Результаты конференции 19-sentabr | Page 18

FIRST PLENARY SESSION: “REGIONAL INITIATIVES OF UZBEKISTAN AND THE ROLE OF GERMANY IN ENSURING SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL ASIA” Statement of Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Niels Annen Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norov, Ms. Kiefer, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ladies and gentlemen, Esteemed guests! I would like to start by thanking the organizers’ of this event for giving me the opportunity to speak with you today and to explore ideas with you on working together in the coming years. The timing of today’s conference is auspicious for two reasons. Firstly, there has been significant momentum in Uzbekistan and the region since President Mirziyoyev took office. Much has changed for the better. Alongside many notable shifts in domestic policy in the country, we are experiencing an unexpected development – in the past year or two, Uzbekistan has worked systematically, resolutely and intensively to make its foreign policy more open and robust, particularly as regards improving relations with its neighbours, with which it has many interests in common. At the initiative of President Mirziyoyev, the first meeting of Central Asian presidents in 13 years was held in Astana in March. And it is also thanks to him that relations with Tajikistan are improving, while endeavours are being made to stabilise Afghanistan. Uzbekistan is thus becoming a regional heavyweight in foreign policy and demonstrating a clear willingness to take on greater responsibility in the future. Secondly, the European Union is publishing a Joint Communication on a future EU-Asian connectivity strategy today. Today’s conference also shows how important this step is. As part of the European Union, Germany is an active partner country to Central Asia. This is how Germany wants to be seen. And it wants to become even more involved in the region. I am certain that there is great interest on both sides in working even more closely together, as the challenges we need to address make such cooperation increasingly necessary. 18