Antonio Alonso
Professor San Pablo-CEU University
Diplomatic relations between Spain and Uzbekistan were established on 18 March 1992. Thirty years have passed since that moment and it seems an opportune occasion to review what has been done well and what can be improved.
The beginnings
The year was 1992. Spain was in the midst of developing its international relations. In his third legislature, President Felipe González wanted to focus more on the international agenda, and King Juan Carlos supported this initiative. The winds of change blowing through Europe at the end of the 1980s were encouraging, sowing hope for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic continent. Only the war in the Balkans was discouraging. For the rest, communism was dying out and the USSR was disappearing, giving way to new republics yearning for independence and development.
The achievements
From the very beginning, President Karimov and King Juan Carlos got along well and treated each other almost like brothers. The continuity in office of the two men helped these relations to grow, and this mutual trust was translated into close cooperation between the two countries.
The distance that separates us is physical, geographical, but also cultural. But mostly, should we say, about language. If we talk about nature of the people and their way of being, Uzbeks and Spaniards are more similar than one might at first imagine.
Some brave companies set up there, including Talgo (which linked Tashkent with Samarkand by fast train, a route frequented by practically all tourists arriving in the country) and Maxam (specialising in fertilisers and other chemical products). Others followed.
In the field of education and culture, these 30 years have been marked by Spanish teachers who have travelled there and have sown a whole generation of Uzbeks who can speak the language of Cervantes and who can interpret for Spanish visitors (whether for tourism or business). In addition, every year a few dozen Uzbek students come to Spain to study, and many more are taught by professors from the University of Castilla-La Mancha who travel there thanks to a collaboration agreement between universities on both sides.
It seems trivial to point this out, but the absence of major problems between the two countries due to fractious citizens is also a characteristic feature of this relationship that is worth highlighting. It must be acknowledged that there have been no serious diplomatic conflicts and that difficulties have been resolved quickly and efficiently at all times.
Improvements
In terms of things that could be improved, there is always the possibility of promoting tourism or the establishment of Spanish companies in Uzbekistan and vice versa, but the most obvious is Spain’s lack of representation. While Uzbekistan has had an embassy in Spain since June 2007 and a resident ambassador (Jahongir Ganiev) since 2018, Spain handles matters concerning Tashkent from Moscow (which is a 4-hour flight away). It has been 15 years since Minister Moratinos promised to open an embassy in the capital and it has not yet been possible to do so (due to budgetary issues).
It is to be hoped that in the coming months this long-awaited wish can be realised, coinciding with the end of the pandemic and the full reopening of tourism. In this sense, having a direct Madrid-Tashkent or Barcelona-Tashkent flight could also boost relations between the two countries.
There is also much room for improvement at the political-parliamentary level. There is still room for closer relations between the parliaments of the two countries, as there are many practices and decisions that can serve as lessons for each other.
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