L-R: Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdoulaziz Kamilov;
Credit: MAEE
Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn yesterday addressed issues such as human rights and the peace process in Afghanistan during his working visit to Tashkent in Uzbekistan.
On the occasion of his visit, Minister Asselborn met with his Uzbekistan counterpart, Foreign Minister Abdoulaziz Kamilov, for a working lunch. Discussions with Minister Kamilov focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Uzbekistan at the political and economic level, as well as the situation in the Central Asian region and the peace process in Afghanistan.
Recalling his commitment to respect for human rights, Minister Asselborn praised the initiatives taken by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in particular the release of political prisoners and measures for greater religious tolerance and freedom of expression. He expressed his hope that progress would be sustained over time, including the registration of NGOs. Jean Asselborn also praised Uzbekistan's constructive role in regional integration in Central Asia and peace in Afghanistan.
The two ministers agreed to deepen the dialogue on developments in Central Asia, a key region for enhancing connectivity between Europe and Asia. Minister Kamilov praised ongoing efforts to update the EU Strategy for Central Asia, in close consultation with the countries of the region. For his part, Minister Asselborn confirmed the willingness of Luxembourg to accompany Uzbekistan in its plans for modernisation and economic development.
Minister Asselborn then met with the First Deputy Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhamov, with whom he signed a memorandum of understanding on air services. The two ministers expressed confidence that this protocol will contribute to strengthening bilateral economic relations by facilitating the exchange of goods between the European and Asian continents.
At the end of the day, Minister Asselborn addressed the participants of a seminar organised in Tashkent by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with the support of Luxembourg, with the aim of developing cooperation between the countries of Central Asia to fight more effectively against the financing of terrorism and illicit capital flows at the regional level. The seminar brought together senior officials from six countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
