Central Asian, EU Foreign Ministers discuss cooperation relations
11/11/2017 09:04
Central Asian, EU Foreign Ministers discuss cooperation relations
11/11/2017 09:04
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 10 November, a regular meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the countries of the “European Union – Central Asia” format was held in Samarkand.
At the meeting, Ministers of foreign affairs of Uzbekistan – Abdulaziz Kamilov, Kazakhstan – Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the Kyrgyz Republic – Erlan Abdyldaev, Tajikistan – Sirojiddin Aslov, Turkmenistan – Rashid Meredov, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini and the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica participated in the event.
At the 13th meeting of the ministers of “European Union – Central Asia” discussed current issues of cooperation.
Special attention was paid to future relations in this format, prospects of economic development of the region, as well as regional cooperation and security issues.
Following the meeting, the Joint Communiqué “EU and Central Asia: Working for a Safer and More Prosperous Future Together” was adopted.
Communiqué said that particular attention should be paid to enhancing Central Asia’s economic, transit and transport potential, which will require the implementation of programmes aimed at improving the investment climate, ensuring sustainable economic growth, effective border management, developing human capital through education and supporting small- and medium-sized businesses and employment.
“Continued and expanded dialogue and cooperation contributes to the efficient use of water and energy resources, the protection of the environment and for addressing climate change as well as other cross-border issues. In order to strengthen mutual understanding and trust among all the countries of Central Asia and to establish openness and transparency in relations, it is necessary for the countries of the region to make joint efforts to find mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial solutions,” the document said.
“The Foreign Ministers welcomed the European Union’s commitment to a relationship with Central Asia based on the principles of responsibility and cooperation and aimed at assisting the stable, secure and sustainable development of this region. They welcomed the European Union’s continued financial support amounting to €1 billion for programmes to be implemented in Central Asia until 2020. They also welcomed the involvement of EU Member States in regional and bilateral development programmes,” the Communiqué. said
The document said it is timely for the European Union to examine its approach to the Central Asian region, building on the experience gained during the ten years of the current EU Central Asia Strategy.
“The European Union employs a comprehensive approach to its engagement with the individual countries and to the region, encompassing not only political meetings and multilateral financial assistance, but also support by individual EU Member States and the active engagement of European and multilateral financial institutions, such as the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This approach continues to be relevant and brings direct, tangible benefits to the populations of the five Central Asian countries,” the document reads.
The close involvement of the governments of the Central Asian countries, as well as of civil society, is essential regarding any further development of the EU’s policy to take EU-Central Asia relations into the next decade, the Communiqué underlined.
It was decided to hold the next meeting of the foreign ministers in 2018 in Brussels.
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