Participants of the High-level International Conference "Regional Cooperation of Central Asian countries within the framework of the Joint Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy"

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Dear Heads of Delegations, Dear heads of international organizations!

Ladies and gentlemen!

I welcome you, participants of the international conference dedicated to the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, organized in partnership with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

I would like to express my special gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for supporting our initiative to hold this forum.

I express my gratitude to the OSCE Secretary General, Mrs. Helga Schmid, the UN Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, Mrs. Natalia German, and the heads of the foreign ministries of the Central Asian states for jointly organizing this important event.

Your support for the work of the conference is a convincing confirmation of your commitment to jointly countering terrorism and other challenges and threats in the name of universal security and stability.

 

Dear participants of the conference!

Today we are witnessing an increase in contradictions in international relations, a decrease in the level of trust and cooperation between countries. At the same time, hotbeds of tension remain in various regions of the world, armed conflicts continue.

The pandemic, which has affected all spheres of public life and economic activity, has a very negative impact on the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Crisis phenomena in the economy and social life increase inequality in the world, significantly increase the risks of exacerbating conflicts, creating a breeding ground for the spread of ideas of terrorism.

In such difficult conditions, it is important to unite the efforts of the entire world community in the fight against the growing global and regional security threats.

15 years ago, all countries of the world unanimously approved the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It became the first comprehensive, collective and universally recognized legal framework for combining national and international efforts in the fight against terrorism.

In 2011, Central Asia showed the first successful example of regionalization of this policy document, when all five countries adopted a Joint Action Plan for its implementation.

The implementation of this Plan has made it possible to strengthen the regional consensus on common principles and approaches in the fight against terrorism, to create effective mechanisms for cooperation both on a bilateral and multilateral basis.

The countries of the region have formed national systems to counter terrorism. Country action strategies have been developed that fully comply with the UN recommendations.

Thanks to this, our States were able to enter into a more structured and productive dialogue, exchange experience and important information, build up anti-terrorist potential and achieve by joint efforts what cannot be done alone.

And as a result, today many authoritative international ratings rank Central Asia among the safest regions of the world.

Fundamental positive changes have taken place here in recent years. Good-neighborly relations based on the principles of friendship, mutual benefit and trust are steadily developing between the countries of the region. Consultative meetings of the heads of Central Asian States contribute to the realization of the enormous potential of our countries in ensuring regional security and sustainable development.

Considering Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia, the States of the region provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, contribute in every way to the restoration of a peaceful economy and the involvement of this country in regional trade and economic ties.

 

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Uzbekistan has signed 14 major universal international legal documents and is actively participating in global efforts to counter international terrorism.

The State policy in this area is based on a comprehensive, inclusive and consistent approach. As you know, this approach combines the use of preventive, preventive measures along with law enforcement. Not only state bodies, but also civil society institutions are actively involved in the implementation of the main directions of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

The key priorities in this work are the establishment of an atmosphere of mutual understanding and the development of dialogue in society, conflict prevention, spiritual and moral education, the promotion of education, including vocational training, employment, social protection of vulnerable segments of the population. Special attention is paid to intercultural and interreligious dialogue, empowerment of women and youth.

The fundamental basis of the fight against terrorism in Uzbekistan is ensuring human rights and freedoms, the rule of law. We are convinced that the fight against terrorism and the protection of human rights are goals that do not contradict, but complement and reinforce each other.

I am sure that today you will be able to comprehensively analyze the progress of our cooperation within the framework of the Joint Action Plan and fill it with new important directions.

In this context, we propose to consider a number of proposals to improve the effectiveness of joint counteraction to terrorism and extremism.

First. It is obvious that further successful implementation of the counter-terrorism strategy in the region requires strengthening mechanisms for continuous monitoring and critical assessment of the implementation of the Joint Action Plan, coordination of interaction between the Central Asian countries.

In this regard, we consider it a long overdue need to open an office of the UN Counter-Terrorism Directorate in our region.

In order to achieve the maximum synergetic effect from coordinated cooperation in countering terrorism in Central Asia, we propose to ensure its close interaction with leading international and regional organizations involved in solving security issues.

Second. Today, almost all countries of the world are facing terrorism in cyberspace. The Internet is becoming a tool for spreading radical ideology, recruiting people, providing financial support, planning and committing terrorist activities.

In these conditions, it is fundamentally important to develop the potential of our states in the field of effective counteraction to the use of digital technologies for terrorist purposes.

We call on the UN Counter-Terrorism Office to step up efforts to implement the Program on Cybersecurity and New Technologies in Central Asia adopted in 2020.

Within the framework of this Program, we consider it important to create a Unified electronic network on cyberterrorism in Central Asia, designed to promote the exchange of experience and data, research and best practices in this area.

In addition, the cross-border nature of security threats in cyberspace requires the creation of unified international legal mechanisms to effectively counter various manifestations of extremism and terrorism in the information sphere. We hope for the UN's assistance in organizing and coordinating a dialogue on this issue.

The third. In recent years, Central Asian countries have repatriated more than 1,500 of their citizens from military conflict zones, developed unique approaches to their rehabilitation and reintegration.

In this regard, we propose to establish, under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, a regional Expert council from among the leading experts of Central Asian countries. Its main task will be to improve rehabilitation and reintegration programs for radicalized citizens, as well as to develop proposals to combat the propaganda of terrorism in our countries.

Fourth. The most important condition for successful counteraction to terrorism and extremism is an effective youth policy. The UN Youth Strategy emphasizes that young people are a valuable and extremely important resource, investments in which will pay off many times.

The future of our countries depends on how the younger generation will grow up, what kind of education and upbringing they will receive, what conditions and "social elevators" we will create for them.

For a comprehensive discussion of all these issues, we propose to convene in Samarkand in 2023 the permanent Youth Council of the countries of Central and South Asia, which we proposed earlier. Following the meeting, it is important to develop a substantive Action Plan to expand multilateral cooperation between the youth of our countries, exchange experience in creating favorable conditions for the self-realization of the young generation and the formation of their stable immunity to the ideas of extremism and terrorism.

Fifth. As you know, the promotion of the ideas and principles of tolerance, mutual respect, interreligious and intercultural dialogue with the participation of all segments of society occupies a key place in the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

In 2018, at the initiative of Uzbekistan, the UN General Assembly adopted a special resolution "Education and religious tolerance", which emphasizes the importance of eliminating illiteracy and ignorance, promoting tolerance, mutual respect and mutual understanding in the name of strengthening security and peace on the planet.

We propose to hold a high-level conference "Education and Religious Tolerance" next year under the auspices of the UN, following which we will determine promising areas of practical cooperation in promoting the ideas laid down in a Special UN resolution.

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Our efforts in preventing and combating terrorism will be effective only if they are effectively coordinated at the regional and global levels.