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United Nations

Kyrgyzstan Wins First-Ever Seat on UN Security Council

Kyrgyzstan has been elected to the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term, securing a non-permanent seat after a closely watched contest for the Asia-Pacific Group’s vacancy. The election marks the first time Kyrgyzstan will serve on the Security Council, the UN’s most powerful body for matters of international peace and security. It also returns Central Asian representation to the Council for the first time in nearly a decade, following Kazakhstan’s 2017–2018 term. Kyrgyzstan defeated the Philippines for the Asia-Pacific seat in the General Assembly vote, joining the incoming class of non-permanent members that will serve two-year terms from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2028. The 2026 election filled five seats: one for Africa, one for Asia-Pacific, one for Latin America and the Caribbean, and two for the Western European and Others Group. The contest went to four rounds of voting before Kyrgyzstan secured the required two-thirds majority, defeating the Philippines by 142 votes to 49. Austria, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe were also elected to the Council. Kyrgyzstan will replace Pakistan when the new term begins. The Asia-Pacific race was the only contest involving Central Asia, but the wider election produced a surprise in the Western European and Others Group, where Germany failed to win one of the two available seats. Austria and Portugal were elected instead. For Bishkek, the result represents a major diplomatic breakthrough. Kyrgyz officials had framed the campaign as an opportunity to give greater voice to states that have never served on the Council, particularly landlocked and mountainous countries facing security, development, climate, and connectivity challenges. As of 2027, 59 UN member states will still have never served on the Security Council. President Sadyr Japarov had urged world leaders to support Kyrgyzstan’s bid, framing it as a chance to give small, developing, and landlocked states a stronger voice on the UN Security Council. Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev also framed the campaign in broader multilateral terms, arguing that smaller states need a greater role in responding to global security challenges. “No single state can address modern-day threats alone; that is why multilateral diplomacy is critical,” he said, speaking before the vote. The victory also carries broader regional significance. Central Asia sits at the intersection of several issues regularly discussed at the Security Council, including Afghanistan, counterterrorism, water security, transnational crime, and regional stability. Kyrgyzstan’s term is expected to give the region a more direct platform in Council deliberations. The seat will not give Kyrgyzstan veto power, which is held only by the five permanent members. But non-permanent members vote on resolutions, sanctions, peacekeeping mandates, and statements, and each member holds the rotating presidency of the Council for one month during its term. For Central Asia, the timing is significant. Afghanistan remains a recurring security concern, while terrorism, border security, narcotics trafficking, and climate-related instability all carry direct regional implications. Kyrgyzstan’s presence will give Bishkek a formal role in debates that often affect the region but are usually shaped by larger powers. The Security...

FAO

New FAO Project Aims to Strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s Aquaculture Sector

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry have launched a new initiative designed to strengthen the country’s aquaculture sector and improve the sustainability of fish production. The project, Sustainable Fish Value Chains for Landlocked Developing Countries, is funded by South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. It aims to improve the sustainability, productivity, and competitiveness of fish value chains in Kyrgyzstan, with a particular focus on rainbow trout and carp, two species identified as having strong potential for growth and income generation. The project was officially launched during an inception workshop held in Bishkek on May 29. Government officials, industry representatives, academics, and development partners reviewed the preliminary findings of a value-chain assessment and discussed priorities for the sector’s future development. “Aquaculture holds significant potential for improving food security, creating jobs, and supporting rural livelihoods,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. “This new project reflects our commitment to work with national partners to unlock that potential through sustainable and inclusive value chain development.” FAO experts presented initial findings on market opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability performance across Kyrgyzstan’s trout and carp industries. Participants discussed key challenges facing the sector and identified priority areas for future investment and policy support. “By improving how fish moves from farms to markets, this initiative will help unlock new opportunities for producers, strengthen value addition, and support the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the aquaculture sector in Kyrgyzstan,” said Jalilbek Toimatov, Director of the Fisheries Industry Complex Department under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry. As a landlocked country with abundant freshwater resources, including lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, Kyrgyzstan has considerable untapped potential for aquaculture development. The project aims to strengthen fish value chains, increase incomes for producers and related businesses, create jobs in rural communities, and contribute to more resilient and sustainable food systems. Aquaculture has been developing rapidly in Kyrgyzstan in recent years. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, commercial fish production reached 4,029 metric tons in the first quarter of 2026, while 545 fish farms were operating nationwide. The largest share of production came from Chui Region in northern Kyrgyzstan, which produced 2,206 tons of fish across 398 farms. It was followed by Jalal-Abad Region with 962 tons from 39 farms, Issyk-Kul Region with 311 tons from 48 farms, Naryn Region with 243 tons from 34 farms, Talas Region with 195 tons from 15 farms, and Osh Region with 110 tons from 11 farms. The ministry says it is continuing efforts to modernize aquaculture production, introduce advanced farming technologies, increase the supply of high-quality fish products to the domestic market, and expand export opportunities for the sector. The FAO initiative is expected to support those goals by helping Kyrgyz producers improve efficiency, meet market requirements, and build a more competitive and environmentally sustainable aquaculture industry.

Water Security

Dushanbe Water Talks Put Tajikistan’s Climate Diplomacy in Focus

Conference-related events began in Dushanbe on Monday, May 25, as Tajikistan hosts the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028. The week gives Tajikistan a fresh stage for a role it has built for years: using water, climate risk, and glacier protection as its clearest route into global diplomacy. President Emomali Rahmon gave the week an early political signal when he met three senior U.N. officials in Dushanbe: Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, U.N. Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP; Retno Marsudi, U.N. Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy on Water; and Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and U.N. Under-Secretary-General. Their arrival tied the conference directly to the Dushanbe Water Process, a platform Tajikistan has used to keep water on the international agenda. The Tajik presidential press service said 14 U.N. resolutions on water resources have been adopted at Tajikistan’s initiative. For a small, mountainous country with limited geopolitical weight, that record has become a useful diplomatic asset. Tajikistan can convene governments, U.N. agencies, development banks, and water experts around a topic shaped by its geography. The conference runs from May 25 to 28, with Monday set aside for forums, side events, and regional consultations. The main high-level sessions are set to take place on May 26 and 27 at the Kohi Somon Complex, followed by field visits on May 28. Asia-Plus reported that more than 2,500 participants were expected, including representatives from 31 countries and 33 international organizations and financial institutions. The agenda links Tajikistan’s national concerns to a wider U.N. timetable. The Dushanbe events are designed as a preparatory step before the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, now scheduled for December 8-10 in Abu Dhabi, and co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal. Tajik officials are also presenting the process as a bridge towards 2028, when the Water Action Decade reaches its final year. Tajikistan has spent more than two decades building this diplomatic niche. The International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028 began on World Water Day in 2018 and ends on World Water Day in 2028. The Dushanbe Water Process was then shaped as a regular follow-up platform, including for voluntary commitments made under the U.N. Water Action Agenda. That structure has given Tajikistan repeated opportunities to host, frame, and guide discussion rather than appear only as a country seeking aid. Tajikistan’s glaciers, rivers, hydropower system, and mountain communities all face pressure from climate change. The U.N. glaciers initiative has put new attention on glacier retreat, and Tajikistan has pushed glacier preservation as part of its global water agenda. In Central Asia, melting glaciers and shifting river flows affect more than one country; they shape energy supply, irrigation, disaster risk, and food security. Water also connects Tajikistan to its neighbors. The region’s major rivers cross borders, and upstream water use affects downstream farms and cities. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan hold much of the mountain headwater geography, while Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan depend heavily on reliable flows for...

Water crisis

Tajikistan and UN to Host Water Crisis Conference in Dushanbe

Tajikistan and the United Nations will co-host the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development " 2018-2028 next week, as Central Asia and other regions face increasing water scarcity because of climate change, higher consumption, and other factors. Delegates to the May 25-28 water conference in Dushanbe include government officials, scientists, executives from financial institutions and civil society members from around the world. The goal of creating “sustainable” water resources is especially critical in Central Asia, where there is growing concern that shortages could threaten public health and stir tension between upstream and downstream countries. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, for example, are in mountainous regions and have relatively significant water resources that they share with neighboring countries. However, the resources are under strain. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, in turn, rely on the cross-border water supply that flows downstream. Central Asian governments have begun joint projects on water infrastructure to avoid the kind of tensions that emerged in the past. The Dushanbe conference is another step in that process, even though the event is global in perspective. Tajik diplomats have held briefings in Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and other countries to promote the conference, describing Tajikistan as a leader in “water diplomacy” as the world faces a water crisis that is increasingly evident in floods, droughts, pollution and melting glaciers. Dushanbe has already hosted several international conferences on water. Saidjon Shafizoda, spokesman for Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing in the Tajik capital on Wednesday that the conference can help accelerate innovation and mobilize funding for the “sustainable and inclusive” management of water, the state Khovar news agency reported. Organizers say more than 2,500 people are expected to participate.

Food Security

Turkmenistan Pushes for Food Security with International Help

As Turkmenistan works to modernize food production, representatives from dozens of foreign companies were in the country this week for meetings on the agricultural and food industries as well as the packaging of goods. The Agro Pack Turkmenistan-2026 event reflected the Central Asian country’s efforts to turn the corner on reported food shortages, import dependence and high prices over many years – and evolve as an exporter. The impact of climate change on farming yields, along with recent shipping disruptions and higher fuel and transport costs linked to the Iran war, pose challenges to many regions working to maintain a stable supply. The Food and Agriculture Organization, a U.N. agency dedicated to food security, signed a deal to open an office in Turkmenistan in January as the country stepped up its campaign to improve production and quality with international help. Visiting Turkmenistan at the time, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said it was the last country in the region without “representation” of the U.N. agency and that a “turning point” had arrived. “In Turkmenistan, traditional agriculture has its limits,” Qu said. “But through innovation and modern technology, you can unleash the biggest potential of your land in this region.” During his visit, Qu said he had spoken to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for one hour – far longer than he had expected. This week, Berdimuhamedov said in a message to participants in the May 12-14 Agro Pack conference that the state was coordinating with foreign companies to introduce “high technologies and innovative initiatives into large investment projects.” In addition, the president said, state-backed private Turkmen producers are making progress in “farming, livestock farming, the development of poultry complexes, greenhouse farms, meat and milk processing, the production of confectionery, fruit juices, juices and processed vegetables and melons.” The conference was held at Turkmenistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ashgabat and drew diplomats and business executives from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, China, and other countries. Azerbaijani companies participated in the exhibition, according to Azerbaijan’s embassy. One was Gözel Seeds, which has seed breeding operations in Spain, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. In another development, Kirill Zaitov, director of the Russian company AgroExport, said at the conference that there are plans to increase wheat flour supplies to Turkmenistan to 400 tons per day. Currently, the company exports 6,000 tons of products to Turkmenistan every month, according to the Business Turkmenistan website. Reports of food problems, including in Turkmenistan’s military, have persisted until recently. However, Turkmenistan reported a successful spring sowing campaign for potatoes and other crops that aims to increase domestic supply and reduce the need for imports.

Labor Migration

Uzbekistan Expands U.S. Labor Migration Talks in New York

A delegation from Uzbekistan held a series of meetings with international organizations, educational institutions, employers, and law firms during the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in New York, as Tashkent seeks to expand legal labor migration opportunities in the United States. According to Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency, the delegation included officials from the agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Uzbekistan’s embassy in Washington. The push comes as labor migration remains a major part of Uzbekistan’s economy. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan said remittance inflows reached high levels in 2025, with $9.9 billion arriving through traditional money transfer systems and another $8.6 billion credited directly to bank cards through P2P transfers. That scale has made overseas employment both a household income issue and a policy priority for Tashkent. The forum opened with remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), who outlined priorities for global migration policy and international cooperation. During the event, Behzod Musayev, the head of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency, presented information on migration reforms underway in Uzbekistan, including vocational and language training programs designed to prepare citizens for overseas employment. Musayev said labor migration should be viewed as an economic necessity and an investment in human capital. The delegation also met with Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s deputy director general for operations, to discuss protecting the rights of citizens of Uzbekistan working abroad and organizational issues related to an international migration forum scheduled to be held in Tashkent. Several meetings focused on expanding cooperation with U.S. educational institutions and employers. Uzbekistan signed a cooperation agreement with Logan University in Missouri on training medical personnel for the U.S. labor market, launching joint educational programs, and developing human resources. Representatives of Missouri Trucking School discussed creating a 160-hour training program to prepare drivers from Uzbekistan according to U.S. standards and support their employment opportunities. Talks with the National Council of Agricultural Employers focused on organizing labor forums with employers and expanding seasonal work programs for citizens of Uzbekistan. The delegation also reached agreements with the recruitment organization Head Honchos on H-2A visa processing, promoting agricultural workers from Uzbekistan in the U.S., and launching preparatory programs lasting eight to ten weeks. In meetings with the New York-based law firm Ballon Stoll, officials discussed work opportunities through O, H-2A, H-2B, H-1B, and E visas, as well as stronger legal protections for citizens of Uzbekistan employed in the U.S. The U.S. route is still at an early stage and will depend on American visa rules and employer demand. Under U.S. regulations, H-2A and H-2B petitions are generally limited to nationals of countries designated by the Department of Homeland Security, though USCIS can approve petitions for workers from non-designated countries on a case-by-case basis if it determines that doing so is in the U.S. interest. The discussions follow statements made earlier this year by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who instructed Uzbekistan’s diplomats to begin talks with Washington on including the country in U.S. seasonal labor recruitment programs. The...