Seventy-second session
Agenda item 65
Peacebuilding and sustaining peace
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan: draft resolution
Strengthening regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region
The General Assembly,
Guided by the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations that encourage measures for regional cooperation to advance the purposes and principles of the United Nations,
Recognizing the important role of the Central Asian countries in ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development in the region as well as in promoting regional and international cooperation,
Keeping in mind modern challenges and threats faced by the countries of Central Asia,
Acknowledging the major regional and international initiatives of the Central Asian States in the fields of security and development, including:
(a) The establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia as an effective measure towards the achievement of a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction,
(b) The declaration by the General Assembly of 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests as one of the key means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world,
(c) The adoption of the first regional Joint Plan of Action for the Implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia and the Ashgabat Declaration,
(d) The elimination of risks from uranium tailings, the legacy of nuclear tests and radioactive waste,
(e) The proclamation of the period 2018–2028 as the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”,
(f) Ensuring reliable and stable transit in respect of energy carriers and energy resources, including through the effective implementation of existing regional energy projects,
(g) The development of sustainable, best-value infrastructure supporting transport and transit corridors and the strengthening of links between all modes of transport, including by opening new roads and railways, as well as flight routes, as well as the implementation of transport and transit agreements encompassing Central Asia, , ,
(h) Ensuring the protection of ecosystems, biodiversity and critical species of flora and fauna,
Welcoming the efforts of the Governments of Central Asian countries to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals contained therein at the national level,
Referring to the results of the international conference on the theme “Central Asia: shared past and common Future, cooperation for sustainable development and mutual prosperity”, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 10 and 11 November 2017, at which the countries of Central Asia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation,
Noting with satisfaction the regional support for the initiative to convene regular consultative meetings of the Heads of State of the Central Asian countries,
Recognizing the importance of preventive diplomacy, and noting in this context the role of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia,
Recognizing also the efforts of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, which Afghanistan has joined,
Stressing the importance of the Afghan-led Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and other such important regional initiatives, aimed at promoting regional cooperation, and welcoming the outcomes of the seventh Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, held in Ashgabat on 14 and 15 November 2017, aimed at further economic cooperation, and encouraging the efforts and contribution by Central Asian States to the development of Afghanistan,
Recognizing the outcomes of the ministerial debate of the Security Council on building regional partnership in Afghanistan and Central Asia as a model to link security and development, held on 19 January 2018 during the presidency of Kazakhstan as the first Central Asian country on the Council,
Acknowledging the efforts of the Central Asian States to actively promote education as an important condition for effectively counteracting violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism,
Taking into account the outcome of the high-level international conference on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism, held in Dushanbe on 3 and 4 May 2018,
Supporting the holding of the World Nomad Games on a regular basis, thereby contributing to intercultural dialogue,
1. Notes with satisfaction the significant practical contribution and efforts of the Central Asian States in strengthening regional security and stability, as well as in fostering sustainable development;
2. Expresses its support for the ongoing regional efforts and initiatives to strengthen stability and economic cooperation in Central Asia;
3. Reaffirms that threats to stability and sustainable development in the region require closer and more coordinated cooperation between the States of Central Asia, as well as between them and international and regional organizations, and also reaffirms the importance of regional cooperation involving regional and international organizations in addressing these threats;
4. Calls upon the countries of the region to make effective use of the platform of regular consultations of Heads of State and other forums to promote cooperation in the region and beyond in ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development;
5. Supports the active cooperation of the Central Asian countries in implementing the initiatives outlined in the final communiqué of the international conference on the theme “Central Asia: shared past and common future, cooperation for sustainable development and mutual prosperity”;11
6. Welcomes the first summit of Central Asian Heads of State, held in Astana on 15 March 2018;
7. Also welcomes the holding by Turkmenistan in 2018 of the summit of the Heads of the participating States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea;
8. Encourages the efforts of the Central Asian States to promote the peace process and social and economic development in Afghanistan and their participation in the regional political and economic processes, and underscores the importance of the Kabul process as a main forum and vehicle for peace initiatives on Afghanistan, as well as other regional and international conferences, including the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan: Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional Connectivity, held on 26 and 27 March 2018, as ongoing efforts of the international community to support the Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process;
9. Notes the importance of developing and strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation in the sphere of the rational and integrated use of water and energy resources in Central Asia, taking into account the interests of all States of the region, and for that purpose calls for the holding of regular consultations to promptly develop mutually beneficial long-term sustainable mechanisms in this field;
10. Calls upon Member States to support the efforts of the Central Asian States aimed at mitigating the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea;
11. Supports the further strengthening of good-neighbourly and friendly relations among the Central Asian States through deepening relations in the fields of education, science, technology, innovation, tourism, culture, the arts and sports, and for continued mutual assistance in emergency situations;
12. Notes the importance of developing an advanced transportation system in the vast area of Central Asia and the wide use of the transit potential of the region as a necessary condition for sustainable development and free movement of people, goods and services;
13. Calls upon the specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system to harmonize their programmes and activities in support of the priorities for regional cooperation, integration and sustainable development in Central Asia, as identified by the countries of the region;
14. Encourages the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia to continue its efforts to promote peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region, within its mandate, in promoting preventive diplomacy in cooperation with relevant regional and international organizations;
15. Encourages the efforts of the partners of the Central Asian States and the international community as a whole to strengthen and expand cooperation with the countries of the region in the fields of regional security and sustainable development.