Excerpt from report by Uzbek TV on 4th January

International observers from many foreign countries are arriving in our
country to observe an important political event - presidential elections in
our country on Sunday [9th January].

[Correspondent] The first delegation of foreign observers to participate in
the elections of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The
delegation which has arrived from the United States of America includes
representatives of the congress of Bukhara Jews who live in the USA and
Canada. The president of the present congress, international observer,
Boris Kandov, says that the whole world including America are observing the
election process in Uzbekistan with great interest.

[Passage to end omitted: interview with Kandov - he says that as
editor-in-chief of a newspaper in the USA he is well aware of preparatory
work for the presidential elections]

Source: Uzbek Television second channel, Tashkent, in Uzbek 1400 gmt 04 Jan
00
BBC Mon CAU 040100/** AJBA/AM