Dear Commissioners,

I am pleased to report on the Round Table meeting on Transition and Human Security in Central Asia which took place in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 22-24 April 2002. This meeting was organized by the Commission, in the framework of its outreach activities, and co-sponsored by the government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The first purpose was to gather first hand information from a region still in transition, struggling to stop a continuing deterioration of its economies while coping with the implications of the Afghan situation. The second was to disseminate the idea and principles attached to the Human Security concept as a way to analyze and promote action to deal with the threats faced by the Central Asian societies.

Twenty-five participants came from the five central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). They represented both governments and civil society quite evenly. A number of international institutions, interested and active in the region, were also represented (UN Secretariat, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNDCP, World Bank, IMF, Asian Development Bank, Organization of the Islamic Conference, OSCE, IOM, EBRD). The Human Security Network was represented by Austria, the incoming Chairman. The Commission was represented by our Co-chair Sadako Ogata, Lakhdar Brahimi, who came especially from Kabul, and myself.

From the opinion of participants and observers alike, the Round Table more than fulfilled its original objectives. After an uneasy start, the discussion, oriented by a balanced and wide encompassing background paper, developed into a full review of the problems facing the people of the region. The ensuing exchanges between participants both from government and non-governmental sectors highlighted the relevance of the Human Security approach.

Once the initial doubts about the concept and its applicability were clarified, all participants agreed that Human Security, with its integrated components focussing on people, could add a new dimension to the efforts deployed in the region to address complex issues. These views were also shared by representatives of international institutions who are trying to identify new approaches to deal with the challenges of the region. I think what we did was to break the ice and go under the top of government and state leadership down to the people and allay any fear and misconception about the idea of "human security". A summary of the issues discussed and the approaches envisaged is attached.

Particular attention and interest was dedicated to the situation in Afghanistan and to its implications for Central Asia. The thorough introductory remarks of Lakhdar Brahimi on the difficult Afghan political process led to a discussion in which most aspects of the situation were discussed. These various dimensions, military, political, economic, religious, criminal, etc. show how Afghanistan is weighing on its neighbours. They are easily crossing the porous borders of the region, bringing added difficulties to societies which are already struggling with their own set of problems. Refugees, arms and drug trafficking, spread of religious fundamentalism have a very negative impact on communities which are already vulnerable. The stability of Afghanistan is a crucial element, not only for the future of the Afghan nation but also for its neighbours of Central Asia.

However successful, this meeting is only a start. The Commission, in my view, fulfilled its role by breaking some new ground. It is now up to others, people from the region and interested organizations to articulate a follow-up which is expected by the participants. Several possibilities have been envisaged. UNDP, for its part, is developing a survey programme for the region, which will further analyse the various aspects of human security. The Human Development Report (HDR) network in Central Asia can also be a very good vehicle for further dissemination of Human Security approaches in the region. I was also encouraged to see the readiness of external participants to join forces with regional actors. Austria, the incoming chair of the Human Security Network, expressed interest in prolonging the process initiated in Ashgabat by organizing a follow up meeting in the region. It is important that the momentum created by the Commission in Ashgabat be maintained and developed.

I cannot conclude this note without mentioning that the success of the meeting was also due to the venue in which it took place. Turkmenistan has been so far considered closed and unresponsive to initiatives of the type taken by the Commission. The Round Table was in fact the first event of its kind to ever take place in Ashgabat. This certainly added interest and value to it, as it was seen locally and regionally as a major breakthrough. The fact that the President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Nyazov, granted an audience to the members of the Commission for one and a half hour the day he was receiving the participants of a Caspian Summit meeting is an indication of the interest for the work of the Commission.

I regret that time and resources do not permit to conduct more outreach activities of that type. Their value for the Commission is really priceless. The first hand gathering of concerns, the expectation of people looking for fresh approaches to deal with new and recurrent issues as well as the opportunity to share the Commission's vision and ambitions is a great achievement. In my opinion, it confirmed the usefulness of the Human Security concept and validated its practical implications. I think we can hope for a time when it will be utilized as a conceptual and analytical tool to understand and provide suitable responses to myriad threats to "human security" where new approaches and new paradigms are needed. And needed urgently.

I wish these few lines could convey my keen interest for this kind of activity which can be assimilated to the public hearings suggested by Frene Ginwala. I hope that each one of you will have the chance to participate in one or the other gatherings of the same type, notably in the coming weeks and months in Africa.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in Stockholm.

Warm regards,