Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
Paragraph: 87
Central Asian governments are forthright, enabling the UK to be a more assertive partner.
Conclusion
Governments in the respective Central Asian states are forthright diplomatic actors, fully aware of the importance and potential of their nations and the region in the geopolitical manoeuvrings of this decade. The UK is well positioned to be a reliable long-term partner and critical friend. It can afford to be more assertive and courageous in its engagement with these governments.
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating that the UK's ambition, resources, and senior ministerial engagement in Central Asia are increasing, along with their footprint. This enables them to openly discuss issues like human rights and sanctions circumvention in bilateral and multilateral forums.
Paragraph Reference:
87
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Partially Agree 95. The UK’s ambition and effort - both in terms of resource and senior engagement— in building deeper bilateral relationships in Central Asia is on a positive trajectory. Ministerial engagement has increased. Our footprint across the region and in London has expanded significantly in recent years, with increasing numbers of UK-based staff in the region and in the FCDO’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate, to reflect the bolder approach that we are taking in Central Asia. 96. Our deepening and broadening engagement with the Central Asian countries also allows us to broach topics openly and frankly, as we do with other partners. We regularly raise issues such as human rights and sanctions circumvention in private bilateral discussions, as well as through multilateral channels such as the Universal Periodic Review process in the UN Human Rights Council, and the OSCE—or through targeted visits such as those outlined above on sanctions.