Author: Derya Soysal

« Les idées du mouvement jadidiste sont en parfaite cohérence avec la stratégie du Nouveau Ouzbékistan. » Shavkat Mirziyoyev INTRODUCTION La période de la fin du XIXᵉ siècle et du début du XXᵉ siècle dans l’histoire du peuple ouzbek, bien que relativement courte d’un point de vue chronologique, constitue une étape d’une importance majeure dans son destin historique. Durant cette période, le mouvement réformateur et éclairé des Jadids, apparu sur la scène historique, ne s’est pas limité à la mise en œuvre de réformes dans les domaines de l’école et de l’éducation, de la presse, de la littérature et des arts ; il…

On 27 February 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Belgium hosted a high‑level presentation of Kazakhstan’s tourism potential in Brussels. The event brought together more than twenty Belgian travel companies, representatives of tourism institutions, and Kazakh tour operators who travelled from Almaty, underlining the growing importance of direct engagement with the European market. The initiative aimed to build concrete business‑to‑business cooperation, foster sustainable partnerships between Belgian and Kazakh tourism professionals, and support the integration of Kazakhstan as a regular destination in the catalogues of Belgian tour operators for upcoming tourism seasons. Partners and Programme…

On 25 February 2026, the European Parliament in Brussels hosted a high-level conference titled “Reform and Engagement: The New EU–Uzbekistan Agenda.” The event brought together senior EU officials, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), policy experts, and a high-ranking Uzbek delegation led by H.E. Sodiq Safoyev, First Deputy Chair of the Senate of Uzbekistan, and H.E. Abdulaziz Komilov, Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Foreign Affairs. Far from being a routine diplomatic exchange, the conference reflected a deeper geopolitical transformation. Central Asia is no longer perceived as a peripheral space but as a region of growing strategic weight—economically, demographically, and geopolitically.…

On 27 February 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Belgium hosted a presentation of Kazakhstan’s tourism potential, bringing together more than twenty Belgian travel companies and representatives of Kazakh tour operators who had arrived from Almaty. The event aimed to establish direct business contacts and facilitate the inclusion of Kazakhstan in the offerings of the Belgian tourism market in the upcoming seasons. The presentation was supported by the national company Kazakh Tourism, Amina Kökten from the Brussels office of Turkish Airlines, and Kazakh Tourism Ambassador in Belgium, Derya Soysal. The programme featured a series…

The First Steps Toward Europe From the earliest years of independence, Uzbekistan has sought to establish close partnership relations with Europe and its member states. In this direction, the opening of the Uzbek Embassy in Brussels in 1993 marked the beginning of official diplomatic relations between the two countries. In 1996, a double taxation avoidance agreement was signed, followed by an investment protection agreement in 1998. These documents strengthened legal guarantees for entrepreneurs of both countries and laid the foundation for cooperation in the agricultural sector. In 2012, at the international agricultural exhibition in Libramont (Belgium), Uzbekistan presented its agricultural…

In 2026, Turkmenistan celebrates the 35th anniversary of its independence, a historic milestone that invites a deeper look at how a young state has sought stability, identity, and international relevance amid a shifting geopolitical landscape. The country declared independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union dissolved, immediately facing the dual challenge of state‑building at home and positioning abroad in a region bordered by new and old uncertainties—not least the civil conflict in neighboring Afghanistan and the global realignments following the Cold War. To consolidate its future, the country moved swiftly to stabilize governance and the economy, adopting policies designed to shield domestic…

Over the past few years, Kazakhstan has quietly but steadily emerged as one of the most dynamic tourism destinations across Eurasia. Once primarily known for its vast steppes, rich natural resources, and strategic location along the historic Silk Road, the country is now attracting growing attention from travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, affordable travel, and increasingly sophisticated infrastructure. From bustling modern cities to serene mountain ranges and ancient traditions, Kazakhstan offers a unique blend that appeals to a wide variety of visitors. What makes this transformation particularly remarkable is the diversity of markets driving the country’s tourism growth.…

A major constitutional reform has been proposed in Kazakhstan at the beginning of 2026, on January 31, affecting 77 articles (84% of the Basic Law) in order to strengthen human rights, clarify the structure of the State, and improve the legal framework. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed on Wednesday a decree calling for a national referendum on the country’s new Constitution to be held on March 15, with more than 12.4 million citizens eligible to vote and 20.8 billion tenge (US$42 million) allocated to organize the process. The aim is to abandon the “super-presidential” form of governance. This profound overhaul follows…

The Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies hosted the 5th International Symposium “Alisher Navoi and the Eastern Renaissance”, held on the occasion of the 585ᵗʰ anniversary of the birth of Mir Alisher Navoi, one of the greatest poets and thinkers of the Turkic world. The event, co‑organized by the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, the Alisher Navoiy International Public Foundation, and the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan, brought together scholars and diplomats from across Asia and Europe. A Ceremony of Respect: Flowers at the Navoi Monument The symposium opened with a flower‑laying ceremony at the Alisher Navoi Monument in the…

Uzbekistan pursues an exemplary multivector foreign policy and has established itself as one of the principal mediators in Central Asia. As a bridge country between East and West and a central element of the historic Silk Road, Uzbekistan and Central Asia occupy a pivotal geopolitical position. Consequently, both Western and Eastern powers are actively competing to strengthen their bilateral relations with Uzbekistan. The Importance of Central Asia Nowadays Eighteen years ago, Blank, S. (2008) published an article entitled “The Strategic Importance of Central Asia: An American View”, in which he sought to underline the importance of Central Asia at a…