The conference was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan jointly with the European Institute of International Relations (Belgium), Institute of Prospects and Security in Europe (France), Centre for Policy Studies (Uzbekistan) and the regional office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) in Central Asia.

The forum was attended by experts and analysts on security issues from Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, India, Italy, China, Pakistan, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Tajikistan, France, as well as representatives of international organizations.

The main topics of discussion at the conference were questions of sociopolitical and economic modernization in Uzbekistan and the countries of the region, as well as initiatives to resolve the situation in Afghanistan put forward by the President of Uzbekistan during the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest.

It was noted that issues of security in Central Asia, which has significant energy resources, as well as in Uzbekistan, which has a special geostrategic position, were of a particular importance to the EU and the world at large. The need to deepen economic, political and humanitarian ties between Central Asia and Europe is also growing.

Virtually all participants of the conference noted that security and stability was an essential condition of sociopolitical and socioeconomic reforms in the region. At the same time, these reforms will contribute to preserving peace and development of economies and political systems of the states, they said.

The participants emphasized that the countries of Central Asia were seeing a dynamic process of sociopolitical and socioeconomic modernization, which was taking place at different speeds and with varying success. At the same time, it is clear that in this complex process of forming national statehood there are certain laws and principles, which, as the experience of Uzbekistan shows, should be sequential, systematic, take into account the level of political culture, legal consciousness, mentality, customs and traditions.

Attempts to impose and artificially accelerate democratic processes, introduce universal models of democracy can lead and, as in some countries of the region, are leading to destabilization of the sociopolitical situation and undermining the foundations of security.

According to president of the European Institute of International Relations Irnerio Seminatore, the "democratic paradox" of such policies is that thanks to principles of political pluralism and political alternative sometimes extremist forces come to power, which are often supporters of undemocratic development of the state. According to the Belgian scientist, in the modern world democracy has no chances to take root in societies in which it "is borrowed from a totally different, alien country in terms of cultural values and historical traditions".

In the sphere of economic modernization sequence in market reforms also proved crucial. The implementation of principles like avoiding shock therapy and strong socially-oriented economy help prevent mass impoverishment of the population and dangerous growth of social tension.

In this context, Professor Ajay Kumar Patnaik of the School of International Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (India) highlighted the experience of Uzbekistan, which in the course of sociopolitical and economic modernization introduced its own social welfare system that ensures stability in the society.

The conference attendees paid a particular attention to the situation in Afghanistan. It was noted that achieving peace and stability in that country was an important factor not only of the regional but also of the global security and sustainable socioeconomic development of all countries in Central Asia.

They agreed that attempts to solve the Afghan issue through military force would neither have prospects, nor yield the expected result. Noting the need to shift the Afghan problem from the military into the political perspective, the participants supported the initiative of the President of Islam Karimov to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan, which he made at the NATO/EAPC summit in Bucharest on 3 April 2008.

The proposals of Islam Karimov on the need to address the priority social and economic problems in Afghanistan, provide the people with work, form the effective power vertical and others are currently the best and most promising, it was noted.

"The initiatives of President Islam Karimov are perceived very positively, since they are based on the need for peaceful resolution of the problem of Afghanistan," president of the European Institute of International Relations Irnerio Seminatore said.

Former Ambassador of Italy in Uzbekistan Iolanda Brunetti highly evaluated the initiatives of Uzbekistan on Afghanistan, calling them "break-through". According to her, "President Islam Karimov has once again demonstrated the far-sighted policy". "The constructive initiatives of the Uzbek President sounded at the right time and offer the best formula for a wide range of problems to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan." She also stressed that proposal on the 6 +3 Contact Group in coordinating its activities with UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Afghanistan was a "bright idea".

This structure, acting under the UN and renewed in light of contemporary realities, might include representatives of states neighboring Afghanistan, Russia and the United States, as well as the authorized NATO representatives. It could become a basis to develop effective mechanisms to implement new approaches to achieve peace and harmony on the Afghan soil, and contribute to the efficiency of the negotiating process between the warring parties in that country.

The conference participants noted that the only correct way was to provide full support to the Afghan people in peaceful solution of the existing conflicts and development of the economy and rebuilding the war-ravaged infrastructure. During the discussion, the emphasis was also placed on the need to ensure a phased implementation of reforms in the state and social construction and formation of civil society.

The attendees comprehensively reviewed and positively evaluated the reforms conducted in Uzbekistan in democratic renewal and modernization of the country.

It was noted that Uzbekistan had successfully created a bicameral parliament and was improving the national legislation in accordance with international norms and democratic requirements. Formation of the civil society and its institutions is actively continuing and increasingly helping to solve important problems facing the country. The abolition of the death penalty in the country and the transfer of the detention authorization to courts was an important result of the legal and judicial reforms.

The achievements of Uzbekistan in the development of market economy were also highlighted. The grain independence has ensured food security and protection of the domestic market from fluctuations on the world food market. New industries, including automobile, gas, chemical and others have been developing. Maximally favorable conditions for expansion of small business and private entrepreneurship, as well as attraction of foreign investment in the country have been created.

As pointed out by Ajay Kumar Patnaik, the stability in Uzbekistan has been achieved due to significant efforts in the area of policy and legislation. The space for ideological pluralism, free market and private property has been created in the country. In addition, Uzbekistan is a state where many nationalities live and has made great success in inter-ethnic cooperation, he said.

"Peace and stability are a very high value," Myusha Sever, director of the Open Dialogue project of the New Democracies Institute (USA), said. "However, they do not appear by themselves, you need to do much work. We must acknowledge that the people of Uzbekistan have managed to save the peace and stability in the country, and are committed to universal and national values." "I am confident that in the near future, Uzbekistan will take its place as a respected partner among other global actors on the world stage," she noted.