“The Israeli-Palestinian war in the Middle East, which poses a serious threat to global peace and security, is of great concern to all of us. Regrettably, it is the civilian population, particularly women, children, and the elderly, who suffer the most and become victims of these violent conflicts,” Mirziyoyev said.

According to the president, the risk of war spreading throughout the region is becoming increasingly real.

“The conflict must not be allowed to escalate into a large-scale war. We urge both sides to cease fire, start peace negotiations, and come to a reasonable compromise,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. “We once again reiterate our firm position on the Palestinian people’s right to have their own state, as confirmed by the UN resolutions.”

The President of Uzbekistan also talked about Afghanistan, which is a member of the ECO but is absent in today’s summit.

“In the face of complex challenges, we cannot abandon the multiethnic people of Afghanistan, who have been our close neighbors for centuries. It is imperative that we actively engage this country in the process of regional integration as a necessary condition for our sustainable development,” Mirziyoyev stressed.

He urged ECO member states to increase humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and address the profound social and economic problems through collective responsibility and effective mechanisms.