Draft of speech of Ambassador H.E Aybek Arif Usmanov, read at the forum hosted by Editor Tazeen Akhtar and Dr Afshan Malik at Islamabad Club on 14 July 2023 with theme ” New Constitution of New Uzbekistan & Pakistan Uzbekistan on the way to Re-connectivity” (Picture of forum : Ambassador flanked by General Secretary IPC of Senate of Pakistan Ms Sitara Ayaz and Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, the observers of Presidential Election 09 July 2023)
Dear Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman,
Ms. Sitara Ayaz Faisal, Secretary General of International Parliamentarian Congress (Senate of Pakistan),
Dear prominent experts, journalists, ladies and gentleman,
Assalom aleykum wa rahmatulla wa barakatohy
Many thanks indeed to all of you for attending today`s event in my Embassy dedicated to the New Constitution of Uzbekistan.
I`m grateful to Sindhu Social welfare trust Dr Afshan Malik and Mr. Tazeen Akhtar editor ‘Pakistan in the world’ indeed for arrangement of today meeting and highly professional coverage of the events and the development of Uzbek and Pakistani friendship dynamic cooperation.
Grateful to Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman and former Senator Sitara Ayaz for their input to our briefing dedicated to New Constitution of Uzbekistan.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Today we are meeting with you after the Presidential elections in Uzbekistan and also the coming parliamentary elections in Pakistan.
The New Constitution adopted this year in Uzbekistan reflects the changes and reforms implemented by Uzbek Government the check and and balances between public- state-Parliament. New structure of the government with effective, compact and public administration – 1) will be serving the people under the new disposition Human-Society-State; 2) will provide the political stability, strengthen the economic development, further strengthening of social protection of the nation; 3) will implement the cooperation with foreign partners, increase the internal and external integrity and region to regions’ connectivity.
New Constitution have taken into account proposals from the public, modern international standards and the most advanced foreign experience:
– during the nationwide discussions of the project, a total of 222,715 proposals were received;
– every fourth proposal is reflected in the project;
– constitutions of about 190 countries and more than 400 international documents have been thoroughly analyzed;
– the number of articles of the Constitution has increased from 128 to 155, norms – from 275 to 434; 65 % of the text of the Constitution has been updated;
– provisions on human rights and freedoms have been inserted first time in the Constitution of Uzbekistan.
The renewed Constitution have strengthened the public and society around the strategy of building New Uzbekistan. It states that Uzbekistan’s policy will be based on the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity of states, non-use of force or threat of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
Global and regional cooperation processes have reached a new level. My President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s international initiatives have received broad support from the international community. The foreign policy of the New Uzbekistan has led to fundamental changes in the political atmosphere in Central Asia. Next important step was the recognition of absolute necessity of building the close connectivity with neighboring South Asia at the sub-regional and global levels.
In order to further strengthen relations between Central and South Asian regions, in 2 last years Uzbekistan hosted high-level events with delegations from nearly 30 partner countries and international organizations, and experts from foreign think tanks representing more than 40 states including the delegates of brotherly Pakistan.
After the successful official visit of Hon PM Shehbaz Sharif the delegations of State minister for foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar Sba, Adviser to PM on national heritage and culture division Eng. Amir Muqam and Minister for overseas Pakistanis and HR Sajid Hussain Turi have visited Uzbekistan.
I`m also grateful for Pakistani politicians military leaders, experts and journalists who visited my country as observers during the Referendum (April 30 2023) and then on early Presidential Elections day (July 9, 2023). Many thanks for your valuable input as you all have witnessed the large turnout of the voters as the renewed Constitution.
As you well aware the origins of the elections lie in ancient Greece and Rome. The history of elections in Uzbekistan should be counted from the reign of Amir Temur (12th century) during the rule of Temurids dynasty first elective institutions were first formed. Sahibkiran constantly reformed the state system and established a new state administration.
Our Asian civilizations have introduced the real and fundamental concepts of democracy: the rule of law comes from the public and the active participation of citizens in solving state issues guarantees the stability and development. People are making the President Prime ministers government bodies and officials accountable.
Direct voting of the people of Uzbekistan provides the legitimacy to New strategy of President and the Government as well as granting strong mandate to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for its early implementation. Inshalla !.
Dear friends!
Let me also brief you on dynamically developing of Uzbek-Pakistani trade-economic relations. Located at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, Uzbekistan and Pakistan for centuries serve as a strong bridge connecting Europe, the Middle East, West, South and East Asia with its rich cultural and historical heritage.
For thousands of years, Uzbekistan and Pakistan are the cradles for the world civilization and our nations connected thus enriched each other with unique traditions and heritage.
On July 12, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shеhbaz Sharif had a telephone conversation.
Terming the re-election of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the reiteration of the confidence of the Uzbek people in his leadership, the Hon Prime Minister of Pakistan expressed his strong confidence that bilateral relations between the two countries would continue to strengthen under his stewardship.
Leaders underscored the importance of further strengthening of bilateral relations with Uzbekistan – implementation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (UPTTA). Both these agreements and the Road Map agreement to increase bilateral trade upto $1 billion was signed during IGC meeting (in February 24th this year in Tashkent) Inshallah.would enhance economic and trade relations between the two countries.
Two leaders discussed the prospects of accelerating regional connectivity and agreed on the need to further expand bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, connectivity, agriculture, IT, textiles, and logistics through the signing Road map on Industrial cooperation.
Transit Trade and Preferential trade Agreements which became effective since March of this year allowed to reach bilateral trade volume of $150 mln,
It`s 2 times larger compared to the same period of 2022 ($87,6 mln). Both countries enjoy increases in exports. Uzbekistan’s delivered to Pakistan exports worth of $79 mln, growth 2,5 times and Pakistani exports to Uzbekistan reached $71 mln, growth 1,2 times.
Particular attention was paid to the promotion of the construction project of the Trans-Afghan railway. So last month in Tashkent new project office was established and next week in Islamabad there would be 2nd trilateral meeting of the project office (Uzb-Pak-Afg) hosted by the Government of Pakistan (Ministry of Railways) to agree upon the modalities, feasibility studies, matters of financing and construction of this Game changer project.
Let me express my believe that today`s our meeting with participation of experts, journalists, politicians and diplomats also will be a significant input for the further cementing of brotherly relations and re-connectivity between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Inshallah.
Pakistani Experts Observe UZB Presidential Election as Free,Fair & Transparent – New Constitution + New Mandate Welcomed – Speakers Term it Good Omen for Connecting the Regions
