I welcoming remarks

Welcoming remarks by Chairman of the Committee
on International Relations, Foreign Economic Relations,
Foreign Investments and Tourism at the Senate of Oliy Majlis
of the Republic of Uzbekistan Alisher Kurmanov
Distinguished Abdulaziz Hafizovich!
Esteemed Mr. Petko Draganov, dear heads of diplomatic
missions, ladies and gentlemen!
Let me first express my gratitude to the organizers and
participants of this international conference on the Central Asian
vector of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, along with appreciation for
the opportunity to address such a prominent audience.
The significance of today’s event derives from the priority
attached by the leadership of the Republic of Uzbekistan to
furthering the comprehensive cooperation with neighboring
nations, to find ways of settling all the problematic aspects of
relations without exception on the basis of mutual respect and
consideration for each other’s interests.
In the rapidly changing environment in the world and
Central Asia, in particular the unprecedented growth of
interconnectedness 
and 
interdependence 
of 
countries,
consolidation of efforts and finding compromise solutions to
common problems of the region are an objective requirement of
the time.
Undoubtedly, for all the Central Asian states without
exemption, the priority is to uplift the welfare of their people,
attain sustainable social and economic development, ensure
access to international markets and to build a reliable system of
transport and communication corridors, to address the most
pressing security issues, counter threats to radicalism, terrorism,
extremism and drug trafficking, prevent the negative impact of
conflict areas in neighboring regions.

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Dear participants,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Honorable
Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev defined the Central Asian
region as the foremost priority of Uzbekistan’s foreign political
activity, to which the vital interests of our country are tied. The
underlying posture of the republic is the commitment to an open,
friendly and pragmatic policy towards its closest neighbors.
Indeed, the recent highest-level and high-level contacts, as
well as events with the participation of the wider public have
demonstrated the reciprocal desire of the states of the region for
comprehensive constructive and good-neighborly relations,
separation of the outstanding disagreements on certain issues
from cooperation in areas of mutual practical interest.
Positive feedback of the populations owes to the
advancement of contacts at the sub-state level (public diplomacy)
as well as the development of inter-parliamentary ties. Friendship
groups are being formed in the legislatures, and close contacts are
being set up among the legislative corps of our countries. As a
result, for the first time in many years our nations have basically
embarked on tackling such sensitive issues as legal registration of
state borders, fair use of common water resources, simplification
of border regimes, development of trade, economic and transport-
communication links.
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to underscore that the setting off of
Uzbekistan’s Central Asian policy is not pertinent to immediate
benefits, but rather is built on an informed long-term choice of
our people. That preference was embodied in the doctrinal
document entitled the Strategy of Actions along Five Priority
Directions for the Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in
2017-2021.

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Within the framework of this Strategy, it is intended to
implement a set of measures that will undoubtedly not only
benefit Uzbekistan, but also become a powerful impetus, and it
can be safely said – an impetus for the development of our entire
Central Asian region.
I would like to note that the document declares the need to
formulate foreign policy solely on the basis of a balanced,
mutually advantageous and constructive approach with a view to
creating a security, stability and good neighborly zone around
Uzbekistan.
In this regard, I am keen on stressing that we have opened
a ‘strategic window of opportunity’ to address the universal
interests of the entire Central Asian region. I hope our discussions
today will serve to deliver common ways to further our
interaction and solve common issues.
In conclusion, I would like to wish success in the
conference in securing the objectives set out. I am convinced that
the initiatives and ideas to be voiced at this forum will serve to
cement the ‘positive spirit’ of cooperation among the states of
Central Asia.

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