I welcoming remarks

II. REGIONAL COOPERATION IN CENTRAL ASIA:
NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS
Basic Principles and Priorities for Regional Cooperation
in Central Asia
Eldor Aripov, Director of the Information and Analytical
Center for International Relations
Our panel is intended for the discussion of issues of
regional cooperation, new opportunities and prospects.
I am convinced that within its framework, all of us, the
expert community of the states of the region, will come closer to
addressing the most critical challenge facing us, namely, the
elaboration of a common vision for the enhancement of regional
cooperation.
The speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Uzbekistan and the video shown at the opening
ceremony of the conference contained, to my mind, the principal
idea that Uzbekistan’s regional policy has delivered an essentially
new situation in Central Asia.
What is it manifest in?
In addition to absolutely important quantitative indicators
like increase in the number of contacts among the heads of state,
the growth of trade, and the implementation of major joint
projects in the field of transport and industry, the level of political
confidence between and among the countries in the region is
gradually on the rise.
We have begun to talk more about what unites us - and
not only in terms of a common historical and civilizational
heritage, but also the availability of shared interests.

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We have started talking more about the need to find
healthy compromises on the most critical regional problems.
We have begun to less noticeably separate our common
history, to focus less on disagreements.
As a result, the boldest prospects for effective and
mutually advantageous regional cooperation no longer seem
unrealizable to us.
It is clear that we are only at the beginning of the road.
Our interaction so far is hampered by a whole complex of
unresolved issues from delimitation and delineation of borders to
fair and rational distribution of water resources.
Even the emerging trend of intensifying intraregional
trade is still extremely uncertain and fragile. Mutual trade
between Central Asian countries is less than 10% of the total
trade turnover of five countries. In the meantime, this figure in
the EU exceeds 60%.
All this clearly points to the urgent need for the
enhancement of our interaction. According to the calculations of
UN experts, effective cooperation of the Central Asian countries
could at least double the regional GDP within 10 years.
In the meanwhile, it is essential to depart from the
conventional practice of passive inertial approach to the
development of regional cooperation. It is time for us all to take a
proactive position, take control of the process of coordination and
harmonization of interaction, and determine the basic principles
of regional cooperation.
What I mean is:
First, the solution of regional problems is possible only
on the basis of coordinated approaches, reasonable compromises
and taking into account each other’s interests. The logic ‘winner
takes all’ is deadlocked and counterproductive. It is important to
forsake all unhealthy ambitions and groundless claims.

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In this regard, the approach of mutual benefit, the win-win
strategy, should become a key element in building relations
between and among the countries of Central Asia.
By the way, an example of such constructive interaction
may be the signing of conventions on the use of water resources
of the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers. That will be a real step
toward solving the water and energy problems of the region on
the basis of taking into account the interests of all parties.
Draft conventions are developed on the basis of universal
principles and norms of international law, which equally take into
account the interests of the countries of the upper and lower
reaches. On the one hand, they state that each country of the basin
has the right within its territory to benefit from the use of the
waters of this basin. On the other, it stresses the “obligation not to
cause significant harm” to neighbors.
According to UNDP, the damage from the lack of proper
solutions to the rational distribution of water resources in the
region is estimated at $ 1.7 billion per year.
I am quite positive that by taking into account the mutual
interests, built on reasonable compromises and correspondent
exchange, it is also possible to address such a complicated issue
as delimitation and demarcation of borders.
Second, it is extremely important to create a favorable
information background for the development of cooperation,
build confidence between and among us, and also to prevent
targeted attempts to foment national hostility, distrust and
suspicion among the countries of Central Asia.
Serious help in this will be the tools of public and
parliamentary diplomacy, which Senator Kurmanov has already
spoken about.
Free 
from 
official 
formalism, 
direct 
human
communication will make it possible to get to know each other
better, dispel phobias and stereotypes, and will contribute to the

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formation of harmonious relations, on the basis of which solid
multifaceted ties can subsequently be built in various fields.
In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the
initiative of the Honorable President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mironovich Mirziyoyev that he voiced at the
Astana Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
At the session, Uzbekistan’s leader proposed to create so-
called SCO centers designed to provide for direct contacts among
ordinary people, to popularize the cultural wealth of each
country.
We are already doing much in this direction. I cannot fail
to mention the extensive organization of Uzbekistan Culture Days
in Tajikistan, the exchange of friendship delegations with
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
Third, it is crucial to resolve the existing problematic
issues and disagreements exclusively by the countries of the
region without any interference and involvement of external
forces. I am confident that we are able to agree with each other
without outside assistance. We have a centuries-old history of
coexistence. Nobody will understand us better than ourselves.
Along with this, it is not in the interests of Central Asian
states to provoke disagreements among external forces involved
in the region. To befriend against someone, play on the
contradictions is a counterproductive choice.
It is of fundamental importance to promote pragmatic
cooperation among extra-regional actors, constructive dialogue
between them. Stability in Central Asia is a factor not only of
regional, but also global security.
Fourth, the trade and economic sphere should become a
key direction of interaction among all countries of Central Asia.
This front simply must be free from political setting.
For each other, we are the most convenient and promising
markets. The economies of the region do not directly compete

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with one another, and in many industries they complement each
other.
In this respect, it seems that the time has come to consider
the formation of a Regional Economic Forum for organizing a
direct dialogue between and among the business communities and
substantive discussion of rock-hard cooperation projects. In our
opinion, this initiative will help to raise the level of awareness
among business circles of our countries about proposed initiatives
and projects in the region, enhance the practical interaction of
business representatives.
Fifth, it is indispensable to abandon the division of
regional security challenges “into one’s own and that of others”,
and in practice adhere to the principle of indivisibility of security.
Common to the countries of the region are threats in the face of
international terrorism, religious extremism, transnational
organized crime, drug trafficking, environmental problems, and
so forth.
In this regard, it is vital to establish and develop
consultative mechanisms for cooperation at various levels on
maintaining stability in Central Asia, confronting common
challenges and threats.
Sixth, no matter how difficult it is, it is necessary to
ensure the conjugation of national development prospects of the
countries of the region with region-wide priorities. Only such a
responsible approach, based on a strategic, non-opportunistic
understanding of their interests, will help build a truly stable and
prosperous Central Asia.
It is difficult to challenge the simple truth that together the
states of the region will be able to more effectively defend their
interests on the platforms of international organizations, attract
the support of donors and external forces to implement joint
regional projects, and act together on pressing regional and global
issues.

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In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that Central Asia
is a region of enormous opportunities and tremendous potential
that awaits realization.
Ensuring sustainable development, stability and prosperity
in the Central Asian region is our common and certainly
achievable task. I am convinced that today’s meeting is another
significant step towards that goal.

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