“Soft” power in big politics - Do First Ladies matter in foreign policy?

On 15-16 September, a meeting of the council of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Samarkand.  Heads of state and government of 13 countries of the world - Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan - came to Uzbekistan to participate in it.  It is important that among the 13 high-ranking guests who came to Uzbekistan, only the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, visited Samarkand with his wife.  Today we will talk about the relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey that have been developing in the last 6 years and the participation of the first ladies in it. 

The fact is that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is often accompanied by his wife Emina Erdogan on foreign trips.  However, the situation in the country where this visit is being carried out also depends on the family environment of the head of that country.  For example, Erdogan will never lead Mrs. Emina to Putin, who is not known whether he has a wife or not.  Also, since she is the wife of the head of the state, the exemplary family relations between them will be taken into account.  In this regard, Erdogan and his wife do not hesitate to come to Uzbekistan as a family, even with their son and son-in-law.

Relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey worsened in 2016.  This situation continued until 2016, when President Islam Karimov died and Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power.   In fact, it was not only Turkey that had a cold relationship.   Disputes have also arisen with 5 bordering countries. 

 Thus, in November 2016, the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, came to Samarkand.   He visited Karimov's grave and talked with Shavkat Mirziyoyev about restoring relations and opening a new page between the two countries.   At that time, Erdoğan was not welcomed as in March of this year.  His wife Emina Erdoğan was not with him.

A year later, on 25-26 November 2017, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Turkey. However, President Mirziyoyev was not accompanied by his wife - the first lady of Uzbekistan, Ziroat Mirziyoeva. On the contrary, the tradition of wives accompanying their husbands on trips had not yet begun. 

The tradition was started by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in 2018.  From 29 April  to 1 May of that year, Erdogan came to Uzbekistan on a state visit.   He was accompanied by his wife Emina Erdogan.  

After the official meeting of Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Rajab Tayyib Erdogan, the first meeting of the first ladies of the countries, Ziroat Mirziyoeva and Emina Erdogan, took place.  

Then the ladies visited one of the most famous religious and cultural centers in Uzbekistan - Hazrat Imam complex.  They visited Moyi Mubarak madrasa and saw H.M. Usman's Quran. 

The official meetings were related to cultural events, and the Presidents visited Bukhara.  The daughters of the head of Uzbekistan, Saida and Shahnoza Mirziyoeva, also went with them.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Turkey on 19-20 February 2020.  He was accompanied by Ziroat Mirziyoeva. 

Emina Erdogan welcomed Ziroat Mirziyoeva with great respect and compliments.   Heads of state and their wives attended the opening ceremony of the People's Library and had breakfast together.

The traditional meeting between the wives of presidents continued on 29-30 March 2022.  However, this time there were some changes. 

Accompanied by the wives of the presidents, they went to the park of New Uzbekistan and laid flowers at the base of the statue.  Then they came together to Koksaroy. 

While the heads of state were holding the second meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council, Ziroat Mirziyoeva took Emina Erdogan to the sumak rally. 

The next day, the leaders of the two countries visited ancient Khiva.  Erdogan and his wife were met at the airport by Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Ziroat Mirziyoyeva. Erdogan's son-in-law Bilal and Mirziyoyev's daughters Saida and Shahnoza also took part in the trip to Ichan Castle.

As we said above, heads of state rarely take their wives with them, but Erdogan likes to travel to other countries with his wife.  In particular, Emina Erdoğan and her husband often go to Azerbaijan and meet Mehriban Aliyeva, the wife of President Ilham Aliyev.

It doesn't have to be a state visit this time.  Let's say that in October 2019, the Turkish-speaking countries' cooperation council summit in Baku was attended only by the head of Turkey with his wife, and they had dinner with the presidents.

Yesterday's visit was a continuation of the tradition.  The wives of the presidents got acquainted with the tourist center of the city of Baqi in the city of Samarkand, visited the village of Konigil, got acquainted with the historical culture and customs, and visited the historical centre of paper production.  This time they were accompanied by Shahnoza Mirziyoeva.

Emina Erdoğan wearing a dress coat during her visit that was special prepared and a sign of respect for her visit to Uzbekistan. 

In general, it is not the first time that she has appeared in Uzbek clothing.  On 6 April 2019, the Turkish lady, a lover of atlas and adras, wore a dress made of Uzbek silk in a meeting with Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan.  

The participation of states in the field of international politics is important.  The participation of women was also high during the reign of Amir Temur or Sultan Suleiman.  They carry out research on science, culture and art, charity issues, exchange ideas, participate in projects aimed at maintaining harmony with pure nature.