In the face of a changing global reality, Uzbekistan must be prepared to respond harshly to any threats to its sovereignty, stated the senator/Director General of the UzA National Information Agency Abdusaid Kuchimov at a meeting of the Senate Thursday.
According to him, the world is becoming increasingly controversial, and international politics today resembles walking through a minefield. The senator noted that current global rules were rapidly transforming.
"In an era when aggressive politicians and certain radical figures, like ice dancers, can change direction at any moment and take a sudden step in any direction, and no one knows where exactly—this reality prevents any of us from feeling calm, even for a moment," Kuchimov said.
He wondered whether such uncertainty was a manifestation of imperialist sentiments. "What if the balance is upset and an imperialist mentality reappears, threatening to place a yoke on our necks, if every passerby on the street, leaning on a staff, says, 'I am your master'? Isn't that a yearning for empire, dear friends?" the senator said, quoting Abdulla Aripov's poem about a caravan and barking dogs.
The dog barks, but the caravan moves on.
People have known this for ages.
But don't consider it an enviable fate.
To spend your whole life walking and hearing vicious barking.
According to Kuchimov, today this is no longer a cause for regret.
"Today we must stand united to resist such sentiments. Perhaps we need to respond on the spot to any force threatening our caravan, any barking puppy, or any predator—to put it in its proper place, knock it down a peg, and bring it to its senses," Kuchimov declared.
The senator added that "we need to force ourselves to be recognized through our hard work, our intellect, and our work."
Kuchimov's remarks came amid recent statements by Russian public figures who regularly question the sovereignty of former Soviet countries. In early January, TV host Vladimir Solovyov described Armenia and Central Asia as Russia's zones of influence, the "loss" of which would pose a threat to its national security. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova noted that Solovyov's statements were "his personal opinion." The Armenian Foreign Ministry delivered a note of protest to the Russian ambassador over Solovyov's remarks.
Soon, the wannabe philosopher Alexander Dugin declared that the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus should become part of a single union with Russia. "We cannot accept the existence of sovereign Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan... They will either be in our camp, or they will become a springboard for the West or China," he said.
Legislative Chamber member Bobur Bekmurodov criticized Solovyov and Dugin's statements. The Uzbek Foreign Ministry has not officially responded to these statements.
