Scholz, Central Asian leaders sign statement defending territorial integrity
Berlin, Sep 29 (EFE).- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz received in Berlin on Friday the leaders of several Central Asian countries with whom he signed a joint statement in defense of the UN Charter and in particular the territorial integrity of states, in a clear allusion to the situation in Ukraine.
“The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together for peace, security, democracy, the rule of law and sustainable development in full respect of international law,” the statement said.
It added that they “expressed their continuing commitment to uphold the UN Charter, in particular the principles of respect for the independence, state sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, the non-use of force or threat of its use, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.”
The declaration was signed, in addition to Scholz, by the leaders of five Central Asian countries: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan; Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan; Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan; and Shawkat Mirzioyev of Uzbekistan.
Scholz had invited the heads of the former Soviet republics amid a strategy of rapprochement with the region, to which Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has already made several trips.
The strategy has both security and economic aspects as the five countries are rich in raw materials. EFE
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