Uzbekistan and UN Counter-Terrorism Office sign agreement to strengthen cooperation

According to the press service of the Foreign Ministry, during the meeting the current state of relations and prospects for the development of cooperation to ensure peace and security in Central Asia, including within the framework of a joint action plan for the implementation of the UN global counter-terrorism strategy, were discussed.

The parties noted that the international high-level conference organized on March 3-4 in Tashkent on the implementation of this strategy in Central Asia made it possible to agree on general principles and approaches to combating terrorism, taking into account the changing international socio-political and socio-economic environment in the region.

Following the meeting, a "road map" was signed, which includes initiatives and proposals put forward during the Tashkent conference and defines priority areas for bilateral cooperation. It was emphasized that the document will contribute to raising cooperation to a qualitatively new level and enrich it with practical content.

The roadmap involves the organization of high-level joint events, the creation of a virtual network to counter cyberterrorism in Central Asia, the exchange of experience on the effective use of local communities (mahallas) in the rehabilitation and reintegration of repatriates, the creation of a regional expert council on this issue under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office and other activities.

In particular, in order to promote the ideas and principles of tolerance, interreligious and intercultural dialogue with the participation of all sectors of society, Uzbekistan is planning to hold a high-level conference “Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance” under the auspices of the UN in 2023.