TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

From 28 February to 1 March, SRSG Kaha Imnadze visited Tashkent and met with H.E. Tanzila Narbaeva, Speaker of the Senate, Mr. Muzaffarbek Madrakhimov, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Ismatulla Irgashev, Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mr. Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies and Mr. Javlon Vakhabov, Director of the International Institute of Central Asia. Besides he met with the UN colleagues and the diplomatic community.

The visit was part of bilateral consultations following the SRSG’s briefing at the UN Security Council on 30 January 2024. SRSG Imnadze underlined the Security Council’s support to the initiatives and efforts of the Central Asian states to build trust in the region and the projects implemented by UNRCCA in the field of preventive diplomacy.

Furthermore, discussions focused on the current joint activities and future plans to address challenges related to transboundary water management, prevention of terrorism and violent extremism as well as implementation of the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas.

The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for security in Central Asia were also discussed. The Uzbek interlocutors stressed the necessity of providing socioeconomic and humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan in the present very challenging situation.