25 March, 2012

Politics:
A special message of Ambassador Fen of Uzbekistan in Seoul
President Islam Karimov’s Greeting Address at Navruz Festive Occasion

POLITICS

A special message of Ambassador Fen of Uzbekistan in Seoul

Korea, Uzbekistan mark 20th year of diplomatic relations

The following message by Ambassador Vitali Fen of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea was contributed to The Korea Post for publication on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Uzbekistan.-Ed.

It is a high privilege for me to address today the esteemed readers of "The Korea Post" on the occasion of an important landmark both for Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea-the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries that is celebrated on January 29.

The foundation of bilateral relations between our states was laid on December 30, 1991, when the Republic of Korea among the first countries recognized Uzbekistan's independence. Subsequently, the diplomatic relations were established on January 29, 1992. Ever since our countries have been engaged in vigorous political dialogue. The intensity of close cooperation can be manifested by the fact that over the past 20 years there have been eleven summit meetings between our heads of state.

Within a short, from historical point of view, period of time our countries have gained enormous experience of mutually beneficial cooperation in political, trade-investment and cultural-humanitarian areas that serves as a solid foundation for further implementation of long-term projects between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea.
In March of 2006 during the State visit to the Republic of Korea by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan His Excellency Islam Karimov a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between our countries was signed that greatly contributed to furthering and strengthening multifaceted Uzbek-Korean relations and elevated them to a new qualitative level.

The State visit by the President of the Republic of Korea His Excellency Lee Myung-bak to Uzbekistan that took place in August 2011 became an important step in the process of furthering Uzbek-Korean diversified relations and filled them with practical content of strategic partnership between our nations.

Over the 20 years of diplomatic relations we have laid a solid legal basis for bilateral cooperation which today encompasses more than 200 documents that streamline collaboration in different fields.

Uzbekistan and South Korea on the basis of reciprocity render support for positions of each other on various important regional and international issues. In particular, Uzbekistan welcomed the outcome of a G-20 summit that Seoul hosted in November of 2010. This event has consolidated an active mediating role of the Republic of Korea in a dialogue between the developed and developing countries thus strengthening its authority and influence on the world arena.

Uzbekistan, as an initiator of establishing the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, strongly supports a non-nuclear status for the Korean Peninsula. In this context, it entirely supports a diplomatic solution of the nuclear issue of North Korea in the framework of the six-party talks.

Our countries are interested in quick stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan and believe that implementation of various international projects and programs of the post-conflict social-economic rehabilitation of Afghanistan nowadays acquires especial importance.
We have achieved a notable success in the area of promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation. In 1995, in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea a Parliamentary Association of Friendship "Korea-Uzbekistan" was founded. In 2005, in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan a similar group of cooperation with Korea was established.

I am very pleased to note that just recently on the eve of the 20th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea His Excellency Park Íĺĺ Ňŕĺ has visited Uzbekistan. During his meetings with President Islam Karimov, Chairwoman of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Diloram Tashmukhamedova and Chairman of the Senate Ilgizar Sabirov they have discussed ways of further strengthening bilateral relations as well as shared the common position on the importance of expanding interparliamentary relations that are conducive to that process.

Since 1995 Foreign Ministries of the two countries have been on regular basis holding their political consultations. The last session of such consultations took place in Tashkent in May of 2011. These meetings provide the parties with an opportunity in a frank manner to discuss all aspects of bilateral relations, exchange of views on important international and regional issues that are of mutual interest.

Since 2007 an Annual Forum "Republic of Korea - Central Asia" has been con¬vened. Its primary purpose to strengthen and expand cooperation in the area of economy, culture, education, tourism as well as to share with experience in the field of information-telecommunication technology, construction and transportation. The last, fifth, session of the Forum took place in Tashkent in November of 2011. Given the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Central Asian states the next session of the Forum will be held in Seoul on the level of Foreign Ministers.

The two countries also successfully cooperate on municipality level. Currently, there are agreements on collaboration between cities Tashkent and Seoul, Ferghana and Yongin, Namangan and Seongnam.
I would like also to note with satisfaction a sustainable tendency of expanding trade-economic and investment cooperation as well as a constant increase of two-way commerce that in 2010 amounted to $1.6 billion.

During the State visit of President Lee Myung-bak to Uzbekistan last August a number of important bilateral documents were signed that gave great impetus to deepening cooperation in trade-economic, investment and energy sectors. One of them is a project of constructing on the basis of the Surgil gas deposit an Ustyurt Gas-Chemical Complex on manufacturing polyethylene and polypropylene that would facilitate to creation of a large number of cooperation plants. The estimated cost of this project is $2.6 billion with annual production over $1.6 billion.

There are a myriad of opportunities for enhancing investment cooperation in mining, oil-gas, petrochemical, construction, automobile-manufacturing and textile industries as well as in agriculture sector and in the field of energy saving technologies.
Today in the Republic of Uzbekistan there are more than 360 enterprises with the Korean side participation, out of which 59 are with hundred percent Korean capitals. They function in the area of trade, light, mining, chemical and food industries, as well as in the sector of machine-building, metal-working manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and services. Currently, 84 Korean companies are registered at the Ministry for Foreign Economic, Investment and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The aggregate volume of announced Korean investments into the economy of Uzbekistan today exceeded $5 billion, including $2 billion that have been already drawn.

One of the promising areas of bilateral cooperation is the implementation of vari¬ous projects in the Free Industrial-Eco¬nomic Zone "Navoi" (FIEZ). Consolidation of opportunities that provide the FIEZ and International logistic center at the Airport of Navoi, which is currently managed by the leading world cargo carrier - Korean Air, creates exceptional conditions for developing highly remunerative production and swift delivery of manufactured products to world markets through an effective system of multimodal transportation by air, trucks and railroads.

In 2011 more than 50 thousand tons of cargo was shipped through Navoi Airport. The cargo terminal of this multimodal center has the capacity to process daily about 300 tons of cargo and 100 thousands tons annually.

Another important area for cooperation is the implementation of various projects pertaining to attracting to our country high innovative technologies aimed at creating new and upgrading current production lines. Within this cooperation Uzbekistan has started producing high valued products based on advanced science intensive technologies and become one of the world auto manufacturers.

At the present time active bilateral cooperation is underway thanks to technical assistance of the Government of the Republic of Korea that is rendered through the Korean Agency for International Cooperation (KOICA). As of today more than 1240 representatives of different ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan have undergone trainings in South Korea through KOICA' s programs.

Our countries also successfully cooperate in the cultural-humanitarian field. In order to strengthen mutual understanding between the people of the two countries, we have agreed on expanding humanitarian exchanges and interactions in the area of education, tourism and sport as well as on creating in Tashkent the Seoul Park.

The Korean Diaspora in Uzbekistan, that is the forth largest one in the world after China, the United States and Japan, plays an important role in strengthening friendly relations between our two countries.

Since 1999 the Society of Friendship "Uzbekistan- Korea" has been functioning in our republic. In addition, a Korean Center of education has been operating in Tashkent since 1992. It organizes on competitive basis language training and courses in Korea for Uzbekistan's teachers and students to increase their proficiency level on the Korean language. Currently, Korean is taught in 13 Universities and in more than 100 schools and lyceums of Uzbekistan.

The implementation of a project on opening in Tashkent of a Center for professional training "Uzbekistan-Korea" has become another success story in the area of education. Annually more than 360 young people of Uzbekistan will study in Korea on computer assembling, graphic arts, electrical engineering, repairing of agricultural machinery, and cars maintenance.

Successful cooperation is also underway in area of sport. South Korea renders assistance in developing Taekwondo in our country by providing training classes for Uzbek athletes in Korea as well as by sending to Uzbekistan Korean instructors and coaches. Thanks to this assistance three sportsmen from Uzbekistan on Taekwondo have passed the qualification and will represent our country in the next Summer Olympic Games in London.

The Uzbek side has welcomed the selection by the International Olympic Committee of Pyeongchang as the venue for the Winter Olympic Games - 2018. In Uzbekistan we believe that this decision of IOC is the recognition of Republic Korea's contribution to the world sport, its growing economic potential and vigorous efforts undertaken by its leadership.

In general, since the establishment of diplomatic relations the Republic of Korea has been and remains for Uzbekistan a time-tested and reliable, in all respect, strategic partner that renders coherent support in implementing in our country important national programs of drastic reforms and modernization of economy and social sphere. In this regard Uzbekistan strives for further developing and strengthening mutually beneficial relations with the Republic of Korea that serve the interest of the two countries and their peoples.

In conclusion, taking this opportunity, I would like to wish to the esteemed readers of this reputed magazine every success in all their endeavors, longevity and well-being.

President Islam Karimov’s Greeting Address at Navruz Festive Occasion

Dear compatriots!

Esteemed guests!

In these fabulous days filled with sunny warmth, when the nature awakens, the breath of spring is felt more plainly, when our wonderful land is dressed with green attire, I take a great pleasure to congratulate you, my dear friends, and the entire people of Uzbekistan, from the bottom of my heart, on the holiday of Navruz, a holiday of rebirth and rejuvenation.

For all of us, the Navruz is the start of a new year in the Eastern calendar, a symbol of noble aspirations and hopes for a rich harvest, abundance and prosperity, the most ancient, the most favorite holiday of our people, the one free of any political trends, an integral part of our spirituality and national values.

As far back as millennia ago, when Avesto came into being, our forefathers used to celebrate the coming of the new year – Navruz, by feeling themselves part of the nature, in such blissful spring days as we have right now, on the banks of Sirdarya and Amudarya, in wide spaces, in urban and rural areas of Turan. It was this period of the year when they used to start field works, sow the seeds in the blessed soil, and wished one another peace and prosperity, inspired by gracious thoughts and dreams.

The spirit and philosophy of the Navruz has always facilitated human life in harmony with native land and nature, the awakening of aspiration in the soul of everyone, irrespective of their ethnic origin and faith, for creation and wellbeing, consolidation of harmony and unity in society.

All this is being confirmed clearly today when the residents of our country are celebrating the Navruz with great joy and folk festivities, diverse performances; they enrich the table with traditional spring meals of sumalak, halim, kuk-somsa, gujja and the like.

The fine qualities distinct in our people – kindness and compassion, care and consideration to the honored aksakals and mothers, to those in need of support, the disabled, the orphans, the low-income families – are manifest even brighter in these days and are omnipresent.

These are the very reasons we look forward for this vivid and magnificent holiday, try to reveal our most splendid and infinite happiness.

This is the very reason why both in the antiquity and in the recent past, the evil forces, however formidable, failed to deprive us, our people from the Navruz.

One can state for sure, without any doubt, that owing primarily to the will and determination of the people, to its resolution to preserve its customs and traditions, the unfading values of ancestors, the Navruz has been endowing us with its vital force and beauty even today – across millennia.

I believe I will be voicing your common view, dear compatriots, if I say that our hearts are overfilled with a sense of tremendous pride for we are posterity and heirs of so great a people who values its virtue and honor, its national self-consciousness.

Dear friends!

Naturally, past the long and severe winter, every person is as if born anew, discovers the environment differently by feeling the tender warmth of sunray, by inhaling a light, clear spring air.

Indeed, all of us are meeting the current spring with greatest ever delight, special mood, and are confident that we will further also the set out high goals in 2012 announced as the Year of Family in our country.

The noble undertakings, wide-ranging reforms on democratization and liberalization of society will be continued, while the level of welfare and quality of life is to grow thanks to mounting population incomes, pensions, allowances, stipends.

Our people have from ancient times compared youth to spring, planted trees and gardens with kind thoughts about the future of their children. Today, looking at these energetic, goal-minded youths who have gathered here in this beautiful park where we are inspired by the image of the great Alisher Navoi, I would like to say:

Our dear and sacred Motherland believes in every one of you.

May this high confidence always inspire you and lend you power. And try to be always worth that trust, my dear kids!

Taking this opportunity, on this marvelous holiday, we cordially greet and express our kindest wishes to all our friends and partners, nations and peoples in near and far abroad, who have been cooperating with us and supporting our country on its path of dynamic development.

Allow me to convey gratitude to the respected ambassadors of foreign nations, representatives of international institutions present here, all the partners, overseas friends, and congratulate them sincerely on the Navruz holiday.

Dear compatriots!

I would like to express again my deep respect and earnest wishes to you who have gathered at this brilliant and glorious square, and to all our people in your person.

May peace and harmony, prosperity and abundance reign in every family and entire country!

I wish happiness and sound health to you all!

May the Almighty protect our people and country from various misfortunes and disasters!

Happy Navruz, my dear friends!