CIS observers in Uzbekistan pleased with the course of preparations for the presidential election, Interfax reported.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov discussed priority aspects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and other issues of mutual interest with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov over phone on 18 December.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a US$2 million grant for the formulation and implementation of land degradation policies and to reduce the vulnerability to climate change of target developing members, the bank said on Wednesday.

Ecosan, international ecology and health organization, sent a regular ehalth road train to Ferghana and Namangan regions. The action is part of the third stage of the Ecology and health days, held in the country in accordance with the Cabinet of Minister’s decision.

The meetings of the candidates to the post of the President of Uzbekistan with voters are continuing. The candidate to the post of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met voters in Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions on 14 December, UzA reported.

The candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Asliddin Rustamov met voters in Andijan region on 14 December, UzA reported.

The candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the Adolat Social Democratic Party Dilorom Tashmuhamevoda met voters in Syrdarya region on 15 December, UzA reported.

Meetings of the candidates to the post of the President of Uzbekistan with voters are nearing completion. The candidate from the initiative group of voters Akmal Saidov met voters in Tashkent city and Tashkent region on 15 December, UzA reported.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a law “On ratification of convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)” on 12 December.

Washington Post of the USA and Financial Times of the U.K. published materials the title "Uzbekistan. Modern land with ancient history - open for business", Jahon news agency of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.