Ingliz tili I fakulteti

Lecture 15. The position of Uzbekistan in the world community

International Affairs

Plan:

1. 
   The geopolitical position of Uzbekistan
   
2. 
   Foreign policy and its principles
   
3. 
   Uzbekistan's cooperation with Central Asian countries
   
4. 
   Uzbekistan and the United Nations
   
5. 
   Uzbekistan and UNESCO
   

The geopolitical position of Uzbekistan.

The Republic of Uzbekistan stands out among other States of the Central Asian region by its special geographical location. This geopolitical location has its pros and cons, which is important for the geostrategic interests of the Republic, its domestic and foreign policy. The favorable geopolitical opportunities of Uzbekistan are as follows: the Great Silk Road, which since ancient times served for trade, cultural, scientific and diplomatic relations between East and West, ran through the territory of Uzbekistan. And currently, roads leading from Europe and the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region pass through Central Asia, located in its center. Uzbekistan, located in the heart of Central Asia, has the ability to maintain the balance of power, develop economic integration processes, ensure stability and strengthen cooperation in this region due to its geographical location. Currently, Uzbekistan serves as a link between neighboring countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. Uzbekistan is located in the center of transport, energy communications, and water systems in Central Asia. The country has favorable climatic conditions, huge reserves of mineral resources and strategic materials, a developed agricultural culture and the ability to self-sustain food. Uzbekistan not only meets its needs in oil, gas, and non-ferrous metals, but can also export them. All elements of the periodic table are present in the bowels of Uzbekistan. But even with such opportunities, Uzbekistan's geopolitical location also has drawbacks that create certain difficulties. Uzbekistan is located in the strategic center of the semicircle, where the Persian Gulf, the Caspian Sea and the Tarim basin are located and there are rich oil and gas fields. Therefore, in this territory, in the conditions of the world energy deficit, there is a conflict of mismatch of interests of many countries. Stronger States seek to pursue their own interests in this region. Uzbekistan borders Afghanistan, where ethnic intransigence and drug trafficking are encouraged by various external forces, and internal conflicts have not yet been resolved. Uzbekistan has no direct access to the sea and is very remote from seaports. The length of the shortest railway route to the Black, Baltic, Japanese, and North Sea is almost 3 thousand km. Despite the fact that independent Uzbekistan has more than 50 rivers with a length of 150 km or more, its water resources are limited and there are environmental problems. The tragedy of the Aral sea is also a negative factor for our country. Development of the foundations of an independent foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Currently, the international community particularly recognizes the first steps of independent Uzbekistan's diplomacy, its status in Central Asia, and its role in ensuring regional security. An important direction of Uzbekistan's foreign policy is humanism, voice, honor and dignity, its own capabilities and its own path of development in a single family of people. During the years of independence, our country established official diplomatic relations with 133 countries.45 embassies of foreign countries, 9 consulates, and 11 representative offices of international organizations operate in Tashkent.

The strengthening of independence, security, stability and progress largely depends on strong diplomatic ties with foreign countries. The foreign policy system of the Republic of Uzbekistan was formed on the basis of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers "On the organization of the Minor of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (may 1992) and "On improvement of activity of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan" (March 1994). In 1996, the Law “On the basic principles of foreign policy activities of the Republic of Uzbekistan" was adopted. In September 2012, the Republic's "Foreign policy Concept" was announced. This is a unified system of views that define the principles and strategic priorities of the state's foreign policy, its goals and objectives in the international arena, and promising mechanisms for promoting Uzbekistan's national interests.

In this concept, special attention is paid to the Central Asian region. The document notes that due to the important geopolitical location of Central Asia and the presence of huge reserves of mineral raw materials, the region is becoming an object of close attention and a territory of conflict of strategic interests of large States. At the same time, given the mutual competition of major countries in the region, the concept suggests that "The problems of Central Asia should be solved by the States of the region themselves, without the intervention of external forces". The concept also emphasizes that Uzbekistan pursues a peace-loving policy, does not participate in military-political blocs, and if any interstate structure becomes a military-political bloc, reserves the right to withdraw from it.