Uzbekistan open to cooperation with rights organizations that respect its tradions and mentality – Abdulaziz Kamilov

“If it suits us – we will work together. If it does not align with our mentality and traditions, we will not accept it,” he stated.

Abdulaziz Kamilov made these remarks in the Davra podcast of the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel while commenting on Uzbekistan’s relations with human rights organizations from the United States and Europe.

The podcast host recalled that in the past, Western countries often raised issues of human rights and democracy in their talks with Uzbekistan and asked how the situation stands now.

Kamilov noted that these issues remain on the agenda, though, according to him, the United States now raises them less frequently.

“The process of democratic transformation cannot stop. The more a state develops, the more actively this process continues. There will always be shortcomings. One could say that the United States has now taken a pause and raises such sensitive issues less often,” the Presidential Adviser said.

He added that Uzbekistan’s doors remain open to European human rights organizations as well.

“But we must understand – Europe remains Europe; nothing has changed there. European human rights organizations are highly developed. We are not closing our doors to them. They are welcome to visit, observe, and give us advice. If it suits us, we will certainly cooperate. If it does not – if it contradicts our mentality and traditions – we will not accept it. But we have no closed topics whatsoever,” Kamilov said.

Abdulaziz Kamilov also mentioned that Tashkent and Washington’s positions are increasingly converging on a number of regional and global issues.

“Today, the views of [US President] Trump and ours – our relations and positions on regional and international matters – are becoming increasingly close,” the Presidential Adviser stated.