Who is Norov, who reminded the EU of its mission?

It was reported that yesterday, 27 April, Abdulaziz Kamilov, who had been Foreign Minister for 10 years, was dismissed from his post and appointed Deputy Chairman of the Security Council on Foreign and Security Policy.  He has been absent from the public eye since 17 March. Speaking at the plenary session of the Senate on the same day, Abdulaziz Kamilov said that Tashkent would not recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and the Luhansk People’s Republic and would support the territorial integrity of Ukraine.  After that, Kamilov did not appear in public anywhere.  Twelve days later on 29 March, it was revealed that he was ill and was being treated abroad.

Abdulaziz Kamilov’s health, and his departure for treatment after the last statement has given rise to many questions and rumors.  There have even been rumors that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may have been merged with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

Kamilov’s seat is vacant.  No minister has been appointed.  However, yesterday, by a decree of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Vladimir Norov was appointed First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and appointed the administration of the ministry was bestowed to him.

So, who is Vladimir Norov? What is his role in Uzbek diplomacy?

Vladimir Imamovich Norov, Doctor of Science in Law, was born on 31 August 1955, in Bukhara, one of the ancient cities of Uzbekistan.

Education

From 1972 to 1976, he studied at the mathematics faculty of the Bukhara Pedagogical Institute (now Bukhara State University) and received a bachelor’s degree.

In 1985, he graduated from the Law Protection Department under the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR (Moscow) in the specialty of lawyer-organizer, and in 1990 he graduated from the graduate school of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR.

In 1990, he defended his dissertation on the topic «Legal and organizational bases of mutual interaction of district police inspectors with trade unions, public associations and population in the law enforcement agencies: based on the materials of the Uzbekistan SSR».

Working activity

From 1976 to 1977, he served in the Soviet Army.

1978-1992 - various positions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan;

Since 1992 – expert on administrative and legal issues of the Office of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan, since 1993 – consultant;

1995-1996 – the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

1996-1998 – State Advisor to the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on interstate relations and foreign economic relations.

After becoming a state councillor, Vladimir Norov engaged in diplomatic activity.

In particular, from 1998 to 2003 Norov was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Germany.

In 2002-2003 – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Poland;

In 2003-2004 – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

In 2004-2006 – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Belgium, Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Union and NATO;

In 2006-2010 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

In 2010-2013 – First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

In 2013-2017. - Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Union and NATO;

In 2017-2018 – Director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Research under the president’s Office;

From 1 January 2019 to 30 December 2021 – Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization;

Since 30 December 2021 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Norov’s appointment as Foreign Minister (2006) coincided with the crisis in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy in the international community.  During this period, western countries imposed a number of economic and political sanctions (including an arms embargo) against Uzbekistan in connection with the “Andijan incidents” of 13 May 2005.  Due to exactly Norov’s appointment, the sanctions imposed on Uzbekistan by the European Union and NATO were lifted one by one.

In turn, Noroiv’s time is marked by the fact that Uzbekistan is regarded as an equal partner in relations with the European Union.  Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov made the following statement during a meeting with EU Commissioner on External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner in Brussels on 14 September 2009:

“I would like to repeat one more time that the Uzbek delegation did not come here for giving the report, that is, the European Union has no right to control the situation.  We want the dialogue between equal partners, that is, dialogue with common interests».

Vladimir Norov, who once softened the relations between Uzbekistan and the West, now will once again defend the interests of Uzbekistan in the current tense political world situation under the title of Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 28 April 2022.