A round table was organized focusing on “International Vector of the Constitutional Reform in Uzbekistan”

On April 14 the Institute for Advanced International Studies ( IAIS ) under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy ( UWED ) organized a round table focusing on “International Vector of the Constitutional Reform in Uzbekistan”.

The event was attended by heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads and senior staff of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, leading analytical and research centers, national media, faculty staff and students of UWED.

Presentations were made by IAIS researchers , as well as by the President of the Institute for Global Studies, Ambassador A. Sajanhar (India), director of the Institute for Security Policy and Development S. Cornell ( Sweden ), Executive Director of the Center for South Asia and International Studies M. Ul Hassan Khan (Pakistan), founder of the law firm Specht & Partner Rechtsanwalt GmbH L. Specht (Austria) and Professor of International Law at the Universities of Glasgow and Paris 1 (Sorbonne Panthéon) K. J. Thames.

In his welcoming speech, the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Rector of UWED S. Safoev pointed to the program milestones in the development of Uzbekistan, the specific features of the current stage of modernization and the paradigm of the country's development, which are reflected in the updated Constitution. He noted that current active and constructive foreign policy of Uzbekistan has turned our country into regional power through effective interaction in Central Asia, as well as the successful building of relations with the states of neighboring regions, such as South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, participation in the activities of international structures .

It was noted that the Constitutional reform in its foreign policy aspect pursues several goals of a strategic and long-term nature. Firstly, it is designed to consolidate the new foreign policy model of Uzbekistan, which has been implemented since the second half of 2016 and has made it possible to achieve a major breakthrough in the country's regional and international development. Secondly, the constitutional reform should demonstrate to the world community the system-forming principles and norms of Uzbek foreign policy, on the basis of which Uzbekistan, as a regional power, will act in the conditions of the growing crisis of international law and the system of international relations. Thirdly, the principles being enshrined clearly demonstrate foreign policy model Uzbekistan bases and   uses the potential of its bilateral and multilateral relations to support the dynamics of its socio-political and economic reforms .

It was noted that the renewed Constitution of Uzbekistan can ensure the dynamic development of the country in the future: the importance of the ongoing reforms in the administrative system in the country, the creation of a compact but highly efficient public administration system, designed to provide public services of the highest quality. In addition, the experts emphasized that the constitutional reform creates more favorable conditions for attracting foreign investment. The new Constitution, along with the law and the courts, will be the most important protector of property and investment in Uzbekistan. In this regard, the practical work to organize the International Commercial Court in the country has already begun.

The speakers expressed their confidence that the Constitutional reform can be seen as a new "social contract" that will have a serious impact on the countries of the region. Moreover, the growing trend towards building a security community will increasingly shape the regional subjectivity of Central Asia, similar to that observed in Europe.

Opinions were expressed that the constitutional reform in Uzbekistan would make the public - state model of the country a unique example of the synthesis of Muslim traditions, liberal democracy and secularism. It was also emphasized that current the global problems, which encompass climate change, depletion of water and other natural resources, are becoming a serious challenge and require the joint efforts of all mankind.

Concluding the results of the "round table", the participants agreed that the constitutional reform consolidates the priorities of the modern foreign policy of Uzbekistan, based on openness, pragmatism, as well as mutual trust and respect in relations with all countries.