On 15 May, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Vladimir Voronkov, UN Under-Secretary-General and Head of the Counter-Terrorism Office. Voronkov's visit to Uzbekistan aligns with his participation in the first meeting of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees.

At the onset of the meeting, Vladimir Voronkov conveyed to the Head of our state the sincere greetings and best wishes of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

The parties discussed advancing practical collaboration between Uzbekistan and UN institutions and structures, primarily in combating terrorism and other transnational challenges and threats.

Expressing gratitude to the Leader of Uzbekistan for supporting the activities of the Counter-Terrorism Office, Vladimir Voronkov particularly thanked the Uzbek side for their practical implementation of the initiative to launch the Regional Expert Council. The successful outcomes of the first meeting of this distinctive mechanism in Tashkent were acknowledged.

The UN Under-Secretary-General also highly praised the efforts of Uzbekistan in repatriating its citizens from conflict zones and their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, including the widespread use of the Mahalla institution’s potential and capabilities.

The signing of an updated road map for cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN Counter-Terrorism Office for 2024-2025, including provisions for new areas of interaction, was acknowledged.

Special emphasis was given to organizing joint events to protect young people from the destructive impact of extremism and terrorism, expanding cooperation in personnel training, and organizing internships for young specialists in UN institutions.

Discussions also addressed the situation in Afghanistan, highlighting the crucial need for international attention and humanitarian aid to support the Afghan people during persistent challenges.