On October 22-25, 2021, a high-level representative German delegation headed Dr Klaus Mangold, the Co-Chairman of the Europe-Uzbekistan Association for Economic Cooperation (EUROUZ) Supervisory Board and the Chairman of Mangold Consulting GmbH visited Uzbekistan to observe the Presidential elections.
The delegation also included Dr Wolfgang Ischinger – current Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Michael Harms - Executive Director of the German Eastern Business Association (Ost-Ausschuss) as well as several influential former high-level officials in Germany’s federal government - Brigitte Zypries, Former Federal Minister of Justice and for Economic Affairs & Energy; Dr Frank-Jürgen Weise - Former Head of Federal Employment Agency.
On the day of the elections, the German delegation visited 7 polling stations in Tashkent and Bukhara. Dr Klaus Mangold noted on conclusion on this visit that “the delegation was very impressed by the openness and transparency and the high level of organization of the election process”.
During the visit, the delegation members, some of whom visited Uzbekistan for the very first time, also held high-level meetings at various Ministries of the Republic of Uzbekistan, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade; Ministry of Energy; Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations; and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The dynamic and progressive nature of the development of the Uzbek-German political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian relations was noted during the meetings and continued constructive dialogue with the European Union. Uzbekistan is an essential partner of Germany in Central Asia, and steps towards the further deepening of that dialogue are being appreciated in Germany on various levels. During the meetings, the delegation representatives reached an understanding of the importance of further promoting the development of bilateral dialogue at various levels to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Germany.
As a result of the visit, the observers gave a high mark to the progress achieved by Uzbekistan in recent years. The continued large-scale economic reforms being carried out in the country and the results attained in improving the electoral legislation, creation of favourable conditions for active participation of citizens in the political processes, strengthening of the role of the parliament, parties, and public control have been very important for country’s dynamic transformation in the last years. The delegation concluded that these reforms are a significant step forward for New Uzbekistan, and if the country stays on this path, it could soon take a new place in the international arena, not only as an important economic partner for all who are looking for new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in the Central Asian region but also as the newest example of an achievable level of accelerated and comprehensive national modernization for other developing countries.
