On 4 December 2025, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), Akramjon Nematov, took part in the annual meeting of the supreme governing body – the Board of Directors of the Swiss foundation PeaceNexus.

For information: PeaceNexus is a Swiss non-profit organisation established in 2009 and headquartered in the town of Prangins. The Foundation’s mission is to promote the building of sustainable peace by providing support to a wide range of peacebuilding actors. It maintains active cooperation with the United Nations.

The meeting was chaired by the Foundation’s President, Thomas Greminger, former Secretary General of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from 2017 to 2020.

The PeaceNexus Board of Directors comprises leading scholars and peacebuilding experts, as well as heads of international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and representatives of major businesses.

The online session also included the participation of heads of the Foundation’s regional offices from four regions of the world: the Western Balkans, West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.

Addressing the members of the Board, Akramjon Nematov presented the outcomes of the Fergana Peace Forum, organised by the ISRS in October of this year in partnership with the PeaceNexus representation in Central Asia.

The expert emphasised that the successful conduct of the Forum served as a tangible demonstration of the partnership between the ISRS and the Foundation. According to him, it was particularly symbolic that the event took place in a location unique to the region – the Fergana Valley.

“This is the most densely populated part of Central Asia, encompassing territories of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. For decades, the Fergana Valley has been perceived as a ‘powder keg’ with high conflict potential due to unresolved border, transport, and water issues, as well as the region’s multi-ethnic population,” he noted.

Akramjon Nematov recalled that just a few years ago, borders in the region were virtually closed. Border areas were marked by minefields, transport restrictions, and trade barriers, all of which impeded regional cooperation.

Today, all these challenges belong to the past. “Over the past eight years, it has been possible to resolve all sharp disagreements between neighbouring countries. Thanks to political will and joint efforts, borders and transport communications in the region have reopened, trade is growing actively, and cooperation in water and energy sectors is developing,” stated the First Deputy Director of the ISRS.

He described as particularly significant the signing in March this year by the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan of the Agreement on the Junction point of State Borders and the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship.

As the expert emphasised, “The positive transformation of the Fergana Valley reflects the constructive processes taking place across Central Asia. From being a ‘vulnerable point,’ the Fergana Valley is turning into a space of opportunities and a strategic anchor for the entire region.”

At the same time, Akramjon Nematov briefed the Board members on the outcomes of the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which was recently held in Tashkent and, in his words, constituted a truly historic event.

The ISRS representative paid particular attention to the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan to transform the region into a “Central Asian Community.” “This initiative is intended to give the process of regional cooperation a sustainable and progressive character,” he emphasised.

In addition, Akramjon Nematov reported that the leaders of the region’s states had endorsed the Concept for Ensuring Regional Security, Stability, and Sustainable Development in Central Asia. According to him, this document represents a breakthrough in the formation of a common security architecture. For the first time, the countries of the region independently articulated a shared understanding of the nature of regional security threats and the ways to address them.

As the ISRS representative noted, security is viewed as equal, comprehensive, and indivisible, and is defined as a multidimensional phenomenon. It encompasses both traditional challenges and issues of sustainable socio-economic development, requiring an integrated approach and multifaceted cooperation.

The Concept also emphasises the open and constructive nature of cooperation in the field of security. The main outcome, however, is the affirmation of the shared responsibility of the countries in the region and their readiness to play a key role in ensuring their own security.

At the same time, during the summit, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan also gave high recognition to the results of the Fergana Peace Forum and proposed that it be held on a regular basis.

According to the First Deputy Director of the ISRS, this demonstrates the Forum’s relevance as an important mechanism for maintaining dialogue and strengthening trust in the region.

“And this is no coincidence. The recent Forum was a large-scale event, distinguished by its inclusivity. From a single platform, governors, entrepreneurs, representatives of local communities, youth and civil activists, as well as foreign experts and international partners, delivered their speeches. In total, the Forum brought together over 500 participants from Central Asia, the Americas, Europe, China, Russia, South Asia, and around 15 international organisations, including the EU, the UN, the OSCE, and the SCO,” the expert noted.

Concluding his address, Akramjon Nematov expressed special gratitude to Thomas Greminger for his remarks to the participants of the Fergana Peace Forum. He emphasised that Greminger’s words were received with particular attention and warmth. This served as an indicator that the approaches to peacebuilding being implemented in the region resonate with international efforts, and that the voices of the Fergana Valley communities find recognition and support among our global partners.

Representatives of the Swiss foundation PeaceNexus highly commended the efforts of the Central Asian countries in strengthening peace and noted that the consolidation of their efforts enhances the region’s resilience. They also expressed their readiness to continue working jointly to further advance peacebuilding initiatives.