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Updated: 07-Dec-2001 NATO Speeches

NATO HQ,
Brussels
7 Dec. 2001

Statement

by H.E. MR. Rustam Tukhtabaev
Deputy Minister of foreign affairs of the
Republic of Uzbekistan
at the EAPC Foreign Ministers Meeting

Dear Mr. Chairman,
Dear ladies and gentlemen,

As it was stated by many colleges today, the world changed after the tragic events in the United States in September. Undoubtedly, these events became an objective reality which has induced the world society to make a critical estimation of the current situation which earnestly demonstrates necessity to develop common positions in the field of fight against international terrorism.

The main conclusion which has been done by the world society and is related to the barbarous terrorist acts is that security is indivisible.

Following this basic principle and taking into account the situation in the world, Uzbekistan is ready "to go to its end" in the fight against terrorism as a global problem. As an initiator of a number of suggestions on establishment of a collective counteraction to international terrorism, our country is actively cooperating with the antiterrorist coalition.

The last events identically prove that the world community does not have more dangerous and guileful enemy than terrorism. We consider antiterrorist operation in Afghanistan, first of all, as a measure to abolish terrorists' bases and camps in this country, to root out conditions for terrorist activity.

We are deeply convinced that it is possible to eliminate this evil only by common coordinated efforts of the whole humankind. In this conditions it is extremely important that international coalition aims at hard-edged fight against terrorism and carries it to its logic conclusion.

When we speak on organization of the international fight against terrorism we should not forget about another threat which is not less dangerous - narco-business and drug trafficking which provide basic financial support to the terrorist and extremist groups activity.

For the last years the states of Central Asia have faced with wide-ranging aggression from international drug syndicates. Its is absolutely obvious that no one single country alone without wide international cooperation can count on success in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal drug trade.

On our view, the basis of such a cooperation should be mechanisms maximum approached to the current situation i.e. they should be able in proper time not only counteract existing drug traffic hearths but also prevent their occurrence.

Speaking about urgency of strengthening of international fight against transnational threats and challenges, Uzbekistan wants to attract attention of world community to the importance of the process of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Central Asia which is extremely important to secure stability in the region.

Dear Chairman,

On 21 December 2001 Uzbekistan celebrates 10 Anniversary of joining to EAPC. In this regard, I would like to express gratitude to the NATO leadership and member countries for the assistance they have provided to partner countries as a whole and to Uzbekistan, in particular.

In its part, our country actively participates in the NATO activities organized in the framework of Partnership Work Program. In accordance with the Individual Partnership Program, in 2001 representatives of the Ministry of Defense, other Ministries and Institutions of Uzbekistan participated in PfP activities, in dozens workshops, meetings, conferences and other activities in the framework of EAPC.

Contacts with NATO have got further development. Uzbek side initiated to organize in May 2001 in Tashkent the NATO seminar "Intellectual Property in Transition Economy".

Uzbekistan has declared its intention to participate in 147 NATO activities in 2002 from which 9 events are exercises.

Actual directions of cooperation still remain as follows: political cooperation in the framework of EAPC; strengthening and broadening of participation in PfP; training and education of our military specialists; issues of civil emergency planning; development of scientific and technical links in the framework of the NATO "Science for Peace" program, and increasing effectiveness in realization of language and professional training.

Active participation in EAPC is one of the important priorities of our foreign policy directed to the strengthening the sovereignty of our country and fully corresponds to our national interests.

Thank you for attention.

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