UN Secretary-General's meetings with the Central Asian leadership during the 66th General Assembly

27 Sep 2011

UN Secretary-General's meetings with the Central Asian leadership during the 66th General Assembly

NEW YORK, September 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held meetings with H.E. Roza Otunbaeva, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan as well as H.E. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and H.E. Elyor Ganiev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the margins of the 66th regular session of the UN General Assembly. Press statements, highlighting key points of discussions, were issued after each meeting.

New York, 19 September 2011 - Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with H.E. Ms. Roza Otunbaeva, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, on the margins of the 66th General Assembly

On 19 September 2011 the Secretary-General met with H.E. Ms. Roza Otunbaeva, President of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Secretary-General and the President discussed the situation in Kyrgyzstan and the upcoming presidential elections. The Secretary-General noted the President's personal efforts to ensure that the elections are carried out in a transparent and credible manner. He confirmed the commitment of the United Nations to provide technical assistance for the elections.

The Secretary-General and the President also discussed reconciliation and human rights in Kyrgyzstan. The Secretary-General encouraged Kyrgyzstan to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission and offered the assistance of the United Nations in this respect.

The Secretary-General assured President Otunbaeva of the continued support of the United Nations for reconciliation, peace building and stabilization efforts in Kyrgyzstan.

New York, 21 September 2011 - Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the margins of the 66th General Assembly

On 21 September 2011 the Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Secretary-General commended Kazakhstan for its leadership on regional initiatives and for its contributions towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The Secretary-General and the President discussed the security situation in the region and the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism.

The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Kazakhstan's contributions towards the stabilization of the region.

New York, 22 September 2011 - Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, on the margins of the 66th General Assembly

On 22 September 2011 the Secretary-General met with H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan. The Secretary-General thanked the President for Turkmenistan's continued support for the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, located in Ashgabat.

The Secretary-General and the President discussed prospects for regional cooperation, including in the field of counter-terrorism. The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Turkmenistan's efforts to promote economic cooperation between Central Asia and Afghanistan, and commended Turkmenistan's regional initiatives in the fields of disarmament and energy.

The Secretary-General confirmed the readiness of the United Nations to continue its support for electoral processes in view of the upcoming presidential elections in Turkmenistan in 2012.

New York, 26 September 2011 - Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with His Excellency Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, on the margins of the 66th General Assembly

On 26 September 2011 the Secretary-General met with His Excellency Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed regional issues of peace and security, including possible threats by extremist elements to Tajikistan.

The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister agreed on the importance of regional cooperation in meeting shared challenges in the region such as counter-terrorism and the management of shared water-resources. The Secretary-General appreciated the contributions of Tajikistan towards the improvement of the situation in Afghanistan.

New York, 27 September 2011 - Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with H.E. Mr. Elyor Ganiev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the margins of the 66th General Assembly

On 27 September 2011 the Secretary-General met with His Excellency Mr. Elyor Ganiev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the margins of the 66th General Assembly.

The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister affirmed the importance of regional cooperation to meet common challenges in Central Asia, such as counter-terrorism and the management of water resources. The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed the reforms agenda in Uzbekistan, including the issue of human rights.

The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Uzbekistan's contributions to the stabilization of Afghanistan and the support rendered to the work of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

The Secretary-General also underscored his concern on the need to protect the livelihood of people affected by the drying up of the Aral Sea and the restoration of its environment.