By Vasif HUSEYNOV, PhD, Head of Department, AIR Center, Adjunct Lecturer, ADA and Khazar Universities, Baku

On June 20, during a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called upon the Armenian and Azerbaijani governments to conclude a peace agreement “without delay” (US State Department, June 20). He stressed Washington’s willingness to support the peace process “in any way useful to the parties.” During his recent trip to the South Caucasus in late June, US Deputy Secretary of State James O’Brien reiterated these messages to the respective governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The United States views peace between the two countries in a larger geopolitical perspective, characterizing it as vital to reducing wider regional dependency on Washington’s foes. READ MORE

• July 13, 2024

By Benyamin POGHOSYAN, PhD, Chairman, Center for Political and Economic Strategic Studies

As war in Ukraine rages and the confrontation between Russia and the West continues unabated, a growing number of experts are speaking of the beginning of Cold War 2.0, pitting the West against Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, the so-called “Axis of upheaval.” As with the original Cold War, the new one covers many areas of the globe, including Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. The former Soviet Union remains the heart of this confrontation, and the South Caucasus is no exception. Strategically located between Russia, Turkey, and Iran, for the 25 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union the region was mainly the scene of competition between Russia and Turkey, with the first in the leading role. The last four years have brought significant changes in equilibrium. Azerbaijan transformed the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by defeating Armenia in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War with the direct military involvement of Turkey. READ MORE

• July 13, 2024

Khudoyberdi Khaknazarov
Doctor of History

It is not an exaggeration to say that in the historical conditions where humanity is going through a difficult period, where contradictions and conflicts are intensifying and seriously undermining stability, in the multi-ethnic New Uzbekistan, human dignity and the interests of the people are recognized as the highest values, and in this regard, it is becoming an example and model for many countries of the world.
Because sustainable development can be achieved first of all by valuing and honoring people, creating conditions for the population to live well today, and realizing the high trust and responsibility of the population for the future. READ MORE

• July 12, 2024

Anvarjon Mirkomilov, Head of Department
Development Strategy Center

Today, civil society institutions, particularly non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), play an active role in Uzbekistan's development and the implementation of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy. It is impossible to build a new Uzbekistan without organizing the activities of NGOs, the most important institution of civil society, according to democratic principles. On this basis, effective work is being done to support NGOs and civil society institutions, strengthen social partnerships with state bodies, implement effective public oversight, and improve the legal framework governing this area. READ MORE

• June 29, 2024

By Yeghia TASHJIAN, Beirut-based regional analyst and researcher, columnist, "The Armenian Weekly”

After the end of the Cold War, Turkish decision-makers adopted a “top-down” strategy that capitalized on the dramatic shift in international arms production. Turkey aimed to look eastward to cooperate with China and Russia as its threat perception changed. In the second half of the 1990s, Turkey became a prominent Israeli arms purchaser. There were numerous factors behind this. First, Israeli weapons were a high-tech and credible alternative to NATO weapons. Second, unlike Europe and the U.S., Israeli arms purchases were not conditioned to Turkey’s domestic developments (democratization, human rights, minority rights…). Third, Israel and Turkey’s foreign policies overlapped in critical areas in the Middle East, aiming to contain Syrian and Iranian interests. Finally, deep relations with Israel were expected to be rewarded by pro-Israeli lobbying groups in the U.S. to counter the Armenian and Greek lobbies. READ MORE

• June 28, 2024

Qudratilla Rafikov, Political scientist

In the speech of our President at a recent meeting with activists of Jizzakh region, one point caught the attention of most of the people. In it, the head of state said the following: "If God gives me health and life, the days will come when we will not have poverty and unemployment. I have devoted seven years of my life to this, created a system for this, created laws, opened the world. I came to this position, so that my people would live well, so that their dreams would come true, so that their children would live in prosperity and be happy, so that their grandchildren would be born healthy, so that medicine would work, schools would work, roads would be smooth...". READ MORE

• June 15, 2024

This is the name of the next topic of the IV Samarkand Forum on Human Rights, a traditional international conference to be held in our country on June 13-14, 2024. It is planned to hold three plenary meetings offline and online within the framework of the forum.

The main goal of this year's Samarkand forum is to discuss issues related to the impact of climate change on human rights on a broad scale and on the basis of information analysis. In addition to gaining the necessary knowledge in this field, the participants of the international conference will have the opportunity to exchange experience and get acquainted with the best practices within the international community. READ MORE

• June 12, 2024

Roxila Mardonkulovna Usmanova, Doctoral Student, Institute of Family and Gender Research, Republic of Uzbekistan

Special attention is being paid to further enhancing the status of women in the new Uzbek society and ensuring their rights as a priority value. Gender equality is recognized as a social phenomenon that permeates all aspects of the life and activities of society, encompassing politics, economics, law, ideology, culture, education, and science, shaping the dynamics between women and men. In the words of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoev, "The stereotype formed in the minds of our people makes me think about many things. Traditionally, we perceive a woman first and foremost as a mother, a keeper of the family hearth. This is undoubtedly true. However, today not every woman should not be just an observer, she should be an active and proactive participant in the democratic changes taking place in the country." Therefore, it can be asserted without exaggeration that in recent years, increasing the political, social, and economic engagement of women in Uzbek society has emerged as a top priority of state policy, driven by the political will of the Uzbekistani leadership. READ MORE

• June 5, 2024