Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos became the first Dominican ambassador to present letters of credence as concurrent ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. Dannenberg Castellanos is the Dominican ambassador to Russia.
The letters of credence were received on 18 March 2022 by the Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov for President Shavkat Mirziyovev due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As reported, Foreign Minister Kamilov and Ambassador Dannenberg Castellanos discussed Uzbekistan’s interest that through the Pro Tempore Presidency of SICA held by the Dominican Republic, Uzbekistan may have closer ties to the Central American and Caribbean region. The potential for an increase in tourism, energy, higher education and greater collaboration between the ministries of foreign relations of both countries is also now on the table.
Diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan were signed on 28 September 2007. Yet, this is the first time that a Dominican ambassador is accredited to that nation.
Uzbekistan is a nation with a population of more than 35 million people. It has borders with Kazakhstan in the west and northeast, Turkmenistan in the southwest, Afghanistan in the south and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the east.
The Dominican Embassy in Russia (Moscow) and now Uzbekistan explains that presenting letters of credence is a step forward to introduce the nation at the heart of the Silk Road. “It is a state of a vast culture and source of possible tourists for our country,” explains Dannenberg Castellanos. He said the accreditation is part of new efforts to diversify our international relations. The ambassador highlighted the potential of tourism and increased trade from Central Asia as part of the new foreign policy enacted by President Luis Abinader under the leadership of Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez.
Earlier in March 2022, Dannenberg Castellanos had presented credentials to President Sadyr Japarov of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, also in Central Asia and also a former USSR republic.