OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities discusses minorities and regional security in Tashkent

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek visited Uzbekistan on 11 and 12 April 2012.

On 11 April, Vollebaek held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, Public Education Minister Temir Shirinov and the Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Research under the President, Shukhrat Nargitov.

The High Commissioner received updates on various issues related to national minorities, both within Uzbekistan and in the wider region. In particular, he discussed the links between regional security, bilateral relations and national minorities that are highly relevant for Central Asia, including Afghanistan. In addition, Vollebaek encouraged Tashkent to continue supporting the Inter-State Dialogue on Social Integration and National Minority Education initiated by his office in 2006.

Vollebaek also sought local assessments of the regional security situation and met with members of the international community.