The unification of Central Asian countries should proceed through 'soft' regionalization, the head of the Center for the Study of Social Processes of the Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development Tasym Rizzat said during the Astana-Moscow-Bishkek-Tashkent-Dushanbe video conference, which took place at the Sputnik-Kazakhstan multimedia press center, Report's correspondent from Kazakhstan informs.
He also noted that it is vital for the Central Asian countries to act as a united front. "However, this process should proceed through 'soft' regionalization. This implies the involvement of non-governmental structures. For example, on the eve of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, the first forum of historians of the region's countries was held," Tasym Rizzat said.
He reminded that a similar forum of historians was held 40 years ago in Tajikistan, and within its framework a number of agreements were signed, one of which concerned plans to create a single textbook on the history of the peoples of Central Asia and provide access to archival materials.
"Today, we are talking about forming a common regional identity," he added. In his opinion, it is necessary to strengthen ties between the youth of the countries of the region: "The average age in our countries is 29 years and their efforts should be directed at unification. We need to create our own single media space."
Director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies of the Russian-Tajik (Slavic) University Guzel Maitdinova supports the idea of the Kazakh expert to create a single media space.
"We know little about life in neighboring countries. However, we should get to know each other again, because a new generation has grown up, which will conduct foreign policy in the future and form a new idea about the region. We need a positive image of Central Asia," Maitdinova noted.
The summit of the heads of state of Central Asia was held in Astana on August 9 of this year. Following the event, a number of documents were adopted, including the main ones: the Strategy for the Development of Regional Cooperation 'Central Asia-2040' and the Treaty on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century.
Kulpash Konyrova