Tensions continue to be high on Kyrgyz-Uzbek border

During its forthcoming meeting in Moscow on Mar 22, the Permanent Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is to discuss the situation on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border.

The press service of Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry reports that during the meeting Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan to the Council Aman Mambetseitov will inform his colleagues about the situation on the Jalal Abad section of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border.

As EADaily reported earlier, on Mar 18 Uzbekistan sent soldiers and armored vehicles to a disputed section of its border with Kyrgyzstan near Chalasart. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest and demanded that the Uzbeks withdraw their troops. On Mar 20 the Kyrgyzs send more border guards to the section. As of now the section is being guarded by eight guards from each side.

On Mar 22, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Temir Sariyev visited Jalal Abad region. He told the locals that the Kyrgyz authorities were taking measures to come to terms with the Uzbeks but they needed time for that. “We have a plan of action to settle this dispute. I am sure that we will solve this problem and will avoid ethnic clashes,” Sariyev said.

He said that some pseudo-patriots were trying to turn the situation into their advantage. “They are trying to whip up tensions but we are going to solve the problem by legal means. Here we need a diplomatic approach. Force will not help us to solve this problem,” Sariyev said.