These days the annual session of one of the most authoritative international financial organ - that of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - is held in the capital of Uzbekistan; the Republic of Tajikistan is a full-fledged member of EBRD. The developing countries to which the majority of those ones located on the post-Soviet space pertain need greatly in a financial support of this institution.
However, a country can lay accounts with its projects being maintained respective of the way it has chosen. This way should be obligatory democratic. There are requirements, which should be confirmed by democratic transformations. Here refer: market economy course proved by discharge of property from State ownership, predictability of budget revenues and expenses attained by tax collections, ensurance of citizens’ rights and freedoms. The World Bank for Reconstruction and Development has the whole system of accumulated data on the processes taking place in the countries taking loans, and only these data dictate pros and cons in reference to credits being allowed. This time on the threshold of the annual session representatives of non-governmental organizations from Caucasian and Central Asian countries were invited to Tashkent. Tajikistan was represented by the chairman of Detached Mass Media National Association Nuriddin Qarshiboyev who shared his impressions on the trip to the capital of Uzbekistan with “Varorud” readers.
Journalist: Nuriddin, is there any mutual connection between juridical position of the citizens of Uzbekistan and EBRD annual session held in Tashkent? Might the leadership of the Bank want to make the countries in need of credits pay attention to the issues related with citizens’ rights and freedoms?
N. Qarshiboyev: Though ensurance of human rights is one of the factors influencing allotment of credits I haven’t noticed direct association between this issue and the arrangement conducted. The matter is, Uzbekistan itself asked EBRD leadership to assemble namely in Tashkent not once. Today Uzbekistan wants to prove the world that it can conduct imposing international forums no worse than other countries do. It is a sort of a way to attract investments into the country. Imagine only what people who only read about Tajikistan in press do think about the situation in it. Coming to our country foreigners see that everything is in peace with us, the situation is quite stable. Though Uzbekistan has no few problems in regard to citizens’ rights infringement, still the country has chosen market economy and advanced by far in the field of reforms. Islam Karimov seems to have been guided with this considerations inviting EBRD to Tashkent.
Journalist: As I figure it out, representatives of non-governmental organizations were invited to Tashkent to portray an objective picture on returning to their own countries. And why were namely NGOs selected for this?
N. Qarshiboyev: Who can have true information as for the real situation in society today except representatives of non-governmental organizations? We combat for civic society and our goals coincide with the position of international organizations targeting their efforts at reformation of our political and economic systems. It is pleasing to say that the reforms in Central Asia are advancing now much quicker than two years ago. And I, as a representative of Tajikistan was double glad that our country is moving this way. It concerns especially the legislation of the country, its correspondence to international standards of people’s rights and freedoms. It goes without saying that we have the issues concerned with the influence of authoritarianism in the country, administrative ordering methods of governance in reference to economy; however, all this is more related with psychology and law education level of population than with our legislation.
Journalist: You are sure to have spoken much with your colleagues from other countries. How do they estimate the situation in other countries of Central Asia?
N. Qarshiboyev: For example, last year Turkmenistan didn’t get any means on the line of EBRD, because there are no reforms in this country proving the adherence of the state to market economy. It is no secret that today’s Turkmenistan is an embodiment of authoritarian regime and it can hardly reckon for EBRD support. Claims towards Uzbekistan are valid too. They refer to human rights, freedom of press.
Journalist: What are the requirements of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development motivated with in so far as the grounds for aid are concerned? Still the country needing credits accepts the terms. It is ready to observe the time of paying credits back at an interest rate. Hasn’t it the right to be responsible for the problems of its own independently?
N. Qarshiboyev: That is just the distinction of purely financial institutes and institutions, which alongside with financial issues are to solve political, economic and socials ones, those of a humanitarian slant inclusive. In order to enter a unified world economic space one has to acknowledge multistructuralness of economy, private property, citizens’ rights and freedoms. The organization, which is invoked to promote these issues has a right to dictate the terms of its game. Effectuation of the so-called control envisaged by bank mechanisms is accounted for by the fact that the resources of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are the money of tax payers, these are the money of ours, and therefore the Board of bank directors must be sure that these resources will have been spent exclusively in the interests of the people. Let us take as an example the problem of ecology, at the first sight it seems to have nothing in common either with human rights or people’s benefit level. But it’s quite otherwise. There is an item of man’s health protection, in addition. Any project supported by the bank should not entail ecology aftermath.
Journalist: To what extent are You sure that Your voice will be heard? Who will bring Your opinion to the notice of the participants of the meeting?
N. Qarshiboyev: NGOs representatives decided it’s better to formulate the requirements towards the participants in terms of a special appeal. I think it’s the most available variant of drawing attention to problems during international forums. Into the bargain, there are mass media through which our position will reach the world at large.
Journalist: Thank You.