In recent years, the leadership of Uzbekistan, while implementing a fundamentally new proactive foreign policy strategy, has paid special attention to building practical cooperation with international organizations. One of the priority directions in this regard is the development and strengthening of multifaceted cooperation with the United Nations (UN) and its specialized structures.
Currently, Tashkent is comprehensively expanding its contacts with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and other UN entities. In this context, particular importance is attached to ensuring security and stability in Central Asia and enhancing its role in the international relations system.
Thanks to the revitalization of Uzbekistan’s partnership with the UN, significant progress has been made in fostering a new atmosphere of mutually beneficial cooperation in Central Asia, based on mutual trust and good neighborliness.
As a result, there has been a noticeable consolidation of regional states, which have become more active in advancing joint regional and international initiatives, programs, and projects aimed at promoting sustainable development in Central Asia.
For instance, while from 1991 to 2016, about 20 resolutions were adopted in the UN at the initiative of Central Asian states, and from 2016 to the present, 18 resolutions have been adopted.
These documents address important issues such as sustainable development, security, peacebuilding, and trust-building in the region, as well as the preservation of water resources, climate change, ecology, and the prevention of radiological threats. Protecting the rights of youth and promoting tolerance have also gained significant attention.
Moreover, Uzbekistan has become an active participant in advocating for the interests of Central Asia within the UN framework. For instance, between 2018 and 2022, six UN General Assembly resolutions were adopted at the initiative of our country. These resolutions include “Strengthening Regional International Cooperation for Peace, Stability, and Sustainable Development in the Central Asian Region” (June 2018), “Education and Religious Tolerance” (December 2018), and “Declaration of the Aral Sea Region as a Zone of Environmental Innovations and Technologies” (May 2021). Furthermore, within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council, a resolution on “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Human Rights of Youth” was adopted in October 2021.
In UNESCO, the “Khiva Process” was recognized in November 2021, following the international forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations” held in Khiva from September 14 to 16, 2021. The Code of Voluntary Commitments of States during a Pandemic, developed by Uzbekistan, has been circulated as an official document of the UN General Assembly, contributing to global efforts to combat COVID-19.
Additionally, the Tashkent and Bukhara Declarations have also been recognized as official UN documents, calling for international support for multi-confessional and intercultural dialogue and the promotion of multilateral cooperation in the prevention and counteraction of terrorism.
Collectively, all the resolutions and documents initiated by Central Asian countries within the UN have undeniably laid a strong foundation for uniting the efforts of regional states and the international community in ensuring the political, economic, social, and environmental security of Central Asia. Several key factors have played a significant role in the successful promotion of Uzbekistan’s interaction with the UN:
Firstly, intensive diplomacy by the President of Uzbekistan and the intensification of political dialogue within the UN. Starting in 2016, thanks to the political will of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tashkent has actively participated in the activities of the UN General Assembly and its specialized agencies.
In particular, the President of Uzbekistan took part in and addressed the 72nd, 75th, and 76th sessions of the UN General Assembly, as well as the High-Level Segment of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
During this period, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held three meetings with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (in June and September 2017 and April 2019), which allowed for comprehensive discussions and coordination of effective measures to develop mutually beneficial cooperation, primarily in ensuring regional security and sustainable development in Central Asia.
It is worth noting that on November 10-11, 2017, during an international conference under the auspices of the UN in Samarkand, titled “Central Asia: One Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity,” Central Asian states emphasized the need for closer and coordinated cooperation among Central Asian countries in anticipating new challenges and threats. They also stressed the importance of strengthening the central role of the UN in addressing security challenges in the region.
Furthermore, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Samarkand in September 2022, a meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo took place, resulting in the adoption of a “Roadmap” for further development of practical cooperation.
In 2022 and January 2023, Uzbekistan hosted the first Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed. There are 11 Plans of Practical Measures for the Development of Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN and its specialized agencies, adopted and being implemented between 2021 and 2023. These measures undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the resilience of Central Asia to external challenges.
Source : The Peninsula
