OSCE chief discusses cooperation prospects in Uzbekistan
By Aynur Jafarova
Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Lamberto Zannier, who is on an official visit to Tashkent, has held a meeting at Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry to discuss prospects of the OSCE's cooperation with the country, the ministry reported on Tuesday.
"The sides discussed regional issues, countering transnational threats and other issues of mutual interest," the ministry said.
It noted that the sides are paying much attention to cooperation within the jointly implemented projects which aim to provide technical assistance to Uzbek institutions in strengthening their capacity in various fields. The sides also exchanged views on further development and reform of the OSCE.
The OSCE secretary-general's visit agenda includes meetings and negotiations in parliament, the Foreign Ministry and several other ministries and institutions of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan has been a member of the OSCE since 1992. The Uzbek mission to the OSCE began functioning in Vienna in 1994. The OSCE Liaison Office in Central Asia was opened in Tashkent in 1995 on the initiative of Uzbekistan. It was later renamed into the OSCE Center in Tashkent due to the establishment of representative offices in Central Asian states.
Uzbekistan and the OSCE signed a memorandum on establishing the OSCE Project Coordinator position in Uzbekistan in July 2006. Currently 30 OSCE projects are being implemented in Uzbekistan.