Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov.25
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev adopted a joint statement in which they expressed the mutual desire for the further development of cooperation, a representative of Uzbek government circles told Trend on Nov.25.
The statement was adopted following the high-level talks between the two presidents during the official visit of Islam Karimov to Astana on Nov.25.
"The presidents said that the two countries hold close positions on many key issues on the international agenda and have great potential to strengthen the bilateral cooperation on the international arena," said the statement.
"The sides also expressed mutual desire for the further development of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan within influential international and regional organizations, institutions and forums."
The presidents added that currently, the world is entering the phase of turbulence which is a result of the political instability and the world financial crisis.
Regarding this, Karimov and Nazarbayev stressed that the settlement of any disputes, contradictions and disagreements in the international issues is possible only by political means, through negotiations and other peaceful means in strict compliance with basic international norms and principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
Moreover, the presidents added that the ongoing global geopolitical changes can affect the Central Asian region.
"With this regard, as the countries located near the hotbeds of tension, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will make efforts to ensure the coordinating role of the UN in the settlement of conflicts by using political and diplomatic methods," the statement said.
Nazarbayev and Karimov also adopted a decision to intensify the cooperation in fighting against terrorism, religious extremism, illicit trafficking in weapons, drugs, as well as other challenges and threats to the regional and international security on the basis of bilateral and international agreements.
Edited by CN