Central Asia, EU to establish strategic partnership - Uzbek presidentCentral Asia and the European Union will elevate their relations to the level of strategic partnership, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his speech at the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand on Friday."A historic decision on establishing a strategic partnership between Central Asia and the European Union will be adopted based on the outcomes of the summit," Mirziyoyev said.He proposed taking joint measures to ensure the implementation of this document."I am convinced that our strategic partnership should be filled with concrete decisions, projects and programs. Therefore, we propose considering signing a full-fledged partnership and cooperation agreement between our two regions," he said.In his speech at the summit, Mirziyoyev also expressed support for negotiations on peacefully settling the situation in Ukraine."We welcome and fully support the start of a negotiation process on a peaceful settlement to the situation in Ukraine," he said, adding that the issues that will have to be resolved are very difficult, but "we see no alternative to a political solution." (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX