Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 12 October, the VI Central Asian Expert Forum was held in Bishkek, organized by the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic (NISI) with the assistance of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

The event was attended by the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov, the head of UNRCCA Kakha Imnadze, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Avazbek Atakhanov, as well as heads of strategic institutions of Central Asia, representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Kyrgyzstan, independent think tanks and the media.

Director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Eldor Aripov spoke as a speaker at a panel session on the topic: “Towards deepening cooperation between the countries of Central Asia, increasing the level of trust and sustainable development.”

In his report, he especially emphasized the importance of meetings held on a regular basis in the format of the Expert Forum of Central Asian Countries. As the head of ISMI emphasized, this indicates a high level of trust and partnership between countries.

Eldor Aripov admitted that before 2017 there was practically no need to talk about processes of regional consolidation. Unresolved issues regarding water and borders were very pressing. The formats of the Central Asian Economic Community and the Organization of Central Asian Cooperation, launched at one time, have not received proper development.

“Not all countries in the region then took part in the formation of the CACO and CAEC models; many decisions remained declarative,” the expert noted.

According to him, November 2017 was a turning point in this regard. Then, on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a conference on Central Asia was convened in Samarkand. All foreign ministers of the region’s states attended the event. The initiative of the Uzbek leader to establish a Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia was supported.

It is very important, stated Eldor Aripov, that the call to adopt the UN General Assembly Resolution on Central Asia was accepted. A kind of “Samarkand Consensus” was formed. All Central Asian countries confirmed their readiness to develop regional cooperation. This desire was supported by the foreign policy partners of the states of the region, acting as co-sponsors of the mentioned resolution.

“Now, for the first time in many years, we have become clearer and more precise in understanding that the fate of each individual Central Asian country will be determined not only by itself, but will also directly depend on the processes that are taking place in our common region. This awareness is very important. And in this regard, we are on the right track,” the expert emphasized.

At the same time, in order to maintain the given dynamics, in Eldor Aripov’s opinion, it is necessary to further strengthen the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian interconnectedness of the region, maintain its openness to the world, and continue to convert challenges into opportunities for the formation of a new model of regional cooperation in changing conditions.

In this regard, the head of ISMI considers it important to begin the implementation of the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan put forward at the summit in Dushanbe, in particular:

- to form a full-fledged free trade zone without exemptions and restrictions, which will increase the volume of trade turnover;

- develop a Strategy for the development of industrial cooperation in Central Asian countries for the long term. This will give a systematic character to joint efforts in this area;

- create the Economic Council of the Central Asian States, which will become an effective mechanism for ensuring cooperation on the entire complex of trade and economic agenda.

Separately, attention was drawn to the importance of strengthening regional identity in Central Asia. As the director of ISMI stated, it, in fact, should become the basic, supporting structure of cooperation in Central Asia.

Regional cooperation, in his opinion, can be effective when it is based not only on common interests, but also on common values and traditions shared by all.

“Otherwise, such cooperation will only have a tactical, changeable nature. Unlike values, which are permanent, interests tend to change and evolve,” concluded Eldor Aripov.