On January 13 of this year, Director of the ISRS under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Eldor Aripov met with the OSCE delegation as part of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan Antti Karttunen, Special Advisor to the Permanent Mission of Finland to the Organization Edith Vakkilainen and Advisor Katarina Lindstedt, as well as Deputy at the Permanent Norwegian Delegation to the OSCE Knut-Are Sprouten Okstad.

In 2025, Finland took over the OSCE chairmanship from Malta. This year also marks 50 years since the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which served as the basis for the establishment of the OSCE.

Finland's priorities include strengthening the resilience of OSCE participating States and improving opportunities for young people. Increased attention is expected to Central Asia in the context of supporting regional cooperation processes, combating terrorism, border management, etc.

During the meeting, the important role of the Regional Expert Council for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Armed Conflict Zones, created at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was emphasized.

In November and December 2024, high-level presentations on this topic were held at the UN headquarters in Geneva and New York. These events generated great interest among international organizations, including the OSCE.

Ambassador Antti Karttunen stated that the OSCE stands ready to continue to provide comprehensive support to the activities of the Regional Expert Council, which has become an effective platform for the exchange of experience and best practices in the field of rehabilitation and reintegration.

The parties also discussed issues of countering the propaganda of terrorism and extremism in the online space. The need to develop sustainable mechanisms of interaction between the governments of the region and the largest digital platforms to prevent illegal activities on the Internet was emphasized.

Another important topic of discussion was the current situation in Afghanistan. It was emphasized that the economic recovery of this country and its integration into interregional trade ties are key factors for regional security and stability. In addition, it was noted that a stable Afghanistan provides unique strategic opportunities for strengthening transregional connectivity.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed interest in further developing mutually beneficial cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the OSCE.

For information: The Regional Expert Council in Central Asia on the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from armed conflict zones was officially launched on May 14, 2024 in Tashkent.