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ANVAR OBIDOV. FOREIGN POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN // The article was written for the bulletin "Russia and the Moslem World."
Keywords: Uzbekistan; foreign policy; sovereignty; development strategy.
Anvar Obidov,
2 year master's student, IIR & SPS, MSLU
Abstract. The article analyzes the foreign policy of Uzbekistan at the beginning of the 21 century.
Since the time of getting independence, Uzbekistan has become able to conduct its own foreign policy. The first foreign policy concept of the Republic of Uzbekistan was developed by Islam Karimov and approved in 2012. Foreign Policy Concept of the Republic of Uzbekistan defines the following provisions:
1. The Republic of Uzbekistan shall reserve the right to enter into unions, communities and other inter-state units, as well as to leave them, guided by higher interests of the state, the people, its welfare and security, priority directions of modernization of the country, the national legislation in force and the undertaken international commitments;
2. Uzbekistan pursues a peaceful policy and does not take part in the military-political blocs, reserves the right to withdraw from any inter-state unit in the event of its transformation into a military-political bloc;
3. The Republic of Uzbekistan shall take political, economic and other measures to prevent involvement in armed conflicts and hotbeds of tension in the adjacent states, as well as shall not allow deployment of foreign military bases and facilities in its territory;
4. In accordance with the Constitution, the law "Defense", Military Doctrine the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan are formed up solely for protection of the state
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, peaceful life and security of its population and do not take part in peacekeeping operations abroad.
The foreign policy of Uzbekistan is based on the course toward achievement of peace, stability and cooperation and the following principles are adopted:
• Openness for cooperation, regardless of ideology, commitment to universal values, preservation of peace and security;
• Respect for the sovereignty of other states and recognition of the inviolability of borders;
• Non-interference in the internal affairs of other states;
• Peaceful settlement of disputes;
• Non-use of force or threat of force;
• Respect for human rights and freedoms;
• Advantage of generally recognized norms of international law over domestic laws and regulations;
• Equality and mutual interest in inter-state relations, supremacy of national interests of the state;
• Development of external relations on the basis of bilateral and multilateral agreements.
The goal of Uzbekistan's foreign policy is strengthening of independence and sovereignty of the country, promotion of national interests, maintenance of peace in the region, creation of favorable conditions in the world for development of Uzbekistan, increasing its authority among other countries. Foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan meets the generally recognized standards and principles of international law, including the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Declaration on Principles of International Law and Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
After the presidential elections in 2017, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies to submit the updated draft concept of Action Strategies for five priority lines of development
of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2021, which is one of the main and priority tasks of foreign activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021, namely:
1. Improvement of the system of state and social construction;
2. Ensuring the rule of law and further reforming of judicial and legal system;
3. Development and liberalization of the economy;
4. Social sphere development;
5. Ensuring security, interethnic harmony and religious tolerance, as well as implementation of a balanced, mutually beneficial and constructive foreign policy.
To achieve this goal, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic has been assigned the following tasks:
Formation of the most favorable foreign policy conditions for effective implementation of democratic reforms and dynamic processes of modernization of society and economy in the country;
Preservation and strengthening of peace and stability in Central Asia, transformation of the region into a zone of security and sustainable development;
Formation of a balanced multi-faceted system of strategic partnership with the leading states of the world and international organizations;
Promotion of international initiatives of Uzbekistan in the most important areas of regional and international policy;
Assistance in increasing the volume of exports of domestic products and expanding its geographies;
Active promotion of foreign direct investments and advanced technologies in priority sectors of the national economy;
Assistance in attraction of foreign tourists and development of tourist infrastructure of the Republic;
Assistance in expanding and strengthening of cooperation in the field of transport and transit, development of international transport communications and logistics infrastructure;
Ensuring comprehensive protection of the rights and interests of citizens and legal entities of the Republic of Uzbekistan and outside the Republic;
Strengthening ties with the compatriots living abroad.
As mentioned above, the main priority of Uzbekistan's foreign policy is the region of Central Asia. Uzbekistan's policy is aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region, resolving key issues of the regional security, including the promotion to settlement of the situation in Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan is ready to support all efforts contributing to stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan and return of this country to the normal course of development. A significant event in this line was the international conference "Peace process, security cooperation and regional cooperation". This conference is initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The conference was attended by President of the Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, UN special representative in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, heads of foreign services of Russia, USA, UK and other states, as well as representatives of 25 states and international organizations'. As President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted, in fact "fire of the war was imposed on the Afghan people from outside, it was s not their choice." According to the Chief of the Office for Cooperation with the Middle and the Near East countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Otabek Akbarov "the main purpose of the conference is to express the consolidated position at the regional and global levels on the need for the earliest possible start of direct negotiations between the government of Afghanistan and the movement Taliban without any preconditions."
During the Tashkent conference on Afghanistan, the presidents of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan discussed further development of bilateral relations. President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani sincerely thanked President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for International forum on Afghanistan held in Tashkent, and underlined his readiness to deepen cooperation in the areas of mutual interest.
The conference resulted in adoption of the Tashkent Declaration on Afghanistan.
The Republic of Uzbekistan and China are close regional neighbors. Basic principles of relations with China are set out in the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership of June 6, 2012 and Joint Declaration on Further Development and Strengthening Bilateral Relations of Strategic Partnership of September 9, 2013. On May 14 in Tashkent there was held the international conference "Uzbekistan and China: prospects of joint implementation of the "One Belt, One Road initiative."
According to Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies at the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan V. Norov, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Yu Xinhua, the cooperation between Uzbekistan and China is consistently developing in all directions, the project "One Belt, One Road" plays an important role in the expansion of bilateral trade and economic relations.
Uzbekistan supports the project "One Belt, One Road," initiatives in the field of transport, trade, investments, energy and high technologies and is actively involved in the development of programs for opening of transport and logistics routes that will link Central Asia with the countries of South, Southwestern Asia and Europe through China and Russia.
As part of the event, the participants exchanged views on the priorities and prospects of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation in the spheres of transport communications, trade, economy, tourism, science and education. It was also mentioned about strengthening
bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and China, on the tasks of consistent implementation of agreements reached within the framework of the project "One Belt, One Road."
The project "One Belt, One Road" is perceived as a new model of international cooperation for it is based on the principles of effective use of opportunities of developed countries and assistance to countries with developing economies. The result of the forum was the elaboration of practical recommendations for further development of trade and economic, investment, transport and logistics, cultural and humanitarian, mutually beneficial partnerships within the frames of the project "One Belt, One Road."
As strategic partners and allies, Uzbekistan and Russia attach great significance to development of comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation. According to the Strategic Partnership Agreement of June 16, 2004, the Allied Relations Agreement of June 14 November 2005, as well as the Declaration Further Consolidation of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation of June 4, 2012 meet the interests of both countries and serve to strengthen stability and security in the region. The most important task in bilateral relations is to ensure practical and full implementation of the agreements reached during the state visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Russia on April 4-5, 2017.
Within the frameworks of the talks, much attention was paid to consolidation of Russian-Uzbek trade and economic cooperation. During the negotiations, the presidents of the two countries announced signing of agreements on joint investment projects worth $ 12 billion approximately. Following the meeting, the heads of state signed a Joint Statement by President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. A package of intergovernmental, interdepartmental and corporate documents, more than 50 agreements and contracts in the economic, energy, military-
technical, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres were also signed.
It should be noted that the year 2017 has become a very bright and significant year for Russian-Uzbek relations. The year was marked by significant intensification of cooperation between the subjects of the Russian Federation and administrative-territorial units of Uzbekistan, intensification of interregional relations through Russian-Uzbek and Uzbek-Russian business centers, as well as in other areas, among which the most important role is played by military cooperation (the parties ratified the agreement on the development of military cooperation). Another important point is the fact that Uzbekistan plans to expand the network of consular offices in Russia and continues to actively develop cooperation in the field of education and science. Thus, branches of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics are working in Uzbekistan, the question of opening other Moscow universities in Uzbekistan is under consideration.
In general, Russia and Uzbekistan cooperate and will cooperate actively and fruitfully in all areas and, as mentioned above, are important strategic partners and allies. Summing up, it should be noted that the Republic of Uzbekistan is an important strategic state, which plays a key role in solving regional problems in Central Asia.
References
1 International cooperation. Foreign policy // 15.05.2018 [Electronic resource] -Mode of access: https://mfa.uz/ru/cooperation
2. Tashkent Declaration on Afghanistan adopted// uza.uz 27.03.2018// [Electronic resource] - Mode of access: http://www.uza.uz/ru/politics/ prinyata-tashkentskaya-deklaratsiya-po-afganistanu-27-03-2018
3. Tashkent urged Afghanistan to sit down at the negotiating table with the Taliban/ / RIA Novosti 24.03.2018/ / [Electronic resource] - Mode of access: https://ria.ru/20180324/1517193754.html
4 "One Belt, One Road": Prospects of Joint Actions // Ca-Times Central Asia News. 15.05.2018 [Electronic resource] - Mode of access: https://ca-times.org/ ekonomika/324-odin-poyas-odin-pu (access date: 19.03.2009). 5. International cooperation. Foreign policy // 15.05.2018 [Electronic resource] -Mode of access: https://mfa.uz/ru/cooperation
ELENA DMITRIEVA. WATER RESOURCES OF CENTRAL ASIA: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTION // The article was written for the bulletin "Russia and the Moslem World."
DOI: 10.31249/rmw/2019.03.03
Keywords: water shortage, Central Asia, transboundary rivers, water consumption, environmental problems, conflicts.
Elena Dmitrieva,
Senior Research Associate, INION RAN
Abstract. The author considers the situation with water use in the republics of Central Asia, which developed in the postSoviet period. The ways and means of solving problems related to water supply in the region are analyzed.
The shortage of fresh water is one of the global problems at the present time, since water is the main natural resource without which human activity is impossible. Arising from the increase in water consumption as a result of population growth, it leads not only to a decrease in living standards, but also to a slowdown in the economic growth rates of countries experiencing a shortage of water resources. There is an opinion among experts that water may become an even more significant strategic resource than oil and gas in the future, as well as one of the main objects of confrontation. Even today, the situation with water use in some regions of the world leads to conflicts.
