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A. Matubraimov: Address to Peace Summit 2023, Session III-A
Written by H.E. Almambet Matubraimov, prime minister (1993-1993), speaker of the parliament (1995-1997), Kyrgyzstan
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Address to Peace Summit 2023
May 2-5, 2023
I would like to express my gratitude to the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) for providing this opportunity and to particularly extend my heartfelt congratulations to the co-founder of UPF Dr. Hak Han Moon on her 80th birthday. I wish her all the best and success in her efforts toward building a world of peace.
At this summit, I would like to draw your attention to Central Asia, which is becoming increasingly important to the global community. Today, the region is facing numerous challenges, including economic, political and social ones. However, I am convinced that we can overcome these challenges, especially if we work together as a global community. Central Asia is located at a crossroads of different cultures and civilizations. It is a vast area that includes six countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. The region has a rich history and culture that spans thousands of years. It was once a center of trade, science and traditions, and played a significant role in the Silk Road trade route that connected East Asia to Europe.
The region is home to numerous ethnic groups, each with their own unique traditions and customs. The most significant ethnic groups are the Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, Turkmens, Uzbeks, Mongols and others. These groups have inhabited the region for centuries and have developed their own distinct cultures, languages and lifestyles. The traditional way of life for many in Central Asia is based on nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralism, where people rely on livestock, such as horses, sheep and so on. Central Asia has been inhabited since ancient times, but it has adapted to a lot of changes.
In this modern era, it has undergone significant political and economic changes. Central Asia will definitely find success. The most important is [achieving] economic development. Of course we have a lot of potential for it, but we still face a lot of challenges. It is because we lack technological equipment and knowledge. We need to cooperate with different international organizations and countries in order to improve our situation and create more opportunities for our people.
Another challenge we face is political instability. We have to work on creating stable political institutions and fight such threats as cyber-attacks and terrorism. We also face social challenges and should work to improve our health care and education systems. I think it will improve our lives, create healthier nations and solve different challenges of the world. We also would like to work on fostering a culture of peace in our countries that will unite our peoples. We have to respect human rights and every ethnic minority in every culture. If we work together, we can create a just world for all nations and all people. Our honored writer Chika Mana (ph) said it is very important and very difficult to stay human in all ways of life.
Thank you so much.
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