On 23 September 2020, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H. E. Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the high-level general political debates at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In his address to the session, he presented the international community with his vision of important issues the international community is currently facing both at the global and regional levels.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan put forward a number of important initiatives to strengthen peace and stability and, in particular, with regard to Afghanistan.
With regard to activities covered by the mandate of UNESCO, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan stressed the importance of the August 2020 Samarkand International Forum on Youth Rights, referred to the devastating effects of the drying up of the Aral Sea and mentioned in this context the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region. He also proposed to adopt a special resolution of the UN General Assembly declaring the Aral Sea region an area of ecological innovation and technologies.
Finally, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan suggested holding in 2021 an International Forum in Khiva in cooperation with UNESCO.
As it is well-known, the ancient cultural and rich spiritual heritage of our region is of global importance. We are ready to hold the International Forum “Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations” in the ancient city of Khiva in 2021 in cooperation with UNESCO
The full text of the speech is available here.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, has already supported this initiative. «I welcome Pr Mirziyoyev’s initiative on hosting International Cultural Forum on Central Asia in Khiva in 2021,» she said on Twitter.
The 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 75) opened in New York on 15 September 2020. The High-level General Debate takes place from 22 to 26 September and will conclude on 29 September 2020.