Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In accordance with national legislation, including in accordance with the Concept of Foreign Policy Activity and the Defense Doctrine of the Republic of Uzbekistan, our country does not participate in military blocs. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov in an interview with the Pravda Vostoka newspaper, answering a question about the possible resumption of Uzbekistan's participation in the CSTO.

“Uzbekistan has always advocated and continues to advocate a peaceful solution to all issues, especially the conflict in Afghanistan, which for many decades has caused anxiety in neighboring countries. We have constantly stated that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. This point of view is now shared by many in the world community. And the withdrawal of the international coalition troops from Afghanistan has shown the loyalty of our approach,” said Abdulaziz Kamilov.

“In accordance with national legislation, including the Concept of Foreign Policy Activity and the Defense Doctrine of the Republic of Uzbekistan, our country does not participate in military blocs. In addition, in practical terms, the fact that today our republic has a significant potential of its own to ensure national security is no less important. Reforms in the field of military construction are progressing successfully, the military-technical base of the national army is being strengthened,” the Uzbek Foreign Minister added.

“Of course, the modern world is developing extremely dynamically. The architecture of the global world order is in constant flux. Undoubtedly, this brings with it certain challenges and threats, which can be resisted in different ways, including through military alliances and organizations,” he said.

“However, when faced with security challenges, relying only on military force is not always productive. After all, there are other tools that are no less effective and even in most cases do prove to be quite effective in countering security challenges. One of these tools is diplomacy,” Abdulaziz Kamilov emphasized.

The Foreign Minister said that the methods of preventive diplomacy have repeatedly proved their usefulness in the past and are currently proving their viability, including in approaches to the new situation in Afghanistan. And here we are talking not only about bilateral diplomacy. At the international multilateral level, a whole system of political and diplomatic mechanisms has been created and is constantly developing, aimed at preventing, perhaps, any type of challenges and threats to national and regional security.

“For example, in Central Asia there is a balanced system of dialogue mechanisms between the countries of the region and major partners in the 5 + 1 format. Such platforms function in relations with Russia, the USA, the EU, China, India, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. In addition, in the region, in addition to the CSTO, there are such organizations as the CIS and the SCO, within the framework of which topical issues are discussed, including those related to ensuring regional security, including the problem of Afghanistan, ”he said.

“The recent participation of Uzbekistan in the CSTO summit as an honored guest, as well as at the SCO + CSTO meeting in Dushanbe, where the situation in Afghanistan was discussed, is an integral element of our balanced and pragmatic diplomacy,” he said.

“Thanks to a proactive and open policy, our country has established strategic partnership relations with all Central Asian states and world powers. Cooperation with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism is actively developing, military-technical cooperation is progressing successfully. The dialogue built with partner states on all aspects of interaction in the region helps to strengthen regional stability, creates conditions for tackling serious security challenges,” he added.

According to Abdulaziz Kamilov, all this makes it possible to effectively discuss and timely resolve issues of preventing and promptly countering emerging threats.