Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 14 July, the Institute of Strategic and interregional studies (ISMI) hosted a meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Central Asia, head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia Gherman, who arrived in Tashkent to participate in the International Conference high level “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities”.

During the conversation, issues of regional cooperation were discussed, as well as attention was paid to the organization of joint events for the practical implementation of important initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, put forward at the 75th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly. It was emphasized that Uzbekistan put forward a number of proposals aimed at increasing interconnectedness and creating new mechanisms for cooperation in Central Asia.

Taking this opportunity, the head of the UNRCCA Natalia Gherman shared her expectations from the international event. According to her, the conference in Tashkent is an important and significant event, which is confirmed by the high level of its participants. She is convinced that the event can serve as a basis for establishing peace and stability not only in Eurasia, but throughout the world.

This, Natalia Gherman emphasized, is a historical event, since for the first time the issues of interconnection between the two regions are being considered. The conference will become an important platform for stakeholders to discuss issues on further priority areas of cooperation. Moreover, against the background of the ongoing events in Afghanistan, the demand for this conference is growing many times over. The event is also aimed at consolidating the positive shift in the interregional dialogue.

In November 2021, the ISMI jointly with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office and UNRCCA plans to hold an international conference in Tashkent dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the joint implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.