February 12-25

Attempt to life of Mayor of Dushanbe

Newspapers reported that an attempt to kill Mayor of Dushanbe Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev was made on February 16. The official vehicle of the Mayor was bombed, at 17:25. Newspaper Biznes i Politika reported that the explosion was so strong it ripped off the roof of the armored car; the doors of the vehicle were torn out by the blast. Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev was wounded; the explosion killed deputy minister of security of RT Shamsullo Jobirov who was sitting next to Mayor in the car.

Akil Akilov left for Moscow

Newspapers Vecherni Dushanbe No.7 and Asia-Plus No. 5 informed that delegation of government of RT, headed by Prime Minister Akil Akilov, left for Moscow on February 16. The purpose of the visit is participation in the meeting of the Council of heads of governments of countries of Customs Union. The meeting will discuss issues of Tajik-Russian bilateral cooperation. Among members of the delegation are Minister of Finance Safarali Najmuddinov, chairman of Customs Committee Mirzokhuja Nizomov, chairman of state Energy Company Barqi Tojik Bahrom Sirojev and other officials.

IMF for economic reforms in RT

Newspapers Charkhi Gardun No.7, Asia-Plus No. 5 and other newspapers report that on February 14 President of RT Emomali Rahmonov received the resident representative of International Monetary Fund in Tajikistan Anri Lori and head of the mission of World Bank in RT Mustafa Ruis. At the meeting, Anri Lori said that macroeconomic stabilization is taking place in the republic, and that inflation is slowing. In support of the program, IMF already provided $80 million to the republic out of the $140 million planned. Mustafa Ruis said that the Board of Directors of World Bank is considering several projects for total amount of $100 million; the projects should be approved before the end of the year.

Third session of SPECA will be held in Dushanbe

Newspaper Asia-Plus informed that in end of March the third session of the work group of UN Special Program for Central Asia (SPECA) will be held in Dushanbe. The main subject of the session will be attraction of foreign investments in economies of Central Asia, in particular Tajikistan.

Rehabilitation of Karategin valley

Newspaper Asia-Plus reported that the activity of the Center for Coordination of Projects of he credit for post-conflict rehabilitation in Karategin valley will be completed after five months. About 90% of the works have been carried out, and about $10 million of the credit of World Bank were spent. The Center is still to complete restoration and reconstruction of 32 objects – bridges, canals and electric power lines. The Center began work in karategin valley in 1998. Since then, it restored and built 83 schools, 34 medicl facilities, 10 heating units. The projects of the Center involved 3,950 private farms, employing large number of former refugees and fighters.

Gold Star awarded to an enterprise in Tajikistan

Newspaper Businessman No.4 informed that the international committee for quality in Geneva awarded the "Gold Star" to products of the joint stock company "Sharbati Kustakuz". The conserved fruit juice – prodct of the enterprise won the competition with similar products of 114 enterprises of the world.

Russia will help Ministry of Emergency Situtions of RT

Newspaper Asia-Plus No. 5 informed that Miister of Emergency Situations of RT Mirzo Ziyoyev left for Moscow on February 16, to meet his Russian colleague Sergey Shoigu. The main goal of the visit is to coordinate issues of coordination in providing assistance in establishing the new miistry in Tajikistan.

TR1,000,000 for investigation

Newspapers Vcherni Dushanbe No.7 and Asia-Plus No.5 informed that Hukumat of Dushanbe announced award of TR1,000,000 to law enforcement organizations for disclosing the act of terrorism – bombing the Ikarus bus on Februry 2. TR500,000 will be paid to persons who help in investigation of the crime. Families of the victims will be paid TR500,000, and those wounded at the explosion – TR250,000. Asia-Plus also reminded that the explosion on February 2 killed 7 and wounded 20 persons. Vecherni Dushanbe referred to Ministry of Internal Affairs in its information that the terroists used the US-made anti-personnel mine Clamor.

25 Tajik citizens return from Kyrgyzstan

On February 16, 25 our compatriots returned to RT from Kyrgyzstan where they had to stay for many years. This is the seoond group of repatriates from Kyrgyzstan since the beginning of the year. altogether 3,031 citizens of Tajikistan returned from Kyrgyzstan in 1998-2000.

80 tons of aluminum of unidentified origin discovered

Newspaper asia-Plus reported that the staff of department for control of economic crime of Ministry of Internal Affairs discovered about 80 tons of aluminum hidden in warehouses in area of Polytechnic College. The aluminum was not registered in any log books of the warehouses. The cost of the aluminum is estimated at about $3.5 million. Investigation of this case began.

Kidnapping of sister of Vice-Premier of RT

Newspaper Asia-Plus No. 6 reported of the kidnapping of Nazira Guliamova, 38, medical doctor, the sister of Vice-Premier of government of RT Nigina Sharopova. By information of law enforcement organizations, two unidentified persons forced N.Guliamova into a car – a blue VAZ-2109 with dark glasses and without number plates, and disappeared. The kidnappers were in camouflage uniform and in facemasks. Law enforcement organizations began investigation of the incident.