The Republic of Uzbekistan is a member of more than 100 international organizations.

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1 The Republic of Uzbekistan is a member of more than 100 international organizations. Uzbekistan became a member of the United Nations Organization on 2 March The main priorities of cooperation with the UN are the issues concerning countering current threats and challenges, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, reconstruction of Afghanistan, ecological problems, social-economic development, promotion and protection of human rights. Uzbekistan has ratified all 13 UN conventions on countering terrorism and introduced essential initiatives on consolidation of the efforts in this field. The Republic of Uzbekistan welcomes the progress in elaboration of legal documents in the field of countering terrorism. However, it is obvious that practical results in this sphere can be achieved only by creating a global system of multilateral cooperation within the framework of the UN. Another serious threat to the stability of the world is extremism in all its types. The propaganda of the religious extremism is an ideological preparation for future involvement to the realization of direct terror act. That s why Xizb-ut-Taxrir focuses its activities on growing generation. Uzbekistan closely cooperates with UN and its specialized agencies in the sphere of countering drug-aggression. The establishment of the Regional information and coordination centre for countering illegal circulation of drugs and psychotropic substances, initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I.A.Karimov, has become an affordable contribution of Uzbekistan in this sphere. 1 / 10

2 Uzbekistan has also initiated the adoption of embargo on delivery of weapons to Afghanistan and founding the group of neighbors of Afghanistan, which is expressed in 6+2. Consequently, Uzbekistan proposed to reforms contact group 6+2 to 6+3 including Russia, USA and NATO. Uzbekistan is a member of the major international agreements on disarmament and non-proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, including Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Being a member of IAEA, Uzbekistan has gained an access to the international experience and current technologies on application of nuclear methods in science, health care, agriculture and other spheres. With the advisory and technical assistance of IAEA the draft Law on radiation safety has been elaborated and on 31 August 2000 adopted at the third session of the second meeting of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Besides, on 9 April 2008 the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on «Ratification by the Republic of Uzbekistan of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism» has been adopted. This shows the adherence of the republic to counter international terrorism. Currently Uzbekistan is implementing 14 regional/interregional and 5 national projects in cooperation with the IAEA. The Republic of Uzbekistan has initiated the creation of Nuclear Free Zone in Central Asia. The Treaty on Nuclear Free Zone in Central Asian has been signed by respective countries in September 2006 in Semipalatinsk (Kazakhstan) and the Resolution on «Nuclear Free Zone in Central Asia», proposed by the delegations of Uzbekistan on behalf of all Central Asian countries, has been adopted at 61st session of the UN General Assembly. The Republic of Uzbekistan has ratified more than 70 international agreements on human rights, including six major agreements. The most important issue for Uzbekistan in ecological sphere is the problem of Aral Sea. 2 / 10

3 Uzbekistan considers that the UN agencies are paying insufficient attention to the Aral crisis. The global scale of humanitarian crisis demands deeper involvement, intellectual and technological investment. Since 26 February 1992.Uzbekistan is a member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In June 2006 Permanent council of the OSCE decided to establish office of OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan instead of former OSCE Center in Tashkent. In July 2006 Government of Uzbekistan and OSCE signed Memorandum on Establishment of the OSCE Project Coordinator. Within the framework of the Memorandum, 18 projects were implemented in 2007 and 15 in Currently 14 projects on all three OSCE dimensions are being implemented. Since September 1992 the Republic of Uzbekistan is a member of the World Bank. On 2 July 1992 the Law On membership of the Republic of Uzbekistan in International Monetary Fund, International Bank of Reconstruction and Development, International Financial Corporation, International Associations of Development, Multilateral Agency on Guarantees of Investments came into force. In August 1995 the Republic of Uzbekistan has become a member of Asian Development Bank (ADB). The ADB Branch has been established in During the 42 sessions of ADB Managers Council, held on 2-5 May 2009 in Bali (Indonesia) ADB members decided to organize its 43rd session in Tashkent on 1-4 May This will be the first Annual session of ADB in Central Asian and Caucasus regions. On Cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the European Union 3 / 10

4 Uzbekistan, from the first years of independence proclaimed the cooperation with Europe as one of the priorities of its foreign policy. The relations of Uzbekistan with the European states develop on a bilateral level as well as in framework of Partnership Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Communities and their Member States which entered into force on 1 July In the framework of development and strengthening of political dialogue, trade and economic relations of Uzbekistan with the countries of Europe, cooperation and exchange of visits on bilateral and interregional levels have become more intense recently. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is executing a constant activity on conducting the events aiming at enlarging the political dialogue, to further development of trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian relations with European countries. The bilateral dialogue between Uzbekistan and the EU has an active bilateral nature which is carried out within of 5 joint bodies: the Cooperation Council, the Cooperation Committee, the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, the Subcommittee on Trade and Investments, Subcommittee for Justice, Home Affairs and other related issues. A permanent activity for attracting the European countries to take part in the implementation of the activities envisaged by the Decrees and of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the State Program The Year of Development and Improvement of the Countryside, Action Programs dedicated to the Preparation and Celebration of 2200th Anniversary of Tashkent city, Music Festival Sharq Taronalari, as well as bringing foreign policy initiatives up to the political, business and scientific circles and communities of the European countries. Uzbekistan-NATO Cooperation in EAPC/PFP Framework Uzbekistan-NATO cooperation is based on the Framework Agreement of NATO s Partnership for Peace Program (PFP) signed on 13 July 1994 and since 1996 has been carried out within annual individual partnership programs on priority directions, such as military staff training, defence policy, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating international terrorism, science and civil emergency planning. 4 / 10

5 Uzbekistan takes part in activities of various NATO committees in the EAPC format, including EAPC meetings at the level of Foreign/Defence Ministers, Ambassadors, Political Committee, Military-Political Steering Committee, Science for Peace and Security Committee and Civil Protection Committee. Development of international scientific and technical cooperation and partnership relations with scientific structures of NATO and partner states, where the Scientific Committee plays a particular role, is of high importance. Uzbekistan s experience of cooperation with NATO has shown an effectiveness of the Alliance s programs with involvement of partner states. Presently, a number of joint projects in IT, medicine, etc. are implemented in Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Alliance. Visits of NATO Science Committee s representatives to Uzbekistan headed by the coordinator of joint scientific programs Dr. Chris De Wispelaere in May 2007, February and October 2008 have given an additional impetus to scientific cooperation with NATO. On 3 April 2008, on the invitation of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Schaffer President of the Republic Uzbekistan Islam Karimov took part in the NATO/EAPC Summit in Bucharest. The President put forward an initiative to establish 6+3 Contact Group with NATO involvement to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan. In order to discuss further development of the bilateral relations between the Alliance and Uzbekistan, Mr. Robert Simmons, a NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia has paid several visits to Uzbekistan. Participation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in activity of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization The declaration about establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was signed by heads of member-states on June in Shanghai. Uzbekistan is one of the founders of the Organization and in equal level with other member 5 / 10

6 states defines the further strategy of cooperation within the framework of SCO. SCO is the institution of multilateral cooperation on strengthening of peace and stability in the Central Asia, field for open and constructive dialogue and also instrument of developing partnership in various spheres. Uzbekistan takes part in all basic actions of SCO which doesn t contradict to the Charter of SCO. The main purposes of the Organization are: maintaining regional peace, security and stability, combating against the international terrorism, separatism and extremism in all its looks, as well as combating against the drug trafficking and distribution of the Weapons of mass destruction; encouragement and assistance to multilateral, mutually fruitful, economic cooperation; comprehensively cooperation in humanitarian, social and cultural spheres. Speaking about realization of all these uneasy objectives, it is very important to undertake all necessary measures in order to transform SCO into really flexible, open Organization, able to meet all requirements and expectations of its participant states. In Uzbekistan necessity of concentration of efforts within the framework of the Organization on those fields of cooperation that are equally equitable to interests of all member states to maintaining regional stability and economic cooperation, creation of favorable conditions for steady economic growth and increasing living standards of our countries, are considered to be primary. The important priority for Uzbekistan is still strengthening investment cooperation, developing transport communications, telecommunications, creating additional local workplaces for the population and solving other social problems. The head of Uzbekistan in his speech at SCO Dushanbe summit on 28 August 2008 emphasized that, enormous economic potential of SCO member states is not fully realized, especially in implementation of large-scale projects related to promotion reliable transport communications, creation of modern international logistics centers, development of trade and tourism, establishment of new enterprises, introduction of innovative technologies and development of social infrastructure. He underlined the insufficient use of potential of the SCO observer-states India, Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia, the largest financial centers like the World Bank, the Asian and Islamic 6 / 10

7 Development Banks, Arabian financial institutions who wish actively cooperate with SCO on regional level. At SCO summit in Ekaterinburg on June 2009 the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov stressed that, in the framework of SCO the huge work has been done on further extending and strengthening of fruitful cooperation in political, economic and social areas and important steps have been taken on pursuing program goals. Every year the role and significance of SCO is increasing in solving problems of regional and global security such as combating international terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking and other security threats. The increasing significance of SCO on international arena, its openness and readiness to adjust cooperation with other states are evidently demonstrated by the decision on positive consideration of applications of Byelorussia and Sri Lanka for granting the status of the SCO dialogue partners. In 13th article of the Charter it is underlined that the SCO membership shall be open for other States in the region that undertake to respect the objectives and principles of this Charter and to comply with the provisions of other international treaties and instruments adopted in the framework of SCO In 2004 at the summit when Uzbekistan was taking chair, headquarters of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure was opened in Tashkent, was signed the Tashkent declaration, Statute on the status of observer states at SCO and order of interaction SCO in 2006 with observers. No doubt introduction of the institute of observers, was an important step on the way of realization of the purposes and problems which SCO is facing. It also has strengthened prospective of SCO, has considerably expanded potential of the Organization, and has essentially affected its role and authority on the world community. Following the logic of consecutive steps of SCO on this direction, it is necessary to accelerate the process of preparation of the legal instruments, determining the rules and criteria for observer states to become full members of SCO. 7 / 10

8 After the Ekaterinburg meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, the chairmanship in the Organization for the forthcoming period has passed to the Republic of Uzbekistan. The next summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in Tashkent in Participation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) The Republic of Uzbekistan takes part in activity of the basic and branch bodies of the CIS. Since formation of the Commonwealth Uzbekistan was among those states which supported deepening of economic integration, remaining of economic ties on a new basis without politicization of these processes. The Uzbek party considers that the CIS can and should play a role of the coordinator, as a platform for regulation of economic processes for the purpose of achievement of the maximum social and economic effect for all member states. Today the Commonwealth has entered a new stage of the development. The Concept of the further development of the CIS and the Plan on its realization are accepted where all state-participants of the Commonwealth confirm priority directions of activity of the CIS: economic integration, cooperation in humanitarian sphere and in sphere of security, struggle against crime, maintenance and strengthening of the international security and stability, counteraction to new challenges and threats. Also the necessity of deepening of political interaction, drawing-up of the coordinated migration policy, mutual solving of environmental problems, preventions of emergency situations and liquidation of consequences of nature disasters are noted. After acceptance of these documents the Commonwealth obtained the balanced program of 8 / 10

9 top-priority and perspective measures on adaptation of the CIS to modern realities, increase of practical efficacy from integration interaction, harmonious development of all sphere of cooperation. Thereupon the important condition of efficiency of interaction in the framework of the CIS is maintenance of practical realization of accepted decisions. The last summit of the Council of the Heads of the States of the CIS took place on October 9th, 2009, in Kishinev. Participation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in activity of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea On 28 August 1992 in Nukus the participants of the International Conference on problems of the Aral Sea appealed to the governments, parliaments and the communities of the Central Asian states, the Russian Federation and other CIS countries, to establish an international fund for solving the problems of the Aral Sea basin. On 4 January 1993 a meeting of the Presidents of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan held in Tashkent. As an outcome of the meeting, Heads of the state came to decision on establishment of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). Primary goals of this interstate organization where determined as follows: developing and financing ecological, scientific and practical projects, as well as programs aimed to improve ecological condition and to solve social-economic problems of the region influenced by the Aral Sea crisis. As one of the founders of the IFAS, Uzbekistan attaches great importance to strengthen its activity. During its chairmanship in the IFAS ( ), Uzbekistan made active efforts to develop the Fund s legal basis, to establish relations and collaboration with the international organisations and financial institutions, in order to promote sustainable development in the Aral Sea basin. In October 1997 the International technical meeting of the donors was held in Tashkent. The main outcome of the meeting was the start of realization of the international project «Water resources and environment management in the Aral Sea basin». 9 / 10

10 The International conference on the Aral Sea, which was held by initiative of Uzbekistan in March 2008 in Tashkent, gave significant impulse for considering the Aral problem on international level. It was proved by participation in the conference of representatives from more than 90 international organizations, leading financial institutions of Japan, Germany, China, Arab countries and the well-known research centers. The forum adopted the Tashkent Declaration and the Actions Plan, that determined primary projects for about 1.5 billion dollars to mitigate the harsh consequences of the Aral Sea catastrophe. At present Uzbekistan implements a great number of Aral Sea basin projects with active support and participation of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the Global Environmental Fund, various international organizations and foreign states. These projects are mainly related to extension of delta water infrastructure on dried bottom of the Aral Sea, deviation of drainage water, expanding tree planting in order to prevent further desertification, spraying salt and dust, as well as increasing overall efficiency of water management. For the implementation of these projects and programs aimed at reviving the harsh situation in the region during the last 10 years over $ 1 billion dollar were spent, including about 265 million dollars at the expense of foreign loans, technical assistance and grants. At the meeting of heads of IFAS founder-states on 28 April 2009 in Almaty the President of Uzbekistan I. Karimov noted that given the currently unfolding very serious and ever more worsening ecological situation in the Aral Sea adjacent area and entire region, obviously, there is no need to prove or persuade someone in terms of adopting the most radical measures to prevent the possible negative consequences of drying up of Aral. The head of Uzbekistan emphasized that settling the Aral crisis is directly linked to the problem of rational use of water and energy recourses, careful approach to the preservation of fragile environmental and water balance in the region, and in this regard stressed the necessity to achieve the balance of interests among the states of the region on this sphere. 10 / 10