With your permission I would like to very briefly dwell on issues of prospects of cooperation of Uzbekistan with NATO in the framework of “Partnership for Peace” Program, as well as our vision of prospects on stabilization of situation in Afghanistan.

An ever bigger transformation of NATO into a political structure becomes today a reality, and this, in its turn, is a good stimulus for further development and strengthening the Euro-Atlantic partnership – the EAPC.

In the context of these processes the real prospect of the program of constructive interaction of our country with NATO could also include along with measures in the area of providing security and defense, ecological and humanitarian spheres the cooperation in the issues of democratic renewal and modernization, strengthening democratic and civil institutions, and other directions of mutual interest.

The problems of non-proliferation of nuclear and other types of weapon of mass destruction, strengthening of interaction in combating international terrorism and illegal drug trafficking, certainly, must remain as a priority direction of cooperation.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to state that Uzbekistan stands ready to discuss and sign with NATO the Agreement on providing for corridor and transit through its territory to deliver the non-military cargos through the border junction Termez-Khayraton, practically the sole railway connection with Afghanistan.

At the same time, the sovereign interests in terms of maintaining the security and legislation of our country must be observed.

The agreement on railway transit of Bundeswehr cargos via the territory of Uzbekistan signed by Uzbekistan with Germany on March 4, 2008 could be taken as basis for the future Agreement.

In Uzbekistan we distinctly realize that achievement of peace and stability in Afghanistan is a decisive factor of security which opens up big opportunities to resolve the vitally important problems of sustainable social and economic development of the entire Central Asian region.

There is no alternative here, since further aggravation of confrontation, escalation of tension and terrorism in this country represent a serious challenge to global security and international stability.

I would like to briefly speak about our vision of tasks the accomplishment of which could positively influence the situation in Afghanistan.

Firstly – it is very important to ensure the priority of resolution of the most acute and urgent social and economic problems, the problems of employment of population and strengthening the vertical and authority of power.

In this we see the key to achieve the most important objective – the trust of population towards the international coalition forces.

Along with this, all this may serve as the most powerful factor of resolving the problem of struggle against production and trafficking of drugs which are the main source for financing the militants.

Secondly – this is the respect and support of traditional religious, national, cultural values and customs of the multiethnic people of Afghanistan, the respectful treatment of interests of ethnic minorities.

One should not allow the absolutely groundless attacks and slander on the religion of Islam which cause the absolutely intolerable situation and tension not only in Afghanistan, but also in entire Muslim world, as a whole.

Thirdly – it is very important to ensure the stage-by-stage and consistent implementation of reforms in the sphere of state and public construction, and establishing the civil institutions taking into account that the most important guarantee of successful reforms are, firstly, the political stability and economic well being of Afghanistan.

Fourthly – it is of a decisive significance for stabilization of situation in Afghanistan to resolve jointly with the leadership and government of neighboring Pakistan the border problems, primarily, on the territory of Waziristan.

Fifthly – I believe it is expedient to resume the negotiation process on achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan in the framework of the contact group 6+2 which effectively functioned in 1997-2001 with the support of the United Nations and included the authorized representatives of states neighboring on Afghanistan plus the United States of America and Russia.

The contact group was successful in elaborating common principles and approaches of the group’s member-countries towards the ways of settlement of the Afghan crisis under aegis of the United Nations, preparation and holding of the meeting of the conflicting parties in Tashkent in July 1999 and adoption of the Tashkent declaration “On the main principles of settlement the conflict in Afghanistan” on the basis of which the corresponding resolution of the UN Security Council was adopted. The latter recognized the outcomes of the Tashkent meeting as an important step on the way of political settlement of the Afghan problem.

Taking into consideration the contemporary realities, it would be necessary to transform the contact group which operated till 2001 from 6+2 into 6+3 bearing in mind an essential participation of the NATO representative in this negotiation process.

I think that if these proposals in elaboration of a comprehensive plan on Afghanistan with participation of all interested parties are taken into account, it could positively influence the process of stabilization of situation in Afghanistan.