BUCHAREST, Romania

On 15 April 2019, SRSG Natalia Gherman participated in a Ministerial conference on the new EU Strategy for Central Asia that took place in Bucharest, in the framework of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. The conference gathered high ranking officials from the EU and Central Asian member states, representatives of partner organizations and expert community. In her statement at the opening of the Conference, the SRSG highlighted the regional evolutions and the existing cooperation between the UN and the EU in Central Asia. Referring to the issue of connectivity between the EU and Central Asia, the SRSG mentioned that “the UN supports all initiatives on connectivity and trade facilitation allowing for increased cross border movement of people, goods and services. They are critical for the revival of growth and prosperity and will have a major impact on the sustainable development of the region. The UN and the European Union have common values and goals in assisting the Central Asian partners to transform the region into an area of peace, security and prosperity. The United Nations, including through the UNRCCA, will continue to rely on a close collaboration with the EU”.

On 16 April, the Head of UNRCCA participated in a high-level conference “The 2030 Agenda: Partnerships for sustainable development”, that represented an opportunity to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development at the national and regional levels, improve coordination between Governments and international partners and exchange best practices.

Addressing the conference, SRSG Gherman referred to the efforts of the United Nations system in partnering with the Central Asian countries in implementing sustainable development goals, mentioning in particular the work on water, climate action, energy, women and youth empowerment. She underlined that “the region  is already an example of the indivisibility and the integrated nature of the Global Goals and its economic and human potential can and will lead to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda ensuring that the benefits of development are spread broadly and fairly”.

On the margins of the conferences, the Head of the UNRCCA held bilateral meetings with Mr. Teodor Melescanu, Foreign Minister of Romania, Mr. Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Mr. Ioan Deneş, Minister of Waters and Forests of Romania, Mr. Mark Moody and Ms. Ellen Connorton, Office of Central Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. At the meetings, the SRSG discussed activities of the UNRCCA in Central Asia and the practical ways to enhance cooperation with partner countries and organizations.