Ferghana Valley governors “launched” a flash mob in support of peace in Central Asia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — UN Headquarters, through its key Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding, published information on the recent Ferghana Peace Forum, designed to become a new regional platform for strengthening dialogue and partnership between the countries of Central Asia. This once again underscores the significance of this event, which extends far beyond the region and is a landmark event for the entire international community.

As a reminder, the Forum took place in Ferghana on October 15-16 of this year. It was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, the OSCE, the EU, and a number of international and national partners.

The event was attended by over 500 guests, including over 300 participants from Central Asian countries, the CIS, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

A key feature of the meeting in Ferghana was its inclusive nature – participation included not only representatives of government agencies, expert and academic circles, but also civil society activists, including youth and women's groups.

The forum served as a platform for comprehensive dialogue. A separate meeting was held between the governors of the three border regions of Ferghana, Osh, and Batken. During the meeting, the regional leaders discussed prospects for cooperation and agreed to develop multifaceted collaboration to ensure peace and sustainable development in their respective regions.

The Ferghana Forum also provided an opportunity for representatives of civil society, local communities, and youth organizations to discuss and outline new plans for the implementation of joint projects and programs aimed at ensuring the valley's prosperity. This undoubtedly strengthened civil society collaboration and contributed to the irreversible creative processes that have transformed the Ferghana Valley into a zone of peace and good neighborliness.

Moreover, the Forum served as a platform for international organizations to develop coordinated approaches to supporting regional countries' initiatives aimed at strengthening security and stability.

The essence and content of the discussions held at the forum were reflected in the Communiqué. This joint document stated that relations between the states of the region are strategic, comprehensive, and multifaceted.

The countries are linked by ties of partnership and alliance, which require maintaining continuous and multi-level dialogue between states and governments, as well as between parliaments, regions, and civil society.

The flash mob attracted widespread attention when, following the example of the heads of the border regions of Ferghana, Sughd, and Batken, who sealed their meeting with a demonstrative handshake, the public in the three countries began actively expressing their solidarity with the regional leaders on social media with similar handshake gestures.

Notably, the heads of international organizations also joined this action, including Kaha Imnadze, Head of the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia; Kate Fearon, Director of the OSCE's Conflict Prevention Centre; and Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia. This, in turn, was a clear demonstration of the willingness of representatives of government agencies, civil society, and international organizations to consolidate their efforts to maintain stability and ensure sustainable development in the region.