TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

On 11 May, SRSG Natalia Gherman took part in the Forum “Public Diplomacy – mutual understanding for development” jointly organized by the Parliament of Uzbekistan, the Government of Uzbekistan and the Center for Public Diplomacy of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Uzbekistan.

The Forum was attended by high-level SCO and Uzbekistan Governmental  officials, including the Speaker of the Parliament Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva, Acting  Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Vladimir Norov and the SCO Secretary General Mr. Zhang Ming, as well as delegations of the SCO member and observer-states.

In her address to the Forum, SRSG Gherman highlighted importance of public diplomacy in restoring trust and mutual understanding between states and peoples. Noting the cooperation between UNRCCA and SCO, she underlined the potential role of public diplomacy instruments and institutions in strengthening regional cooperation and promoting implementation of the Women Peace and Security and Youth Peace and Security agendas.

The Forum discussions focused on cooperation between parliaments, governments and civil society organizations and public diplomacy institutions with the aim of strengthening good neighborly relations in the SCO region. Participants paid particular attention to enhancing an inter-faith and cultural dialogue, partnership within the humanitarian field and ties between youth organizations across the SCO region.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the communique emphasizing the role of public diplomacy in strengthening ties between the peoples of the SCO countries and maintaining peace and security in the region as a whole.