OSCE Swiss Chairmanship Special Representative Praises Central Asia Regional Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Special Representative of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship for the Promotion of Dialogue and Trust-Building, Ambassador Serge Roumin, has concluded a two-day visit to Uzbekistan. During the visit, he discussed regional interaction, trust-building, and the further development of cooperation in Central Asia with state officials and expert circles.

The visit was part of a regional tour that also covered Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The main focus was on studying contemporary regional integration processes and exchanging views on strengthening peace, stability, and good-neighborly relations within the OSCE area.

During his stay in Tashkent, Serge Roumin held meetings with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Muzaffar Madrakhimov; First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Sadyk Safoev; Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Eldor Aripov; and representatives of the International Institute for Central Asia.

One of the key topics of the negotiations was the outcomes of the Fergana Peace Forum held in May and the provisions of the Khujand Declaration, which are currently viewed by experts as vital elements in shaping a new atmosphere of cooperation in Central Asia. The interlocutors discussed prospects for the further development of regional dialogue, as well as opportunities to utilize the accumulated experience to promote trust-building initiatives on a broader international level.

According to Serge Roumin, the recent achievements of Central Asian countries demonstrate the effectiveness of political dialogue and mutual trust as tools for solving common problems.

"Recent progress in regional cooperation demonstrates the value of dialogue, trust, and good-neighborly relations in solving common challenges and creating new opportunities for the peoples of Central Asia. This experience can also provide valuable guidelines for broader discussions on trust-building and regional interaction across the entire OSCE space," he noted.

Special attention during the visit was paid to involving youth in peacebuilding processes and cross-border cooperation. Before arriving in Tashkent, on June 22, the Special Representative participated in the Young Peacebuilders Initiative for the Development of Cross-Border Cooperation, held in Fergana.

The event brought together more than 30 young leaders from the border regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The participants discussed practical mechanisms for strengthening trust among the youth of neighboring states, developing joint projects, and expanding humanitarian contacts in the Fergana Valley.

As part of his trip to the Fergana Region, Serge Roumin also met with the Hokim of the region, Khayrullo Bozorov, with whom he discussed regional development issues and prospects for further cooperation in border areas.

Experts note that the visit of the representative of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship takes place against the backdrop of a noticeable strengthening of regional interaction in Central Asia. In recent years, the countries of the region have significantly intensified political dialogue, expanded trade and economic ties, and enhanced cooperation in water resource management, transport connectivity, and security provision.

In this regard, the OSCE's interest in the experience of Central Asia indicates growing international attention toward the region as a platform for the successful development of mechanisms for trust and neighborliness.

The outcomes of the visit confirm the readiness of international partners to support further initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, sustainable development, and regional stability.