EUSR`s Opening Remarks during the first day of the Fergana Peace Forum

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Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Colleagues,

Let me start by stating that this is a great honour to be here with you today. Both the time and the place at which we are meeting today are truly significant. Just a few days ago, it marked seven months since the signing a historic, tri-border deal and the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship.

This agreement has opened a new chapter in the history of Central Asia, and we are fortunate to witness this process. The Ferghana Valley has been a vital crossroads on the Silk Road for centuries, connecting cultures, ideas, and trade routes between East and West.

Today, the Ferghana Valley remains a region of economic potential, reach, and diverse culture, with a young and vibrant population. I cannot fail to mention the extraordinary hospitality of its inhabitants.

The Ferghana Valley has always been a place I have returned to with great pleasure during my tenure as the EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan a few years ago. Taking advantage of the opportunity to visit the Ferghana Valley once again, a few days before joining you here at the Forum, I had also visited two other key locations in the region: Khujand and Batken.

I am deeply impressed by the positive and constructive cooperation that continues to develop among these three regions. Considering the past challenges and tensions surrounding the border areas where these three countries meet, it is encouraging to see that crossing the Tajik-Kyrgyz and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders has become a seamless, secure, and efficient process. This progress is a testament to the commitment of all parties involved to foster regional stability and enhance mutual trust.

I would also like to highlight that we are currently at a moment when the relations between the European Union and Central Asia are stronger and closer than ever before. Several important events have taken place this year that we can consider milestones in our relationship.

Most notably, the first Central Asia – European Union Summit was held in Samarkand in April of this year and was attended by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa.

In March of this year, Ashgabat hosted a ministerial meeting, attended by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. Few days ago, we’ve hosted in Brussels a second edition of the Global Gateway Forum with a key highlight of the session on connectivity and hydropower in Central Asia.

Another important meeting on the joint European – Central Asian agenda lies ahead of us. In few days we are meeting with our Central Asian friends in Luxembourg for a ministerial meeting to discuss the cross-regional connectivity agenda.

Let me finish my short speech with President Costa’s remark during first ever EU -Central Asia Summit in April, he said: (..)I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on the signing of the historic border agreement on the 13th of March.

This is an important accomplishment for both countries and for the whole region. In turbulent times we need more examples like this to solve conflicts peacefully.

These words continue to carry great weight, especially considering the current instability around the world. I believe this Forum will be a great opportunity to discuss the region’s promising future, address all pertinent questions, and most importantly, serve as an example of peacefully resolving issues, as reflected by President Costa.

Dear Colleagues, thank you once again for invitation and I wish you fruitful discussions.