Fergana will host the first session of the Fergana Peace Forum
On October 15–16, the first session of the Fergana Peace Forum, titled “Fergana Valley: Joining Forces for Peace and Progress”, will take place.
Next week, Fergana will become the center of international dialogue and cooperation for several days.
The forum will be organized by the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISMI) in cooperation with the Center for Progressive Reforms, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Water Management Institute, and the Peacebuilding Hub, a platform bringing together reputable international organizations specializing in peacebuilding and social cohesion.
The event is held in partnership with the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of Kyrgyzstan, the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, and the Institute for Asian and European Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, with support from the UN and the European Union.
More than 300 participants from Central Asia, the CIS, Asia, Europe, and the Americas are expected to attend the two-day forum.
Among the honored guests are Kaha Imnadze, Head of the RCPDCA; Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia; Kate Fihon, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center; Kayrat Sarybay, Secretary General of the SCO; Khan Sohail, Deputy Secretary General of the SCO; and UN Resident Coordinators in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
A notable feature of the upcoming session will be its inclusive nature, with participation from civil society, youth, women’s organizations, and academic and expert communities.
Leading international peacebuilding organizations are also expected to participate, including the German Berghof Foundation, the Finnish M. Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, the Swiss PeaceNexus Foundation, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI, Sweden).
The main goal of the forum is to establish a permanent platform for strengthening dialogue, mutual trust, good neighborliness, and developing a common strategy for the development of the Fergana Valley.
The agenda includes discussions on ensuring stability and sustainable development in the Fergana Valley, unlocking its economic potential, expanding cultural and humanitarian ties, and increasing the role of the private sector, youth, and civil society.
Under the auspices of the Fergana Peace Forum, and with support from Kyrgyz partners and the Peacebuilding Hub, the “Unity Day” will be organized for the first time.
Expected outcomes of the forum include the adoption of a communiqué calling for the creation of a unified space of friendship, good neighborliness, and sustainable development in the Fergana Valley.
Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that “the era of closed borders, unresolved disputes, and conflicts in Central Asia is over. In recent years, trade, investment, and transport volumes in our region have increased fivefold. Joint investment funds, cross-border trade zones, and industrial cooperation are being established, and major infrastructure projects are being implemented.”
The President emphasized that “today the process of forming a New Central Asia has begun. Thanks to its cohesion, stability, and growing regional identity, it is taking an increasingly strong position in the system of international relations as an independent subject.”
“Peace in the Fergana Valley has become possible thanks to the determination of the heads of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as the efforts of local communities, which have managed to turn differences into a source of strength,” noted ISMI Director Eldor Aripov, commenting on the upcoming event.
According to him, “the Fergana Forum aims to create a new image of the Fergana Valley as a space of peace, harmony, and opportunities,” demonstrating that the political will of national leaders and the unity of peoples can ensure regional stability and prosperity.
