I welcoming remarks

I. WELCOMING REMARKS
Keynote speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov
Dear Mr. Petko Draganov!
Dear chiefs of diplomatic missions, ladies and gentlemen!
Let me sincerely welcome all participants of the
international conference “Central Asia Is the Core Priority of
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Policy”!
The idea of organizing this event is utterly well-timed and
in demand. Today, new trends are gaining momentum in Central
Asia; so are opportunities conducive for addressing long-overdue
regional problems, for expanding trade, economic and cultural-
humanitarian bonds. In this regard, it is of fundamental
significance to comprehend the unfolding realities, spot priority
areas for mutually advantageous cooperation, and to deliver solid
outcomes that can make our common region more secure, stable
and prosperous.
The title of our conference underscores the ‘doctrinal
focus’ of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy on the comprehensive
enhancement of relations and extensive building up of interaction
with all the Central Asian nations.
While campaigning for presidential elections, Shavkat
Miromonovich Mirziyoyev announced that our foremost priority
is Central Asia. That was not merely a declaration. It is an
informed choice. The solution of all vital issues in the
development of Uzbekistan – from border security to the rational
distribution of water resources – is inextricably linked with the
region.
The appeal of today’s event is distinctly verified by the
fact that our proposal to organize the conference was fully backed

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by prominent international institutions like the UN and the OSCE
as well as all the states of Central Asia.
In this regard, I would like to express special gratitude to
the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in
Central Asia Mr. Petko Draganov, who takes part in the
conference. The UNRCCA has been making invaluable input into
the solution of the most critical tasks on our regional agenda.
We are also happy to welcome the newly arrived UN
Resident Coordinator, UNDP Permanent Representative in
Uzbekistan, Ms. Helena Fraser. We hope for a constructive
interaction on pressing development issues in Uzbekistan and the
region as a whole.
One also cannot fail to note the sincere support for today’s
conference provided by the Office of the OSCE Project
Coordinator in Uzbekistan.
I am convinced that active participation in this event by
leading experts and diplomats of Central Asian states will
drastically enrich our dialogue, allow us to look at issues under
focus from different perspectives, and get the negotiating
positions closer together.
Distinguished participants,
Sharing common border with all the nations of Central
Asia, Uzbekistan like no other is objectively interested in turning
the region into a zone of stability, sustainable development and
good-neighborliness. Economically prosperous, secure Central
Asia is an absolute imperative for us. As President of the
Republic of
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev repeatedly
emphasized, any major regional transport, communication and
energy projects cannot be realized without active interaction with
the countries of the region, without ensuring a high level of their
integrated nature.

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In addition, it is important for all of us to remember that
Central Asia is not only a geographical and geopolitical, but also
a single cultural and civilizational space. The peoples living in
the region are tied by common spiritual values, the similarity of
national traditions and customs, the common historical past. The
identity of each state of Central Asia has region-wide roots that
formed during the epochs of the Silk Road as a result of mutual
penetration of cultures of the West and East, North and South.
In this regard, Uzbekistan has been and remains a firm
supporter of an open, benevolent and pragmatic policy towards its
closest neighbors. We are open to enhancing all-round
cooperation with the countries of Central Asia on the basis of the
principles of equality and consideration of each other’s interests.
Tashkent is willing for constructive dialogue, for seeking
solutions to the most urgent problems on the basis of reasonable
compromises.
Practical confirmation of this is has been provided by the
concrete political and diplomatic steps taken by Uzbekistan in the
Central Asian direction. I will not go into details; suffice it to
deliver the vital argument: we really have managed to create a
new political atmosphere in the region, significantly raise the
level of political trust with our neighbors, and achieve
breakthrough results in many areas of cooperation.
Speaking about Central Asia, one cannot forget about one
indisputable truth – Afghanistan is historically, geographically
and geopolitically adjacent to the region. This is our neighbor, the
most essential and organic component of a region-wide security
system.
As President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat
Mirziyoyev has noted, a stable and thriving Afghanistan is a
guarantee of regional security in Central Asia. The transition of
Afghanistan to the peaceful track largely depends on economic
development, something which our region’s countries can and
should take part in.

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In this regard, Uzbekistan has significantly expanded its
bilateral relations with Afghanistan, and keenly joined
multilateral efforts to address the Afghan crisis. The Uzbek side
will continue to further encourage the economic reconstruction of
Afghanistan, its speedy transition to the path of peaceful
development.
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen!
I hope our today’s meeting will be afforded a logical
continuation with an international conference on security and
sustainable development in Central Asia that we plan to organize
in Samarkand this November under UN auspices.
The forum will be held under the slogan “Central Asia:
One Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable
Development and Shared Prosperity”. Undeniably, we have one
past that cannot be divided. We have a common future, which
depends entirely on our ability to jointly address the existing
differences, ensure sustainable development and mutual
prosperity.
The agenda of the scheduled event will include discussion
of pressing issues in the consolidation of peace and stability in
Central Asia, developing regional cooperation, as well as the
contribution of international institutions, primarily the UN, to the
implementation of sustainable development projects. As a result
of the conference, it is intended to deliver a joint communiqué
calling for the UN General Assembly to adopt a draft resolution
designed to provide for peace, security and sustainable
development in Central Asia.
In this regard, I avail myself of this opportunity to invite
you all to the city of Samarkand to attend that international
forum. We entertain confidence that we are able to agree on many
topical issues of regional development and make an unambiguous
choice in favor of mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Distinguished ladies and gentlemen!
Allow me to declare the international conference “Central
Asia Is the Core Priority of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Policy” open!
I would like to wish all the participants a successful and
fruitful work. I am in no doubt that with such a solid composition
of contributors and invited guests the conference is going to meet
all the expectations.

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