Problems of the environmental agenda remain particularly urgent in Central Asia

Speaking at an OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov highlighted regional issues. The Minister urged the OSCE to take an active part in mitigating the consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster.

The Minister noted that today an absolutely new atmosphere of mutual trust has been formed in the Central Asian region: many barriers have been removed, conditions for free movement of citizens have been created, a favorable environment for the growth of mutual trade and investment, regional interconnectedness, security and sustainable socio-economic development has been formed.

The Fourth Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in July this year in the Kyrgyz Republic agreed on a truly historic Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century.

As stressed by the head of the Uzbek delegation, the environmental agenda remains particularly pressing in Central Asia. The pace of climate change in our region is two times higher than the global average.

In this context, Mr. Norov urged the OSCE to take an active part in mitigating the consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster and implementing the needed socio-economic projects and programs in the Aral Sea region.