the Community also on this day, according to the Asia-Plus interlocutor.

According to the source, the summit will consider two documents: on a procedure of admission of


Uzbekistan


to the Community and integration of the EAEC and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).  

The EAEC members are


Belarus


,


Kazakhstan


,


Kyrgyzstan


,


Russia


and


Tajikistan


. 


Armenia


,


Moldova


and


Ukraine


have an observer status.  

DUSHANBE, January 6, Asia-Plus  A roundtable meeting was held in Dushanbe on January 5 to discuss the results of a joint survey carried out by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan.

Chairperson of the National Association of Small and Medium Business of Tajikistan, Ms. Matluba Uljaboyeva noted that the survey entitled “Development of Competitiveness and Productivity of Entrepreneurship in Tajikistan” was carried out by the closed joint-stock company (CLSC) “Legal Consulting Group” in June last year.  During the survey they polled 450 respondents including representatives from private sector, state-run enterprises and non-government organizations. 

“250 of those polled are residents of Dushanbe and districts subordinate to the center (RRP), 10 respondents were from Sughd and 100 other respondents were from Khatlon,” Ms. Uljaboyeva said, noting that three branches of economy had been selected for carrying out the survey – agriculture, production of consumer good and trade.  “The Surveys results have shown once again that along with donor aid development of small business is important factor,” Ms. Uljaboyeva stressed.

The “Development of Competitiveness and Productivity of Entrepreneurship in Tajikistan” survey head also representative from the “Legal Consulting Group” company, Ms. Anna Sotnikova noted that more than 60 percent of small business owners in Tajikistan have made unofficial payments.  Of them, 75 percent pay more than 10 percent of their annual income.  “It is real disaster for Tajikistan’s economy,” Ms. Sotnikova. 

She noted that the main problems small business owners in Tajikistan faced were, first of all, shortage of accurate and timely information about new legal documents.  “The country’s system of legal proceedings also does not inspire with confidence,” noted the Legal Consulting Group representative, “All this and many other things impede development of small and medium-sized business in Tajikistan.”  “When familiarizing himself with legal environment in Tajikistan one may form the impression that there are no any barriers and obstacles in the way of development of entrepreneurship,” said Ms. Sotnikova, “But in practice, the situation leaves much to be desired”.   But good laws and regulations are not useful if they are not implemented fairly and honestly. 

The other problem impeding economic development in Tajikistan is undeveloped tax systems, according to her.  “Of those surveyed, 89 percent named tax system in Tajikistan one of the most serious obstacle impeding development of business in the republic,” she stressed.  The majority of those polled also noted that among other factors impeding development of entrepreneurship in Tajikistan were low access to getting loans, customs requirements, the necessity of making unofficial payments, etc.  

DUSHANBE, January 6, Asia-Plus – President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov has seen that a new university named after book “Ruhnama” written by him will open in the republic, Centrasia.Ru reported.   

            According to Centrasia.Ru, Niyazov is sure that new education institution will have beneficial influence on development of Turkmen state.   By president’s idea, students at this university will study the humanities and natural sciences making special focus on literature. 

The new literature is supposed to have been built by 2010 and it will able to accommodate up to 3,000 students.   

“Ruhnama” written by the president is a holy book for all citizens of Turkmenistan, it was intended as “moral constitution of Turkmens,” Centrasia.Ru reported.  

DUSHANBE, January 6, Asia-Plus –  Thursday January 5, Kyrgyzstan’s President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed an edict “On Measures on Preparations for Referendum in Kyrgyzstan”.  But the date of referendum has not yet been set.  

The edict provides for carrying out of explanatory work among the population about features of state system under different forms of government and other issues related to constitutional reforms.  The edict also provides for graduality of measures of preparation and carrying out of explanatory work – at first, among officials with public service and local governments and then among the population. 

The Ministry of Justice is to coordinate this work through formation of working groups comprising representatives from leadership, lawyers, representatives from political parties and public associations, civil society for further sending them to the provinces to carry out explanatory work among the population.

The Kyrgyz people will be asked, “What system of government does Kyrgyzstan need?”

            On December 21, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said Kyrgyzstan would hold a referendum next year that will ask citizens if they want to weaken the powers of the presidency in favor of parliament.  Speaking to the Constitutional Council, which he chairs, Bakiyev said the Kyrgyz people would be asked whether they want a presidential, a parliamentary, or a presidential-parliamentary system of government.  

The president has repeatedly signaled that he favors postponing constitutional reforms up until 2009.

DUSHANBE


, January 5, Asia-Plus — The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) is making preparations for actively participating in all political events in the country, including the presidential elections due in November 2006.

The APT head, Amir Qaraqulov, remarked this in the briefing in Dushanbe today.  Amir Qaraqulov told the news conference his party plans to field a candidate in Tajikistan’s November 2006 presidential election.  According to him, a candidate will be determined at the extraordinary congress of the party.  “We also intend to study positions of other political parties in the country and if our positions agree we will embark on consultations with them about the possibility of forming coalition,” Qaraqulov said, adding that they hope to fulfill all the set plans.  

According to the APT leader, first of all, it is necessary to solve the issue of state support to the agrarian sector in production of farm produce and modernization of its material-technical basis.   

Besides, the Agrarian Party of Tajikistan intends to ensure that amendments will be made to the country’s budget for 2006.  “I think the national budget for 2006 does not take into consideration some important issues related to the agrarian sector,” Qaraqulov said.  

“At present, our party has 1,300 members and in future, we intend to establish the party’s primary organizations in all regions of the country.” Qaraqulov said, noting that his party plans to establish its official paper already this year.  

DUSHANBE


, January 5, Asia-Plus — “Over half of


Tajikistan


’s population is under 19 years of age.  Tajikistan’s youth of today will determine the success of the country tomorrow.  The Tajik Government and the United States agree that the improvement of educational systems beginning with the primary education level is necessary for the economic and civil development of Tajikistan.  While we often talk about children being the future of a country, they are also the present, and deserve support now,” press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe says. 

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, continue to work with communities, teachers, school directors, teacher trainers, and Ministry of Education officials to improve the quality of basic education in Tajikistan.

Both programs work closely with community members to improve community support for education.  Parents are encouraged to visit their children’s classrooms and to participate in parent associations.  

Tajikistan’s schools and universities need to adapt to produce skilled graduates to meet uncertain, often rapidly changing, employer needs.  Learning must become more flexible, more student-centered, and more focused on problem solving and applications of concepts rather than memorization of facts.  AED’s Participation, Education and Knowledge Strengthening Program (PEAKs) and AKF’s Improving Basic Education in Tajikistan (IBET) programs began in 2003 to provide training and material assistance needed to achieve these results.  The strategy is to support 23 schools and provide training to nearly 100 surrounding schools.    

Teachers are enthusiastic about the new methods and have found creative ways to use them within the existing curriculum.  To date, the project has provided training to nearly 1,500 primary and secondary teachers who teach more than 62,000 students throughout all of Tajikistan.