Uzbekistan establishes diplomatic relations with Caribbean Island nation

On September 10, a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Saint Lucia was signed in New York, Dunyo news agency reported.

The document was signed by Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ulugbek Lapasov, and Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Menissa Rambali.

The sides expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation within international organizations, including the UN and its specialized agencies, and agreed to expand bilateral ties in political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

“The signing of the document was an important step in intensifying Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the countries of the Caribbean,” the report stated.

Saint Lucia, an island nation in the eastern Caribbean and part of the Lesser Antilles, became the 163rd country to establish diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan. The country, with a population of about 180,000, gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979. Its economy is based mainly on tourism, agriculture (particularly banana cultivation), and financial services.

Earlier, Uzbekistan also signed a communiqué on establishing diplomatic relations with Eritrea.