New York, UN HQ

On 22 June 2018, the General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian Region” (document A/RES/72/283).

Introducing the draft text, the representative of Uzbekistan said that its main purpose was to gain the support of the international community in the efforts of Central Asian States to foster closer collaborations in order to ensure peace and stability in the region. He also emphasized their shared spiritual and cultural heritage.

By the texts’ terms, the Assembly expressed its support for the ongoing regional efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and stability in Central Asia and encouraged their efforts to promote peace and development in Afghanistan.

By the resolution, it also noted the importance of developing and strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation in the sphere of the rational and integrated use of water and energy resources in Central Asia and called upon Member States to support Central Asian nations in their efforts to mitigate the consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea.

The document also recognized the importance of preventive diplomacy and noted UNRCCA’s role in this context. It further encouraged the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia to continue its efforts to promote peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region, within its mandate, in promoting preventive diplomacy in cooperation with relevant regional and international organizations.