An open dialogue based on trust between our presidents Vladimir Putin and Islam Karimov has been a defining moment in developing our cooperation. It also sets the pace for an efficient cooperation among our governments, ministries, agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation.

An official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Moscow on 5-6 of February 2008 upon the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation has been a landmark event. Full-scale negotiations between our national leaders, a joint communiqué by the Presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan following the meeting proved again that political dialogue between our countries is intense and fruitful, ensuring gradual development of a mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.

Speaking about the Russian-Uzbek relations, Vladimir Putin said: "Russia regards Uzbekistan as one of the most important strategic partners in Central Asia. We will continue our close cooperation on all essential international issues, including Afghanistan, our joint work within the framework of the regional integration institutions, such as CIS, Eurasian Economic Community, Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other respected international organizations. As far as Russia is concerned, we are ready to make use of all the opportunities to enhance our multi-faceted cooperation for the benefit of Russia and Uzbekistan."

Agreeing with the Russian President, Islam Karimov, in his turn, pointed out that "the objective and the main task of the current talks and the Uzbek delegation’s visit to Russia is, first and foremost, to take a critical look at what has been done in terms of cooperation and, most importantly, to set priorities of our activities in the short- and long-term. President Karimov stressed that "Uzbekistan considers Russia not only as a reliable strategic partner, but an ally in accomplishing challenges the Republic is facing..."

Policy-makers, civil society and business leaders of our countries are satisfied with the level of our relations and are ready to enhance all-round cooperation based on the principles set out in the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan signed on 16 June 2004 and developed by the Alliance Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan signed on 14 November 2005.

It provides for further cooperation as regards national, regional and international security, including by means of countering international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking and other threats.

In accordance with the Treaty the parties develop their cooperation in political, military, technical, trade, economic and humanitarian areas and facilitate direct contacts among people. Their commitments to assist each other in case if one of the parties suffers an armed attack or aggression are of special importance.

A pro-active cooperation among the foreign policy, economic, defence and other agencies of Russia and Uzbekistan is under way. More than 90 Russian delegations visit Uzbekistan annually. In 2006-2007 Russian Prime-Ministers Mikhail Fradkov and Viktor Zubkov, First Deputy Prime-Ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Sergey Ivanov, Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov, Transport Minister Igor Levitin and others visited Tashkent.

Inter-parliamentary ties have also been strengthened. In 2006 the leaders of the chambers of the Russian parliament Sergey Mironov and Boris Gryzlov visited Uzbekistan. In May 2007 Chairman of the Uzbekistan’s Senate Oliy Majlis Ilghizar Sabirov came to Russia with an official visit. There is an Agreement on cooperation between the upper chambers of our parliaments. The relations between the lower chambers are getting closer.

Economic cooperation is expanding each year, sales turnover is on the rise both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Today Russia’s share in Uzbekistan’s overall sales turnover is about 30%. Uzbekistan remains one of the major Russia’s trade partners, being the 4th among the CIS states. In 2007 a turnover between our nations, according to Uzbekistan’s State Statistics Committee, rose above US$4 billion, which constitutes a 45% increase in comparison with the previous year.

Russian business is increasingly more interested in cooperating with their Uzbek partners. Today there are 688 enterprises with Russian shares in Uzbekistan, 145 Russian companies have representative offices here.

The major Russian exports to Uzbekistan are machinery, equipment, transport vehicles, metals and fabricated metal products, wood, cellulose and paper goods. Among Russian imports there are transport vehicles, equipment, consumer goods and agricultural commodities, textile and textile articles. The share of machinery in Russia’s exports is 28% and accounts for 47% of its imports.

Cooperation in investment is of particular importance in the Russian-Uzbek relations, including implementing large-scale joint projects in the industries of the fuel and energy sector, such as joint exploration and development of the hydrocarbon fields in Uzbekistan and ensuring their transportation. Large-scale investment projects within the framework of the programme of development, modernisation, technical and technological re-equipment of the major industries in the Republic are being implemented. They concern energy industry, aviation industry, agriculture and other areas. Russia accounts for more than 40% of all foreign investments in Uzbekistan (more than US$3 billion).

The following companies have been successfully investing in Uzbekistan CJSC "Zarubezhneftegaz" (JSC Gazprom’s subsidiary), JSC "Lukoil", JSC "Stroitransgas", Interstate Oil Company "SoyuzNefteGaz" and others. One of the vivid examples is commissioning a gas field Khauzak in the Bukhara oblast by "Lukoil Overseas" jointly with the National Holding Company "Uzbekneftegas". The Kandym field is to be commissioned in 3 years. This investment project is evaluated at more than US$2 billion.

Another example of increasing Russian investment activity in the Republic is the IT and communications sector. In particular, the volume of investments by JSC "Mobile TeleSystems" in Uzbek economy rose to about US$250 billion [UzDaily.com: It should be US$250 million]. Another Russian company "Vympelkom" intends to invest 150 billion [UzDaily.com: Read as US$150 million] in mobile communications. Such companies, as "Wimm Bill Dann", "Baltimore", "Eurocement Group" and others are successful at the Uzbek market. Three-party investment projects are being implemented. For example, Russian West-Ural engineering corporation and Chinese state company CITIC have started the construction of a potash fertilizers plant in Uzbekistan this year (the volume of investments is US$124 billion [UzDaily.com: Read US$124 million.]).

The parties also carry on cooperation in the agricultural sector. There is an agreement with Russia’s JSC "Agromashholding" providing for enhancing and developing Republic’s technical facilities by elaborating and implementing projects on creating new competitive agricultural machinery. Just the last few years have seen the influx of more than 2000 farm tractors and other vehicles and equipment from Volgograd to Uzbekistan.

At the same time the number of enterprises with the participation of the Uzbek residents in Russia has been growing to reach 300. Their activities cover selling horticultural products, services, tourism and hotel business, producing constituent parts and servicing the cars Uz-Daewoo made in Uzbekistan.

The Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan plays an important part in extending bilateral business ties. Its new chairmen were nominated in 2007. Sergey Ivanov, First Deputy Prime Minister, represents Russia, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister, is Uzbekistan’s nominee. Two sessions have been held within the organization’s framework, as well as one session at the level of its co-Chairmen. Commission’s main task is to become a truly intergovernmental coordinating institution to define cooperation priorities in economic, scientific, technical and other areas and to implement the decisions taken.

In 2007 the term of the agreements within the Programme for Economic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan in 1998-2007 expired. With a view to taking concerted actions to develop mutually beneficial economic ties, achieving substantial progress in industrial cooperation among the leading Russian and Uzbek enterprises, our countries have signed the Programme for Economic Cooperation for 2008-2012 period.

Russian-Uzbek and Uzbek-Russian Business Councils provide an additional impetus to closer cooperation among the Russian and Uzbek businessmen and to developing trade and economic cooperation. Russian-Uzbek Business Council was set up in September 2004 by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, by the Union of Oil and Gas Producers of Russia and by the National Reserve bank. It is headed by Yuri Shafranik, Chairman of the Board of the Interstate Oil Company "SoyusNefteGas". The Uzbek-Russian Business Council, which was also set up in 2004, is headed by Nabijon Kasymov, First Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan. Business Councils, functioning under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, take part in organizing national expositions, conferences, round-tables, economic forums and facilitate interregional cooperation.

Among the most large-scale events, held by the Intergovernmental Commission and business councils in 2007, can be mentioned the First Russian National exposition in Tashkent called "Russia and Uzbekistan: strategic partnership" and business-forums with the businessmen from both countries are of particular interest. More than 700 representatives of 169 Russian companies took part in the exposition.

Our cooperation in the area of transport and transport communications has been intense. Cargo traffic volumes by automobile transport increase annually (by 17-20%), whereas passenger volumes by automobile, railroad and aviation transport enjoy an annual increase of 35-40%. Such companies, as "Aeroflot", state transportation company "Russia", "Transaero", "VIM-Airlines", "Siberia", ensure air traffic along with "Uzbekistan Havo-Yullary". At the same time the parties are building up cooperation in transport security and protecting its infrastructure.

There are prospects for developing cooperation in railroad construction. A possibility of launching a joint enterprise for producing cargo wagons is being looked into. Experts say the plant could produce several thousands of wagons a year. Establishing this joint enterprise taking account of the persisting deficit of the new half-sided wagons will help to increase railway vehicles stock in Russia and CIS states. Currents wagons are supposed to be equipped with special GLONASS-based detectors to avoid any losses in the future.

Our cooperation in the sphere of aviation is reaching new heights. In February 2008 the governments of Russia and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on cooperation in aircraft engineering and integration of the state aircraft company "Tashkent aircraft production enterprise named after V.Chkalov" and JSC "United aircraft corporation". Given traditional industrial cooperation among Russian and Uzbek aviation constructors, this Agreement, when it comes into force, will provide for new avenues of cooperation as regards elaboration, production, modernisation, and maintenance of the existing and prospective aviation vehicles. Moreover, an Intergovernmental agreement from 7 March 2007 on the Uzbek-Russian joint enterprise "UzRosAvia" for repairing "Mi-8" and "Mi-24" helicopters is being implemented.

Speaking about the importance of integrating Tashkent aviation plant into the Russian aviation corporation, President Karimov stressed that he sees it as "a symbolic event that will create a precedent for future enterprises of this kind, when leading Uzbek enterprises could be integrated with the leading Russian companies in order to tackle common tasks and, most importantly, to pave the way for a clear-cut cooperation perspective".

Russian-Uzbek cooperation on space exploration has many prospects. Uzbekistan boasts of a unique geographical location. Hence, cooperation on space exploration becomes an important element of the Russian-Uzbek relationship. Signing an Intergovernmental space programme on exploring the Earth and space for peaceful purposes will pave the way for an efficient use and development of Russian and Uzbek space potential to fulfil social, economic, scientific and other tasks in the interests of both countries.

The main elements of the joint space programme are the following: creating state navigation and information monitoring management system in Uzbekistan based on the results of the space activities, primarily global navigation systems GLONASS and GLONASS/GPS; improving state automated system for collecting, processing, projecting and ensuring security of information on the state of affairs and development in Uzbekistan.

Russia attaches great importance to signing an intergovernmental Agreement on joint operating of a quantum-optical measurement system situated nearby the city of Kitab at the Maidanak mountain. When its operation begins, Russian and Uzbek experts will get one more unique object to explore space. The Intergovernmental Commission decided to sign the agreement in the first quarter of 2008.

Against this background we have to accept that there was a years-long delay in implementing Russian-Uzbek intergovernmental agreement on creating an International radio-astronomical observatory on the Suffa plateau, which had been signed on 27 July 1995. The construction of the observatory had been started back in the mid-1980s and had been suspended in 1992. In the last 10 years Russian-Uzbek working group analysed unfinished construction of the radio observatory and telescope. A memorandum of agreement on technical and economic assessment of constructing this unique scientific object was prepared. 10-th session of the Intergovernmental Commission in Tashkent decided to hold in the second quarter of 2008 the second session of the Committee of permanent representatives to discuss the implementation of the Agreement and to get feedback from Uzbekistan’s state organisations on the documents prepared by the Russian-Uzbek group.

Russia and Uzbekistan intend to strengthen their cooperation in the military and technical areas to ensure national and regional security. Improving a legislative basis and elaborating efficient cooperation patterns will be continued. Signing of an intergovernmental agreement on mutual protection of intellectual property rights acquired in the course of military and technical cooperation opens up new possibilities for developing our ties in this area.

Interregional ties, including those among the economic entities of our countries, are being improved on the basis of an Intergovernmental Agreement on enhancing cooperation of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with the administrative and territorial entities of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Special importance is attached to state assistance in creating joint enterprises within the framework of an interregional cooperation and to developing industrial, scientific and technical cooperation.

Hundreds of Russian companies take part in industry shows. Along with enhancing Russian-Uzbek cooperation, it is conducive to starting cooperation in the new prospective areas. Dozens of companies from the Russian regions made their presentations, where cooperation and investment projects in textile and agriculture areas were discussed (production and purchase of microbiological pesticides and protecting plants from diseases and vermin), in the area of the innovative technology and other areas.

As a result of the measures taken by both parties in the last few years the share of regional cooperation in sales turnover with Uzbekistan reached 50%. Among Russian leaders are Moscow and St. Petersburg, Altai Krai, the Astrakhan, Voronezh, Samara, Sverdlovsk, Moscow, Ivanovo, Orenburg, Chelyabinsk, Yaroslavl regions, the Republic of Tatarstan and others.

Our cooperation in finance, including at the level of banking institutions, is of growing importance. For instance, Russia’s Vneshtorgbank upon the Government’s support asked Uzbekistan whether it could eventually start its activities in the country. If green light is given, it would promote trade, economic and investment cooperation among our countries.

Our cooperation in the humanist field, including culture, science, education, information, inter-NGO contacts, promoting cultural center, becomes a priority.

The leaders of our countries find it reasonable to pursue close cooperation in training high-qualified specialists, who will implement large-scale joint projects in various areas. In this respect, it is still necessary to secure favourable environment for learning the Russian language in Uzbekistan and the Uzbek language in Russia as well as to train people for teaching these languages at the educational institutions.

Each year hundreds of young Uzbeks go studying in universities. Opening offices of the leading Russian higher educational institutions is more frequent. They are called upon to train future leaders not only for Uzbekistan’s economy, but also for implementing large-scale Russian-Uzbek projects in the area of the fuel and energy complex and other spheres. There is an external campus of the Russian Economic Academy named after Plekhanov in Tashkent. In 2006 the campus of Moscow State University named after Lomonosov was opened and in 2007 Russian Oil and Gas State University named after Gubkin followed suit.

We hope that intergovernmental agreements signed in July 2007 on labour and protecting the rights of the migrant workers (Russian citizens in Uzbekistan and Uzbek citizens in Russia), on fighting illegal migration and readmission will create a solid legal basis for joint actions for strengthening bilateral cooperation on migration management.

Russia and Uzbekistan, as it has already been noted, share views on major international issues and are working to enhance cooperation on foreign policy, including within the UN framework and other international and regional organizations and forums. Our countries are calling upon a more significant role for the UN in settling regional conflicts, countering new threats. We regard the UN as a universal tool for peacekeeping and international security at the global and regional levels.

Russia and Uzbekistan continue their work on the basis of the CIS Development Concept, adopted at the summit in Dushanbe on 5 October 2007, and the Plan of major events to implement it and to take efficient measures for promoting integration and cooperation in CIS. The main long-term task of the CIS development is to form an integrated economic and political entity making it possible for its every member to pursue efficient development. Further improvement of CIS functioning, greater economic and humanist cooperation and joint crime fighting should be conducive to it.

Our cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Community and Collective Security Treaty Organisation is among our priorities. It has to be noted that restoring Uzbekistan’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation paves the way for an integrated space of collective security in the region, opening up possibilities for enhancing organisation’s potential.

Encouraging results have been achieved in our cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and its Regional Antiterrorist structure in Tashkent. SCO is turning into an efficient institution of ensuring security and stability in Central Asia, developing multilateral trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member-states.

Our countries share views on the situation in Afghanistan, which remains complicated, and on the threats coming from this state, including drug trafficking. The presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan think that in order to get the Islamic state of Afghanistan back to peace, consolidated efforts on the part of the entire international community are necessary to strengthen state authority, law and order, to ensure post-conflict restoration of the Afghan economy and to provide efficient humanitarian assistance to the Afghan population.

Another topical issue is cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan within the framework of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Our countries are calling for a higher OSCE efficiency, improving its activities as forum for a political dialogue and mutually advantageous decisions concerning important security issues. We support finalising OSCE institutional structure and turning it into a fully competent international organisation, which takes into account the interests of all its equal member-states, eliminating all geographical and functional misbalances and double-standard practices in its activities. To these ends, our countries will promote joint projects of the OSCE Charter, basic principles for organizing national elections observation within the framework of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and defining NGOs participation in OSCE meetings.

I am confident that mutual comprehension and trust between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan, a high level of cooperation based on the principles of alliance and strategic partnership will be further developed and enhanced for the sake of our friendly peoples, peace and security in the region.

Farid Ðœukhametshin, Doctor of Political Science, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent

Source: http://www.eurasianhome.org