Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 19 July 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov received the Head of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) Vladimir Misev.

Topical issues of cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR in the framework of the preparation and holding of a referendum on the draft Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Amendments and Additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan” were considered.

The parties noted with satisfaction that in recent years, the constructive interaction of Uzbekistan with the ODIHR has significantly intensified. Full-scale missions of the Election Observation Bureau took part in the parliamentary (2019) and presidential elections (2016 and 2021).

The NAM delegation was informed in detail about the key aspects of the planned constitutional reform. It was especially noted that the amendments to the Basic Law are aimed at implementing the main principle - "In the name of the honor and dignity of a person." It was emphasized that the updated Constitution should create a solid legal basis, a guarantee of a long-term development strategy for Uzbekistan.

It was noted that the priority areas for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions and consular offices of Uzbekistan abroad in the upcoming referendum are all-round assistance to the Central Election Commission, the creation of favorable conditions for the active participation of our compatriots abroad in the voting.

Representatives of the ODIHR expressed their readiness to actively cooperate with the Uzbek side in preparing and holding the planned republican referendum in accordance with national legislation and generally accepted international standards.