BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 11. Uzbekistan took part
in the 33rd meeting of the CIS Advisory Council of Heads of
Consular Services in Minsk, Belarus, where member states discussed
strengthening legal cooperation, improving consular assistance
mechanisms, and advancing digital solutions in cross-border
administrative processes.
This was reflected in a statement by the Executive Committee of
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The Uzbek delegation joined representatives from Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, as well as the
CIS Executive Committee. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan participated
as observers.
During the session, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries reviewed
the implementation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular
Relations and relevant bilateral agreements, along with cooperation
under the 2002 Convention on Legal Assistance in Civil, Family and
Criminal Matters.
Uzbek side emphasized the importance of enhancing information
exchange between consular services to ensure faster and more
effective assistance to citizens abroad. The Uzbek side also
supported efforts to improve interagency coordination and expand
the mutual recognition of official documents within the CIS
framework.
A key area of focus for Uzbekistan was the digitalization of
consular cooperation. Participants discussed the creation of a
unified electronic information exchange system between justice and
foreign affairs authorities, which Uzbekistan described as an
important step toward more efficient and transparent administrative
processes.
The Uzbek delegation also supported proposals to hold regular
expert-level meetings on the implementation of CIS legal
instruments, aimed at addressing practical challenges and improving
coordination among member states.
The next CIS consular services meeting is scheduled for
2027.
