establish a permanent UN commission on Afghanistan that would address the concerns of long-suffering Afghan people. The main task of this Commission must be to promote and facilitate the economic and social development of Afghanistan.
Distinguished Heads of State and Government!
Another acute problem of our time is related to global climate change. Today, every country feels the negative effects of this process. Unfortunately, such negative developments also pose a great threat to the sustainable development of Central Asia.
I would like to once again draw your attention to the devastating effects of the drying up of the Aral Sea. The Aral Sea region became the centre of an environmental tragedy. To mitigate the current situation, we are carrying out an enormous work to create two million hectares of new plantations and forests, to form a layer of soil.
On our country’s initiative, the United Nations Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region was established.
We hope that this Fund will serve as a base platform for the international community to provide practical assistance to the population living in a stressed ecological zone.
We propose to adopt a special resolution of the UN General Assembly declaring the Aral Sea region an area of ecological innovation and technologies. It would be expedient to mark the date of adoption of this important document as the International Day for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize yet another point: the continuing unrest in various parts of the world, the growing conflict and violence, environmental disasters and other modern threats are exacerbating the global problems of misery and poverty.
These problems become especially acute in the condition of pandemic. The voice of poverty, which is getting even more alarming today, must raise concerns in entire world community and all of us.
In this regard, we propose to set the issues of poverty eradication and the fight against poverty as one of the main topics of the next session of the United Nations General Assembly and hold a Global Summit on these issues.
Dear friends!
It is clear to all of us that the socio-economic landscape of the post-pandemic world will be completely different.
We need to work on the basis of new approaches and close cooperation against common threats to security and sustainable development.
The central role of the United Nations as a coordinating international structure needs to be further strengthened.
Uzbekistan always stands ready to develop a wide-ranging and mutually beneficial partnership with all countries of the world, as well as practical dialogue with the United Nations and its institutions.
