Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Central Asia, the Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Kaha Imnadze took part in the forum in Khiva via videoconference.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for supporting this forum.

“This forum once again confirms Uzbekistan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in the region, ensuring peace and security”, Kaha Imnadze noted. “On the other hand, when a difficult situation develops in the world, the Central Asian region demonstrates an example of sustainable cooperation. The mechanism of the Consultative Council between the heads of state plays a key role in this process”.

Kaha Imnadze noted that the forum is essential in developing interparliamentary relations, serves to exchange experience, and jointly finds solutions to existing problems.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also stressed the crucial role of parliaments in promoting peace, security, and sustainable development. In particular, it was stated that the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without the participation of parliaments.

The UN Special Representative highly appreciated the inclusion of women’s and youth issues in the forum agenda. Emphasizing the crucial role of the parliaments of the Central Asian states in ensuring gender equality and protecting women’s rights, Kaha Imnadze noted that Uzbekistan’s activities in this direction, including the results of organizing and developing a dialogue between women leaders of the countries of the region, deserve special attention.

The Head of the UNRCCA stated that the UN is ready to strengthen cooperation with Central Asia in areas such as the use of transboundary waters, ensuring gender equality, and increasing youth activity.

Norgul Abduraimova, photo by Bekzod Saidov, UzA