“Uzbekistan’s Presidency in Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Challenges and Prospects”

- the topic of a roundtable held at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) with the participation of leading Russian experts.

Speaking to the participants of the roundtable the Uzbek side elaborated on priorities of the SCO Presidency, reminding participants about the initiatives of the President to improve effectiveness of the Organization, including development of its international contacts, strengthen the regulatory framework, etc.

The event’s participants marked a balanced and focused approach of Uzbekistan to the SCO Presidency.

In this regard, Professor V. Naumkin, Doctor of Historical Sciences, said that the country was a Russia’s strategic partner. The Chairmanship of Uzbekistan, the SCO aims to give new impetus to development of the Organization, implementation of a number of constructive initiatives for its institutionalization.

Central Asia has always been crucial in the activity of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

As President of the Republic of Uzbekistan repeatedly pointed out, the important priority of our country’s foreign policy is maintenance of peace and stability in Central Asia and making this region a stable security zone. In this regard, the priorities of the Organization and Uzbekistan are the same.

As is known, the main source of security threats in our region is the 30 years lasted war in Afghanistan, where, unfortunately, there is a tendency to exacerbate tensions and confrontation. And one cannot talk about security and stability in Central Asia without solving the problem. For most of the countries, involved in the conflict, it becomes apparent that military means to resolve the Afghan problem are useless.

Our head of state is convinced that without addressing such critical issues as rebuilding the war-torn economy, communications and social infrastructure of Afghanistan, with no involvement of Afghans themselves in the process, reaching internal consensus and strengthening authorities positively one cannot change the situation in the country.

In this respect, our country provides an example of constructive engagement in the reconstruction of the destroyed by years of war the economy of our southern neighbor. It is through Uzbekistan’s transportation corridors international relief supplies continuously delivered to Afghanistan. The Uzbek energy workers each year increase the electricity supply, the constructors have restored dozens of bridges and other transportation infrastructure.

PARTICIPANTS’ OPINION:

Gennady Chufrin,
RAS Associate Member, Member of Directorate of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of RAS:

- I appreciate the perspectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as very important. Over 9 years of its existence, the SCO demonstrates the significant progress and is currently a very important factor not only regional, but also global politics and economics. It is important that the SCO is actively involving all its members. Uzbekistan’s Chairmanship gives the opportunity to make important, meaningful initiatives, aimed at improving the Organization. Today's roundtable has once again demonstrated that all issues, occurring in the SCO, must be addressed together. I am sure we will are on the right track.

Sergey Luzyanin,
Deputy Director of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies, Professor of Moscow State Institute of International Relations:

- I believe the Presidency of Uzbekistan in SCO provides additional political and intellectual resources of the Organization. It allows more objective and detailed consideration at a high level of external, in particular, transAfghan threats, including drug trafficking, terrorism, transnational crime and other challenges.

Today, Uzbekistan as SCO Chair not only precisely highlight key points, but also as a state, bordering with Afghanistan, clearly recognizes the value of the SCO both in security and economic cooperaÔtion terms.