UN
28 Nov
2014
Fifth Annual Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asian states
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan
The 5th Annual Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asian countries, convened by UNRCCA, took place on 28 November 2014. The meeting focused on developments and trends related to peace and security in Central Asia, including in a context of post 2014 Afghanistan. Participants exchanged views on existing and emerging threats to security in the region and on ways to effectively respond to them, with UN support. They also discussed ways of strengthening regional cooperation, including through UNRCCA initiatives, aimed at assisting the countries of Central Asia to address these challenges.
In the course of the meeting, participants reviewed UNRCCA past activities and discussed main priorities of the Centre in 2015, as well as the new Programme of Action of the Regional Centre for the period 2015-17.
The meeting was opened by Miroslav Jenča, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNRCCA, who underlined the importance of regular yearly Deputy Foreign Ministers meetings for joint analysis of developments in the region and review of a set of preventive tools and mechanisms aimed at strengthening peace and security.
In his opening statement, Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, expressed readiness to continue closely cooperating with the UN Regional Centre, and added that
In his opening statement, Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, expressed readiness to continue closely cooperating with the UN Regional Centre, and added that
Today’s consultations are a key step to consolidate our regional cooperation in all dimensions of security in Central Asia”.
For his part, Jens Toyberg-Frandzen UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, emphasized the role of Central Asian states in tackling the global challenges and threats and said that “this is a time for dialogue, cooperation and action, not silence, isolation and resignation”.
Delegations were headed by Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Askar Beshimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyz Republic; Nizomiddin Zohidi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan; and Fathulla Abdurahmanov, Counsellor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ashgabat. Present as special guests were also Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA and Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia.
The participants expressed support for the efforts of the UN Regional Centre to create conditions conducive for achieving durable solutions to regional challenges, taking into account the interests and needs of all Central Asian countries.
Joint Statement of the Fifth Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asian states
Delegations were headed by Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan; Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Askar Beshimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyz Republic; Nizomiddin Zohidi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan; and Fathulla Abdurahmanov, Counsellor of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ashgabat. Present as special guests were also Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA and Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia.
The participants expressed support for the efforts of the UN Regional Centre to create conditions conducive for achieving durable solutions to regional challenges, taking into account the interests and needs of all Central Asian countries.
Joint Statement of the Fifth Meeting of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asian states
