Speech by the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan
HE Mr. Otabek Akbarov on «Foreign Policy of Uzbekistan»
at the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council
(28 April, 2008, United Kingdom Parliament)
Dear chairman and members of the Conservative Council,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for inviting me to participate in today's meeting. It is a great honour for me to speak to such a distinguished audience about the main directions of the Foreign policy of Uzbekistan.
I. What does represent Uzbekistan? It is:
1. Country which has always been situated in the crossroad of world civilizations and was a key part of the Great Silk Road. We are proud of our rich history and role in the development of world civilization – our scientists, as al-Khorezmi, Avicenna, al-Beruni and Mirzo Ulughbek made their invaluable contribution into formation of mathematics, medicine and astronomy. Imam al-Bukhari, who devoted his life to the collection of materials on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, which were then united into the book of Hadith, became one of the most respected people in Islam.
2. Country with the biggest population in Central Asia (27mln out of more than 50mln people) and the only one that borders with all other countries of the region and Afghanistan. More than 100 ethnic groups coexist in harmony and peace in Uzbekistan.
3. Young independent secular state, firmly upholding its own development model, but always open for dialogue and perceptive for positive experience. One of the important centres of interweaving of global geo-economic and geopolitical interests, which create great opportunities for development, as well as serious challenges.
4. Economy developing on sustainable basis (GDP growth in 2007 made up 9,5%) and great intellectual and scientific potential. The country attracts more and more foreign investments (in 2007 their volume exceeded 4,3 billion US dollars). Transition period from administrative system into market economy is over in Uzbekistan.
All of these objectively determine the adequate role of our country in the regional and international processes.
After declaration of the national independence on 31st August 1991, Uzbekistan obtained the opportunity to determine and implement its foreign policy independently on the basis of the national interests.
As accentuated by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, “realization of active, multifaceted external policy, adequate to the national interests, - is necessary condition and important means of strengthening the sovereignty of our country, overcoming of economical hardships and improving life of the people”.
The foundation of the foreign policy is the Constitution, the article 17 of which states: “Uzbekistan shall have full rights in international relations. Its foreign policy shall be based on the principles of sovereign equality of the states, non use of force or threat of its use, inviolability of frontiers, peaceful settlement of disputes, non interference in the internal affairs of other states, and other universally recognized norms of international law”.
Before the independence, there were no foreign embassies in the country. Now, there are more than 40 embassies, 28 representation offices of international organisations and 2 trade representations in Uzbekistan. Diplomatic relations have been established with more than 120 foreign states. Uzbekistan has 42 diplomatic missions abroad (13 of them in Europe).
Uzbekistan is a member of number of authoritative international organizations, particularly the UN, Commonwealth of Independent States, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Collective Security Treaty Organization, Euro-Asian Economic Community, Organization of Islamic Conference, OSCE and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. The country takes part in the activities of UNESCO, WHO, ILO, as well as international financial organizations - ECO, IMF, ADB, IDB and EBRD.
During the years of independent foreign policy, Uzbekistan has demonstrated its openness to cooperation with all countries and proven itself as a reliable and responsible partner.
II. During 17 years of independence, Uzbekistan has put forward and implemented a number of important foreign policy initiatives.
1. It’s necessary to have peace and stability for sustainable political and economic cooperation in the region. That is why, in 1999 at the OSCE Istanbul summit and during UN Millennium Summit in 2000, President Islam Karimov proposed to establish International Counter-Terrorism Centre within the UN structure. International community supported and advanced this initiative – in 2001 the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee was established.
2. Another key direction is counteraction against narco-aggression. During the visit of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Uzbekistan in October 2002, our national leader put forward the idea of creating the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre on combating against drug trafficking (CARICC). The Centre is designed to create databases on drug trafficking and other related crimes. It will function soon in Almaty.
3. We realize that there is direct link between the issues of strategic security and problem of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In this regard, at 48th Session of the UN General Assembly in 1993, President of Uzbekistan voiced an initiative to establish the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in Central Asia. After 4 years, in November 1997, UN General Assembly resolution was adopted calling for establishment of the zone.
Along with Central Asian countries, the IAEA participated in practical realization of this idea. The Treaty establishing the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone was signed by 5 states of Central Asia in Semipalatinsk on 8 September 2006. Russia and China supported the treaty by their assurances.
4. Normalization of the situation in neighbouring Afghanistan has a crucial role in ensuring stability in Central Asia. At the 48th session of UN GAy in 1993, our country proposed to hold the first international seminar-consultation on the problems of regional security, and at the 50th anniversary session in 1995 - suggested initiative on placing an embargo on weapons supply to this state.
Uzbekistan became an initiator of the formation of “6+2” Contact Group on Afghanistan under the aegis of the UN, which included 6 bordering countries, Russia and the USA. In July of 1999, a conference of this group took place in our capital, where “Tashkent Declaration on main principles of peaceful settlement of conflict in Afghanistan” had been adopted and on the basis of which the corresponding resolution of the UN Security Council had been passed. The group had functioned effectively until 2001.
Uzbekistan believes that now it is expedient to resume the process of negotiations in the framework of this group. The President of our country stated about it at the NATO summit in Bucharest on April 3, 2008. In view of present realities, the contact group should be transformed from “6+2” to “6+3” with participation of NATO.
The leader of Uzbekistan stated our readiness to discuss and sign with NATO the Agreement on providing the transit corridor through its territory to deliver non-military cargos to Afghanistan via the border junction Termez-Khayraton, which is practically the only railway connection with this country.
III. Current priorities of foreign policy of Uzbekistan have been defined in the keynote speech of the President Karimov at the joint session of Chambers of Oliy Majlis (Parliament) in January 2005.
One of the main directions remains the strengthening good relations with our neighbours – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The agenda of dialogue with them comprises the issues of deepening the economical integration, environmental protection, rational water usage, realization of transport-communication projects, ensuring the regional security. In our opinion, Central Asia is turning from an object of the policy of leading powers into an active member of global processes.
A key role has the cooperation with Russia. Both countries share a common vision of ways of counteraction to terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. Russia is the largest trade partner of Uzbekistan (annual trade turnover amounts to 4 billion US dollars, supposed volume of investment by “Gazprom” and “LUKoil” makes up more then 2,5 billion dollars.). In November 2005, Agreement on Allied Relations between Uzbekistan and Russia has been signed.
Active participation in the CIS responds to our national interests. This organization played its positive role in prevention of chaotic break-up of many-sided relations among the republics of former USSR and formation of new mechanisms of interaction. We do not consider that the potential of the CIS is exhausted, but its serious reform is required.
Important direction of foreign policy is strengthening of comprehensive relations with the USA, Germany, France, United Kingdom and other member-states of the European Union.
Uzbekistan is prepared for a constructive cooperation with the West on the principles of mutual respect, consideration of interests of parties and non-interference in internal affairs. We believe that there is a number of areas where we could successfully cooperate on a long-term basis.
Uzbekistan was actively involved in the development of the EU Strategy on Central Asia, which was adopted in June of 2007. We presented our concrete proposals to its draft, more than 50% of which were included into the document.
Uzbekistan is actively collaborating with the countries of South Asia and Asia-Pacific region. One of the main partners is China with which Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership Relations was signed in May 2005. Within the next few years, China has an intention of investing into our economy about 1,5 billion US dollars and the volume of trade turnover exceeds 1 billion US dollars. Productive intergovernmental relations are developing with Japan, South Korea, India and Pakistan.
In the last years, cooperation with Arab countries has been raised to a new level taking a strategic character. I would like to emphasize the relations with the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. We carry out political interaction with Arab countries in the UN and the Organisation Islamic Conference through the development of common approaches to a number of issues of mutual interest.
In our view, today the United Nations as a global structure has no alternative in ensuring security and sustainable development. At the same time we believe that the rise of new challenges and threats in international arena requires the reform of this Organization. The reform must reflect the principles of sovereign equality, peaceful solution of conflicts, promote the rise of prestige and effectiveness of UN in the solution of international issues, and base on the principles of democracy and wide international consensus.
Uzbekistan attaches great significance to the participation in activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Its Regional Anti-terrorist Structure (RATS) being an effective mechanism in fighting against security threats is functioning in Tashkent. Another key direction - construction of new transportation corridors in the territory of SCO countries - may become a natural transit bridge from Asia-Pacific region to Europe and Middle East.
The main priority of our participation in the OSCE is also a reforming of the organization. We are in favour of such reform of the OSCE, which would strengthen its ability to adequately respond to the threats and challenges of 21st century and applicability on the whole zone of its responsibility.
IV. Special place has the policy and cooperation in human dimension. In the course of relatively short period of time, Uzbekistan achieved essential results in ensuring human rights, development of democracy and building of civil society. Today one may observe in many examples, that the model chosen by us is fully justified, as it presupposes progressive and evolutionary changes.
This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was the first international document joined by Uzbekistan after obtaining its independence. This anniversary is marked with significant achievements in our country.
From the 1st of January of this year death penalty was abolished in Uzbekistan and “Habeas corpus” was introduced. Death penalty was substituted with life imprisonment, which is set only for 2 types of crimes: murder with aggravating circumstances and terrorism. This type of punishment cannot be applied with regard to women and people who are younger than 18 and older than 60 years.
A solid system of human rights and freedoms is created in the country. More than 300 laws have been adopted, the Institute of Ombudsman has been formed, more than 5 thousand NGOs, National Centre for Human Rights, National Association of NGOs, Foundation of support to NGOs, Institute of Civil Society Studies are functioning. 5 political parties which promote the interests of different segments of the population have been formed and are functioning in the Parliament.
At the same time, we realize that yet much needs to be done, and therefore we do not intend to stop on achieved. In this context, Uzbekistan shows natural interest to study the experience of Britain and other Western countries. We are ready to utilise this experience, taking into account the mentality, historical and cultural traditions of our people.
Human rights and democracy issues are included into the agenda of our dialogue with the European Union. Uzbekistan is the first and only country in Central Asia which has institutional “Dialogue on Human Rights” with the EU and holds its sessions annually.
At the same time, history clearly shows that there is no universal model of democracy, which could be equally suitable for all nations. Democracy is the product of internal development of the nation. In this regard, we welcome when we are helped to develop democracy in our country on the basis of partnership, equality and mutual respect. In other words, if to paraphrase Sir Winston Churchill, "we are always ready to learn although we do not always like being taught".
There is a clear understanding in Uzbekistan that a sustainable development of a country, the quality of life and health of its population can be guaranteed only with provision of the quality of environment. As it was stated by a great English thinker Francis Bacon, “We cannot command Nature except by obeying her”.
The most troubling topic is drying up of Aral Sea, which pulls a number of ecological problems. During the last 50 years, the area of Aral Sea water square has been reduced more than 5 times, the water level has dropped by 24 meters, its volume decreased for 10 times. New deserts are emerging in near Aral zone.
With aim to solve the Aral problem, large-scale programs directed at social-economic development of Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm province, which are the part of near Aral zone, are being realized. The last studies are showing that the situation has a tendency towards improvement.
At the same time we realize that this crisis can be effectively solved only with the participation of other countries in the region and assistance of international community. In this context, an international conference "Problems of Aral: impact on the gene pool of population, flora and fauna and international cooperation for mitigating consequences" was held on 12 March 2008 in Tashkent by the initiative of President Islam Karimov. Participants of the forum elaborated specific recommendations for further solution of this problem.
The issues of rational usage of water resources of trans-bordering rivers of the region – Amu-darya and Syr-darya have a special significance. Today this concerns directly more than 50 millions of people, what requires well thought-out decisions in the usage of water resources, first of all the river flowing that bear trans-border character, in the interests of all countries and people of Central Asia. Otherwise, this can further aggravate the situation with water supply downstream the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya, accelerate environmental catastrophe of the drying Aral Sea and impede sustainable development of tens of millions of people in the region.
According to the international law, all states that use international watercourse in their territories should take "all measures to prevent other states of watercourse from significant damages", and in case of infliction - implement measures “to eliminate or reduce such damage". In our view, the emerging controversy should be resolved bilaterally, between the countries of our region. Any involvement of outside forces should not lead to deepening of the problem.
V. I would like to recall that the history of relations between Uzbekistan and United Kingdom did not begin from the time of "Great Game" in the 19th century. Back in the early 15th century, in 1402, the great ruler of Samarkand Amir Temur and English King Henry IV exchanged letters, after which we can count the chronicle of our diplomatic relations.
Uzbekistan supports development of stable and long-term relationship with Britain and welcomes new dynamics in the bilateral political dialogue. In our view, there are avenues of common interests where we can efficiently cooperate on bilateral and multilateral levels. We have a good legal basis, which consists of more than 10 sighed bilateral documents.
In particular, this is relevant to the trade and investment cooperation where great unperformed opportunities exist. They were revealed during the 14th session of Uzbek-British Trade and Investments Council (UBTIC), which took place in November, 2007 in London. The next meeting of UBTIC is planned for autumn this year in Tashkent.
United Kingdom is one of largest trade partners of Uzbekistan among the EU countries. Royal Bank of Scotland, Oxus Gold, BAT, Rosehill Energy and other British companies are working successfully on the Uzbek market. Up to 10 new companies are planning to do business in our country. Perspective spheres are agricultural, textile, oil and gas, chemical, mining and construction industry, Clean Development Mechanism projects, transport communication, tourism, pharmacy and banking.
Cultural cooperation has a good basis and perspective as well. Regional Office of the British Council, which was opened in 1996 by His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales, as well as the International Westminster University are functioning in Tashkent.
We are developing productive educational and scientific ties with the Central Asian Forum of Cambridge University, School of Oriental and African Studies of London University and International Institute of Strategic Studies. There are good opportunities to intensify exchanges in the framework of the “2008 – Year of Youth” in Uzbekistan and upcoming celebration of 2200 anniversary of Tashkent in 2009.
We welcome ongoing increase of interest towards our country from the UK citizens. For instance, tourist volume from Britain to Uzbekistan increased by 20% in 2007 and 30% in the first quarter of 2008.
VI. In conclusion, I would like to stress that taking into account the tremendous historical role of the British Parliament in the formation of country's foreign policy, we expect from you and your colleagues a better understanding and comprehension of Uzbekistan and unrealized potential and benefits of bilateral relations in all fields.
I do believe that with your contribution traditional good ties, both of deep and recent history, will be advanced in the nearest future.
Thank you for your attention.