President of Uzbekistan received the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

On November 21, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Michael Møller.

Warmly welcoming the guest, the head of our state noted with deep satisfaction that the visit to the republic of a representative delegation of the United Nations to participate in the events of the first Asian Forum on Human Rights, which will begin its work today in Samarkand, is another confirmation of the consistently strengthening bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN.

It was emphasized that a noticeable increase in contacts and reciprocal visits contributed to the establishment of a constructive dialogue and expansion of the fruitful cooperation of our country with the structures and institutions of the Organization aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Currently, Uzbekistan has adopted and jointly implements a number of policy documents and roadmaps to develop practical cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labor Organization, UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization and other United Nations agencies.

It was especially noted that at the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan in June of this year, for the first time, a special resolution of the UN General Assembly on ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region was adopted, which received broad international support.

Joint work is also continuing to promote the initiatives of our country to adopt the International Convention on the Rights of Youth and the resolution of the General Assembly of the Organization on “Education and Religious Tolerance”.

During the conversation, prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the United Nations, as well as topical issues of the international and regional agenda were discussed.

Special attention was paid to combining the efforts of the world community to mitigate the consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster, including through the implementation of socio-economic and humanitarian programs and projects in the Aral Sea region.

A big practical step in this direction will be the implementation of Uzbekistan’s initiative to create a special Trust Fund under the aegis of the UN. On November 27 of this year, the first event of this structure at a high level will be held at the headquarters of the Organization in New York.

The sides also considered issues of comprehensive assistance to a political settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, which is a key factor in ensuring peace and stability in our region and far beyond its borders.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Michael Møller expressed his gratitude to the head of our state for the warm welcome, and also conveyed the sincere greetings and best wishes of the Secretary-General of the Organization António Guterres.

He highly appreciated the large-scale reforms and transformations carried out in Uzbekistan at the new stage, aimed primarily at ensuring the interests, rights and freedoms of individuals.

It was especially noted that the implemented Development Strategy of our country in five priority areas in its essence and content is consistent with the goals and objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda for the period up to 2030.

Michael Møller expressed the full support of the Organization for the efforts of Uzbekistan to strengthen trust, good neighborly relations and constructive partnership in Central Asia, as well as to promote sustainable development in the region.

The UN confirmed readiness to deepen the multi-faceted cooperation with Uzbekistan.