Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov made this point of view at the scientific and practical conference "New points of growth for further expansion and strengthening of cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan" organized in Dushanbe on 3 June.

Today, as Nematov noted, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are implementing a comprehensive agenda of bilateral interaction, which covers all spheres without exception, from the economy, trade to the development of cultural and humanitarian ties.

In his words, the achievement of these lofty goals cannot be imagined without addressing the issues of ensuring security and stability, both in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and in the region as a whole.

In Uzbekistan, as the expert emphasizes, they proceed from the principle of indivisible, equal and comprehensive security. Threats cannot be divided into “ours and those of others,” and they can only be effectively counteracted by collective efforts.

Guided by this approach, Uzbekistan is building a security architecture in the region based on mutual trust, dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation. Pursuing a pragmatic and constructive foreign policy, Uzbekistan seeks to create an atmosphere of good-neighborliness and mutual understanding in the region, which makes it possible to effectively respond to security threats and turn Central Asia into a space of stability and sustainable development.

And, as the representative of the ISMI emphasized, it can be stated without exaggeration that the Uzbek-Tajik interaction in this area today is an exemplary model of cooperation, is multifaceted and multi-level, and is an important factor in ensuring regional security.

In particular, following the results of mutual visits at the highest level in March and August 2018, the legal framework of cooperation was significantly strengthened. Of 54 documents signed, 12 streamline interaction in the field of prevention and elimination of emergencies, combating transnational crime, terrorism, extremism, as well as in the military and military-technical fields.

Cooperation between defense departments has reached a completely new level. A powerful impetus to this direction was given by the agreements on military and military-technical cooperation signed in 2018, the introduction of the practice of adopting annual plans for military cooperation. So, since 2018, to date, 25 joint events have been held, including 8 mutual visits of high-ranking officials of the defense departments, command-staff negotiations, joint exercises.

The intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in this area, adopted in 2018, gave new breath to cooperation in the field of prevention and elimination of emergencies. Since November 2020, the interdepartmental Joint Action Plan for 2021-2022 is being implemented.

Since August 2018, the practice of holding joint collegiums between the emergency departments of the countries has been introduced, the exchange of operational information has been established, joint work is being carried out to strengthen the dams of transboundary rivers, aerovisual surveys of high-mountain lakes, locust control in the border areas, etc.

The interaction of law enforcement agencies and special services in the fight against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other forms of organized crime has significantly intensified.

A constant exchange of information is provided, joint operational-search activities are carried out, and mutual legal assistance is provided. Since 2017, the Coordination Working Group has been meeting regularly, headed by the first deputies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the two countries. Altogether, 4 meetings have already been held.

The high level of mutual understanding and cooperation in the field of security is also evidenced by the launch in September 2019 of a consultation mechanism between the offices of the security councils of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, as well as the introduction of the practice of adopting medium-term plans for bilateral cooperation in this area.

The scientific-practical conference "New points of growth for further expansion and strengthening of cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan" was organized by the International Institute of Central Asia jointly with the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The forum was attended by leading experts from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, including the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Center for Economic Research and Reforms under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. From the Tajik side, experts from the Center for Geopolitical Research, the Institute of Language and Literature, the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan and others participated.