On September 15, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke at a press conference following negotiations with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand. According to the German government’s press service, Scholz emphasized that Uzbekistan is a "very important partner for Germany, including for the near future." He remarked that he had the opportunity to discuss further development of relations between Germany, Uzbekistan, and the entire Central Asian region in the historic city of Samarkand, located on the traditional Silk Road.
"That’s why it was important for us to discuss the further development of our bilateral relations, including economic relations, where there are many questions about how German companies and Uzbekistan’s development interests align," Scholz said.
The chancellor paid special attention to the intergovernmental agreement on comprehensive cooperation in the fields of migration and mobility, which had been signed.
The new agreement, which was prepared over several months, is expected to simplify legal migration for citizens of Uzbekistan to Germany. At the same time, Tashkent will be required to accept back individuals who are in Germany without legal grounds.
"This agreement fits the framework of what we are negotiating with many other countries around the world right now. We are ensuring the necessary immigration of skilled workers that Germany’s economy needs to grow. At the same time, we are agreeing on simple, non-bureaucratic rules so that those who need to return do so. This is absolutely the right way to handle this big task, and this is just a small part of the larger structure we are building," Scholz explained.
Scholz also said that he discussed Afghanistan, Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, Uzbekistan's development, and the "continued need for democratization" with Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
In June, Der Spiegel reported that the German government was conducting secret negotiations with Uzbekistan to return Afghan nationals who do not have the right to asylum in Germany, without directly negotiating with the Taliban.
According to the publication, at the end of May, a German delegation, under the instruction of the Interior Minister Faeser, visited Tashkent to discuss the plan with the Uzbek government.
"The Germans proposed a specific plan to the Uzbek government," the report said. "According to the plan, Germany could deliver Afghan candidates to Tashkent on charter flights. From there, Afghan citizens would be flown to Kabul on KamAir private airline planes. This route would guarantee that Berlin does not negotiate directly with the 'Taliban' government, but could still deport Afghans who are to be deported."
