Madrid, Spain 4 June 2003

"New Security Threats and the Role of Partnership in Countering Them" Address by Mr. Vladimir Norov, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, at the EAPC Ministerial Meeting, Dear Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, When we speak about the new security threats, we recall the tragic events of September 11, which have marked a turning point in resolute fight against international terrorism. Realizing that the fight against terrorism will have success only with joint actions of the whole international community, Uzbekistan has firmly supported the anti-terrorist coalition in Afghanistan well before the operation has started, when just a few could predict results of this operation. The lessons learned from the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan demonstrate that the fight against new security threats could be effective if it based on the policy of prevention. in this regard, attaching a special importance to the pre-emption policy, President of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov, while addressing the Prague Summit in November last year, had supported the US position on disarmament of Iraq. Nowadays when there is an urgent need for restoration of normal life in Iraq after the collapse of the Saddam's regime, Uzbekistan is expressing Its readiness to participate in implementation of humanitarian projects, render medical aid and be actively involved in restoration and stabilization processes in Iraq. The deep and dynamic changes in the world as well as new geopolitical realities testify that there are no more corners in this world used to be considered as remote. Today, Central Asian states are in front line of fight against international terrorism and transnational challenges such as religious extremism and drug trafficking. Situation in the Region has fundamentally changed after destruction of terrorist network in Afghanistan and liquidation of the Taliban regime. But it is too early to speak about complete elimination of threats posed by international terrorism, extremism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime. Under these conditions, strengthening of practical cooperation, both among the Allies and within EAPC is very important. During last several years NATO has faced major security challenges. No other international organization would be able to cope with these challenges. Political, military and logistical support of NATO in the course of anti-terrorist operation In Afghanistan, without any exaggeration, was indispensable. NATO decision on more active role within the International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan (ISAF) is the important and timely move. We support this decision and we believe that it will not only promote peaceful restoration in Afghanistan but it will also assist in maintaining peace and stability in the whole Central Asian region, Uzbekistan is ready to assist NATO ISAF mission by providing logistic support. We also hope that the Individual Partnership Action Plan between Uzbekistan and NATO, which is being developed, will allow us to achieve practical results on improving of border control, Increasing of interoperability and preparedness of our forces to fight against terrorism, reforming the Army and logistics, bringing them to correspondence with NATO standards. Moreover, we believe that Individual Partnership Action Plan will also provide us with new opportunities for cooperation on strengthening of democratic and civil institutions, deepening of economic reforms, and disaster relief. In this regard international CEP exercise "Ferghana 2003", successfully conducted in Uzbekistan Within PfP program in April this year should be considered as one of the concrete step In Implementation of our IPAP. This exercise has played a special role in improvement of cooperation among the Central Asian states in the area of civil emergency planning. It has improved approaches and mechanisms of coordination in the EAPC framework as well as disaster relief skills in order to strengthen abilities of Allies and Partner countries to react rapidly to disasters in different parts of our planet. Today, the terrorist and extremist groups are actively trying to gain an access to chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and high technologies. Taking into account the geographical location of Central Asia, its neighborhood with the region possessing real threat of proliferation of nuclear arms and missile technologies, we believe that fulfillment by all countries of the UN decisions on non-proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, as well as the UN General Assembly Resolution with regards to Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Central Asia is among the main areas of cooperation between NATO and Central Asian states. In conclusion I would once again like to quote President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov when he said at the Prague Summit that all attempts to wall off from this inhumane threat of international terrorism, following the principle; "Do not bother me -and 1 will not bother you", are absolutely futile and, to think of the worse, counterproductive. Today the fate of this combat hinges on the active participation of every single state. The stance of Uzbekistan is a logical continuation of a coherent and principled policy directed at the decisive fight against international terrorism, extremism and fanaticism, drug trafficking, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other challenges to international stability and security. Uzbekistan's support in this regard corresponds to our principle of "preventive diplomacy" oriented to timely prevention of tensions, not allowing conflict situations and other negative developments to get deteriorated and to go out of control of international community. Uzbekistan remains committed to the consistent course towards strengthening of cooperation with NATO/EAPC institutions and will continue to contribute to a secure and stable world. Thank you for your attention.