German Chancellor Merz called for the time to begin negotiations on Ukraine and to reach an agreement to stop power outages.
Speaking after the 'coalition of supporters' meeting in Paris, he stated: 'It is time to sit down at the negotiating table. It is time to agree to stop the power outages.' Merz emphasized that Europe is ready to conduct negotiations with the participation of the European Union and the United States.
The joint statement published after the Paris meeting also calls for an immediate and complete cessation of power outages in Ukraine, as well as the resumption of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blažar also called for the start of peace talks in an interview with the publication 'Standard'. In his opinion, the conflict in Ukraine could have been resolved at an early stage based on negotiations held in Belarus and Turkey.
According to Blažar, at that time, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv and announced that Western states would not support the reached agreement. The Slovak minister noted: 'Thus, the West destroyed this agreement, and after that, the entire process became even more complicated.'
Blažar also stated that NATO military aid to Ukraine does not help solve the problem, but rather prolongs it. He stressed that Slovakia will not provide military equipment to Kyiv, limiting itself to humanitarian and non-lethal aid.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini also noted at the NATO summit that the main focus was on military aid, while little time was dedicated to the issue of starting diplomatic negotiations.
The 'Bukhorcha' ensemble from the State Philharmonic of Uzbekistan for Bukhara Region successfully presented national art and culture at prestigious international folk festivals and cultural events in the Republics of Slovenia and Croatia.
The first stop of the tour was the city of Metlika in Slovenia. A concert was organized there for local residents, featuring national songs and dances characteristic of the Tashkent, Fergana, Khorezm, and Bukhara regions, as well as demonstrations of examples of folk oral creativity.
Subsequently, the collective participated in the 38th CIOFF FolkArt International Festival in the city of Maribor. During the festival, street performances were held in the city center and tourist areas. Uzbek artists, together with creative groups from Bolivia, presented national musical and dance programs that were warmly received by guests and local residents. Foreign spectators showed particular interest in Uzbek national dances, traditional costumes, and folk musical instruments.
During the festival, a traditional procession of artists from participating countries took place along the Drava River flowing through Maribor. Representatives from Bolivia, North Macedonia, Poland, Puerto Rico, Uzbekistan, Serbia, and Slovenia participated, showcasing the national culture of their countries.
There was also an official meeting with the Mayor of Maribor, Sasha Arsenovich. The delegation, headed by Bahrom Usmanov, Head of the Department for Concert and Performance Activity Development of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Rauf Avezov, Director of the State Philharmonic of Uzbekistan for Bukhara Region, discussed issues of expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation and developing ties within the framework of international festivals.
A gala concert was held in the city of Murska Sobota, featuring creative groups from Uzbekistan and Bolivia. Artists from both countries demonstrated examples of national music and dance, leaving unforgettable impressions on the audience.
The closing gala concert of the 38th CIOFF FolkArt International Festival took place in Leon Stuckel Square in Maribor. Over 200 artists from different countries participated in this concert, and representatives of Uzbekistan performed on behalf of the continent of Asia, winning recognition and applause from the audience with their national songs and dances.
The tour continued in Croatia. The 'Bukhorcha' ensemble actively participated in events at the XXVII International Folk Festival in the city of Karlovac. According to the festival program, the ensemble held street performances in the central streets and squares of the city, demonstrating the rich traditions and unique appeal of Uzbek national art through the performance of Uzbek folk songs and dances, as well as through the display of exquisite national costumes and folk instruments.
Folk and artistic groups from Madagascar, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and other countries also participated in this international festival, presenting the rich cultural heritage and national customs of their peoples. The five-day prestigious festival became an important platform for strengthening intercultural dialogue, promoting the intangible cultural heritage of peoples, and developing creative partnerships. The successful participation of Uzbek artists in these events made a significant contribution to enhancing the international prestige of national culture and the wide promotion of Uzbek art on the world stage.
The head of state signed a law aimed at further strengthening the guarantees of children's rights in several legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as improving the system for protecting women who are victims of threats and violence, on July 1, 2026.
In accordance with this law, amendments and additions were made to some legal acts. These amendments include the concept of the best interests of the child and guarantees for their provision.
The best interests of the child are determined based on their upbringing in the family, well-being, safety, health, access to education, comprehensive and harmonious development, personal integrity, dignity, freedom of thought, speech, and beliefs, as well as their social and moral interests and individual characteristics, while being established with the participation of the child and taking into account their opinion, as stipulated by international treaties, the Constitution, and laws.
The social protection agency developed a system of institutions, specifically rehabilitation and adaptation centers for women, which have been granted the authority to represent the interests of victims of threats and violence in court, file lawsuits without paying state fees, and participate in court hearings as their representative.
Furthermore, it was established that placing a victim of threats and violence in special centers is grounds for issuing them a temporary certificate of inability to work for a period of up to one month.
The law came into force on July 2, 2026, the day of its official publication.
