The thirteenth annual Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asian states, organized by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), took place in Bishkek, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reports.
Deputy Foreign Ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting.
Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister, Chyngyz Aidarbekov, emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the Central Asian states and the UN on matters of mutual interest related to peace and security in the region.
The states of Central Asia support a multi-vector foreign policy and strengthen their connections despite the complexity of intertwined global issues, said Kaha Imnadze, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Central Asia and the Head of UNRCCA, addressing the participants.
He emphasized that UNRCCA would continue to collaborate with the governments of Central Asian countries on existing and new directions related to preventive diplomacy.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on issues in Central Asia and ways to address them. Special attention was given to climate change and transboundary water management, prevention of violent extremism, counter-terrorism, and issues related to the situation in Afghanistan.
Participants discussed how the UN Regional Centre could further support the efforts of the region's countries in addressing problems related to global inequality, environmental degradation, transnational organized crime, and radicalization.
During the event, UNRCCA also conducted the Fifth Regional Dialogue between high representatives and young people from Central Asian countries.
This year, participants from the Academy of Preventive Diplomacy of UNRCCA shared their vision of sustainable development as the basis for long-term peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
The next annual Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers is scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan at the end of 2024.
Photo: Eurasiatoday.ru
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 30, 2023