Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan Today, English)----On March 29 the Senate of the Oliy Majlis launched its 9th plenary session in Tashkent. The session was attended by the invited members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of state bodies whose activities deal with the issues included in the agenda of the plenary session of the Senate. The session was led by I.Savirov, Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.

On March 29 the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the President of FIFA Joseph Blatter in his Oqsaroy Residence. The President of Uzbekistan noted that the cooperation with an international organization of the kind has a significant importance for the development of football.

The European Union's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, says she thinks Uzbekistan has had "a change of mind" and is willing to respond to EU concerns about its human rights situation.

Bobur Kommilov of "Uzbekistan Today" interviews the World Bank's Country Manager for Uzbekistan Loup Brefort, draws the attention of the world's public to the economic growth of the country.