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 TRIPS-compliant manner; and most importantly, in launching a sustained enforcement drive against trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy, including optical media and illegal end use of business software. The U.S. Government recognizes the important role played by law enforcement officials in this process, and encourages Thailand to provide enforcement authorities the resources and political backing necessary to ensure the successful implementation of a long-term aggressive enforcement policy.

TURKEY

Lack of effective IPR protection in Turkey is a serious concern for the United States. The pharmaceutical licensing regulations of the Ministry of Health do not appear to meet Turkey's TRIPS obligations under Article 39.3. The broadcasting regulations issued last year by the Ministry of Culture undermine the intent of the 2001 copyright law. Piracy levels remain extremely high and government efforts to control piracy, specifically the banderole system, have failed. The U.S. recognizes, however, that Turkey's recent economic difficulties have consumed most of the government's attention. The United States encourages Turkey to now turn its attention to IPR issues, in the context of efforts to attract foreign investment. In particular, the U.S. Government encourages the Ministry of Health to amend its pharmaceutical licensing regulations to make them fully consistent with TRIPS Article 39.3 and encourages the Ministry of Culture to revise its broadcast regulations to comply with the intent of the 2001 copyright law. The United States also encourages Turkey to increase the number of raids on sources of piracy, increase control of pirated material at the border, eliminate–or at a minimum reform–the banderole system, address the issuance of registrations to unauthorized distributors of pirate products, increase prosecution of IPR violations, and impose deterrent sentences.

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan has several remaining steps to take to fulfill its intellectual property rights commitments under the 1993 U.S.-Turkmenistan Trade Agreement. Specifically, Turkmenistan is not yet a party to the Berne Convention or the Geneva Phonograms Convention. Turkmenistan is not providing any protection or rights to U.S. and other foreign sound recordings, nor does it clearly provide retroactive protection for works or sound recordings under its Copyright Law. In addition, criminal penalties for intellectual property rights violations have not yet been adopted as required by the U.S.-Turkmenistan Trade Agreement. Furthermore, the Customs Code does not provide the proper authority to seize material at the border, as is necessary to conduct effective border enforcement.

UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan has many remaining steps to take to fulfill its intellectual property rights commitments under the 1994 U.S.-Uzbekistan Trade Agreement. Specifically, Uzbekistan is not yet a party to the Berne Convention or the Geneva Phonograms Convention. Uzbekistan is not providing any protection or rights to U.S. and other foreign sound recordings, and it does not clearly provide retroactive protection