Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke in favor of holding regular consultations of the heads of the Central Asian security and special services.
"Unfortunately, the recent tragic events in Uzbekistan have once again confirmed the presence of destructive forces that are trying to disrupt our plans and sow chaos and instability in our region. In this regard, we support the proposal to launch regular consultations of the heads of security services and special services of the region's countries in all these directions," Uzbekistan's leader said at a consultative meeting of Central Asian heads of state in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata on Thursday.
Mirziyoyev noted that the security of Central Asian countries to a large extent depends on their effective cooperation in this area. "In this regard, we need to further increase practical cooperation in combating traditional threats of extremism and terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking," the president said. Mirziyoyev added that new challenges related to illegal activities on the Internet require special attention. "Today, there are no borders for these threats - they penetrate through cell phones," he said.
On July 1-2, mass riots took place in the Uzbek region of Karakalpakstan under the pretext of disagreement with the change of its status in the new version of the country's constitution. The republic said its citizens had been misled into taking over the government. The total number of victims, according to official data, was 21, and 247 citizens sought medical help.
Regular consultative meetings of Central Asian heads of state contribute to the growth of trade between the countries of the region, he said.
"As has been repeatedly noted today, thanks to the established dialogue in this format, we have managed to strengthen relations of friendship and good neighborliness and create an entirely new atmosphere of constructive cooperation in the region. A favorable environment has been formed, which contributes to the growth of mutual trade and investment. Over the past five years alone, the volume of intra-regional trade has doubled," he stressed.
The president of Uzbekistan also proposed that Central Asian countries create a system of cross-border trade zones with unified rules and promote alternative transport corridors to reach the markets of India, Pakistan and China.
Expanding aid to the Afghan people
Uzbekistan is in favor of developing trade ties and expanding assistance to the Afghan people, the head of state said.
Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan attend Thursday's meeting in Cholpon-Ata.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS