Amendments to the Constitution: a powerful impetus for the long-term foreign policy interests of Uzbekistan

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On April 30, 2023, the Parliament of Uzbekistan scheduled a referendum on the amendments to the Constitution of the Republic. 

The upcoming vote on the draft of the Basic law of our country "On the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan" will determine the development of the country for many decades.

This year, for the first time since the current constitution came into force, it is planned to make extensive changes to it. The number of articles in the country's Basic Law will increase from 128 to 155, and together with the amendments, the Constitution will be updated by 65%.

    These adjustments were required not because the Constitution failed to live up to the expectations associated with it. On the contrary, hindsight shows that its adoption in 1992 was a historically significant event for Uzbekistan. It ensured the country's progress in strengthening independence, achieving socioeconomic progress and democratizing. The basic law of the country is far from exhausting its creative potential.

    At the same time, we see something else. In the course of more than thirty years, the state and socio-political processes have changed dramatically. This is particularly noticeable when we look at the development of our country in the last 5-6 years.  Uzbekistan has become a different country in many respects.

Serious changes have taken place in our region and in the world in general. This dynamism is also reflected in the modern constitutional processes of our republic.

    As we know, any existing constitution is a political-legal document that should be sensitive to the fundamental changes in society and the state.

    Thus, life itself has put on the agenda the need to make adjustments to the Basic Law of the country.

    To briefly express the essence of the changes, they are aimed at solving a twofold task: to give a new impetus to the further development of Uzbekistan as a democratic, legal, social state, in which the highest value is the freedoms and rights of citizens, human rights and human welfare, as well as to ensure the sustainability of the state and its ability to meet the challenges facing our country in the 21st century.

    In this context, the foreign policy of Uzbekistan plays a special role. Cooperation in the international arena should help solve the tasks of socio-economic development of Uzbekistan and strengthen the political and economic security of the country.

    At the same time, constitutional norms and principles are the legal forms of expression of the most important objectives, enduring interests and values.

    In this regard, among the amendments related to international relations, there are innovations that imply the incorporation of generally recognized principles and norms of international law into the legal system of Uzbekistan.

    Thus, if an international treaty concluded by the Republic contradicts the national legislation, the rules of the treaty shall be applied.

    The principles of foreign policy, which Uzbekistan intends to follow, have been supplemented by "territorial integrity".

    According to Article 19 of the draft of the new Constitution, human rights and freedoms shall be guaranteed in accordance with the norms of international law. This provision allows for the direct application of universally recognized norms of international law and their implementation in national legislation.

    If in the current version of the Constitution the right of free movement in the country is enjoyed only by citizens of Uzbekistan, now it is proposed to extend it to all those who are legally in the state.

    Uzbekistan is now establishing itself on the international stage as a peace-loving and open state, a reliable partner in global and regional affairs.

    Tashkent is working hard to implement a proactive, open, pragmatic and well-considered foreign policy in line with the country's national interests in order to strengthen its sovereignty. It makes a significant contribution to shaping and implementing the global and regional security, cooperation and development agenda.

    The foreign policy strategy of the Republic has acquired new accents in the field of establishing trade and economic cooperation with foreign countries and attracting foreign investments.

    The country is implementing a large-scale program of profound socio-economic and socio-political reforms, which will contribute to Uzbekistan's entry into the group of 50 economically developed countries of the world by 2035.

    This goal can only be achieved through successful and consistent integration into the global political-economic and financial system.

    Moreover, in the dynamically changing global is important to ensure the more effective and systematic promotion of Uzbekistan's international initiatives based on pragmatism and systematic analysis to achieve concrete results for the country.

    The need to adjust the structure of foreign policy perspectives and diplomatic instruments to long-term interests makes it expedient to amend the Constitution of Uzbekistan.

    Thus, we can confidently say that the implementation of amendments based on the results of the forthcoming referendum on the Constitution of Uzbekistan will promote the strengthening of state independence of the country, its international authority, formation of a favorable external environment, strengthening of friendly and mutually beneficial political and economic relations of Uzbekistan with all interested states and international organizations.

Alisher Kadirov,                                                                     

Head of the ISRS Department under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan