A number of important developments in the foreign policy of the country took place in the second decade of December. In particular, representatives of Japan, Finland, USA, France had a meetings in the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Uzbekistan. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a law “On ratification of Convention of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization against terrorism (Yekaterinburg city, 16 June 2009)”, attended a session of the Council of Collective Security of the member-states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
On December 14, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan Yoshihisa Kuroda and Roving Ambassador of Finland to Uzbekistan Ms. Tuula Yrjölä held a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
The sides exchanged opinion on actual issues of the Uzbek-Japanese and Uzbek-Finnish cooperation.
On December 15, a delegation of the United States led by Commander of the Transportation Command of the US Army General William M. Fraser III visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
The sides exchanged opinion on separate issues of the bilateral cooperation.
On December 15, a delegation led by Director of the Continental Europe Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France Eric Fournier held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
Bilateral political consultations were held within the visit of the French delegation. The sides discussed issues of political, trade-economic, humanitarian and technical cooperation, as well as strengthening partnership in tourism sector. The sides also paid attention to perspective directions of trade-economic and investment cooperation. In this context, it was noted that there is need to concrete and mutual beneficial projects, which will allow to lift cooperation to new level.
The parties also discussed issues of regional cooperation and confirmed adherence of the sides to develop relations within such international structures as the UN and the OSCE.
On December 16, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a law “On ratification of Convention of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization against terrorism (Yekaterinburg city, 16 June 2009)”.
Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan passed the law on 30 November 2011 and Senate approved it on 6 December 2011.
The Convention sets norms on protection of sovereignty and includes list of inter-state measures on preventing terrorism, determining use of the Convention, sets borders of jurisdiction, forming base and order of rendering legal aid.
The document includes legal mechanisms on issuing and transferring convicts, reflects issues of cooperation of law enforcement bodies of the SCO member states.
On December 20, in Moscow was held а session of the Council of Collective Security of the member-states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The meeting was attended by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, President Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, and CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha.
Leaders of the CSTO member states discussed aspects of foreign defence policy and countering modern challenges and threats.
They have also agreed upon a plan of events to be held next year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Treaty on Collective Security and the 10th anniversary of the CSTO’s establishment; a joint statement has been approved on the matter.
The rotating presidency over all CSTO statutory bodies has been transferred from Belarus to Kazakhstan.
On December 20, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov attended summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the city of Moscow.
Taking a floor at this venture, President Islam Karimov delivered a thorough analysis of activities by the CIS and its institutions for the past twenty years of its existence. Uzbekistan’s leader stressed that the association played a critical role in securing a harmless dismantlement of the obsolete system during that historic turn. Uzbekistan has from the very moment of the establishment of this institution insisted that the Organization become an association of practical action and a reliable platform for multilateral cooperation of new essence.
It was put emphatically that the effectiveness of CIS activities is contingent on the fact as to what extent the projects and efforts undertaken within it will meet the interests of every participating country, will further the practical goals and tasks of securing sustainable development, maintaining security and stability on the entire space covered by the Commonwealth.
The heads of CIS member nations exchanged views on prospects of advancing interaction and issues pertaining to regional and international politics.
Information above is based on the following online news sources: www.mfa.uz, www.uzdaily.uz
