Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said Cyprus would work to deepen relations with Uzbekistan during talks with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Tashkent, the third stop on his tour of Central Asia. The two ministers said they discussed expanding bilateral ties, including economic cooperation.
Talks in Tashkent
Kombos thanked Saidov for the “warm welcome” he received in Uzbekistan and for what he described as a productive discussion. He said the two sides examined ways to “further expand” relations and “enhance economic cooperation” between Cyprus and Uzbekistan.
He said they also sought to “strengthen engagement both bilaterally and in multilateral settings”.
EU presidency reference
Kombos referred to Cyprus holding the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency and said that, within that framework, “we remain committed to unlocking new areas of mutually beneficial partnerships”.
Uzbekistan’s position
Saidov said the ministers had “discussed issues related to the further development of … relations”.
He said “particular attention was given to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, transport, logistics, strengthening ties between business communities, and exploring opportunities for implementing joint initiatives”.
Saidov added that the two sides had “also reviewed regional and international issues of mutual interest”.
Regional tour
Before arriving in Uzbekistan, Kombos had visited Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. He arrived in Kazakhstan earlier in the week alongside President Nikos Christodoulides and visited Tajikistan on Friday.
The final leg of his Central Asia tour is set to be Kyrgyzstan.
Declaration on Cyprus
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, along with Turkmenistan, signed a joint declaration with the European Union last year precluding any recognition of the north as an independent country.
The declaration came at a time when the Turkish Cypriot side, led by Ersin Tatar, was advocating for a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem.
It stated that all five countries “reaffirmed our strong commitment” to United Nations Security Council resolutions 541 and 550.