Dushanbe offers Bishkek some measures to demilitarize border conflict zones
BISHKEK. July 17 (Interfax) - Kyrgyz and Tajik Foreign Ministers Erlan Abdyldaev and Sirojidin Aslov have discussed the situation on the joint border.
During the talks Tajikistan posed a number of questions, including on "restoring measures of mutual trust on the border between the countries, guaranteed non-use of military force or threat of the force and unconditional non-use of heavy arms weapons," the Kyrgyz foreign minister told reporters on Thursday.
In January and July 2014 cases of Tajik servicemen using heavy arms occurred, Abdyldaev said.
At the same time, Kyrgyzstan raised the issue of investigating the events, which took place on July 10 at the border area of Tamdyk in the Batken region in southern Kyrgyzstan. "Together we should find the instigators, and not allow a repetition of such incidents," Abdyldaev said.
Kyrgyzstan intends to continue building by-pass highways and junctions in border regions and it is important that inter-governmental agreements on the constructions of two bridges in cross-border region are implemented, the Kyrgyz minister said.
"Kyrgyzstan has assured their partners that all joint steps on developing and improving bilateral relations can be nullified, if both parties do not make every possible efforts and do not show political will to resolve as quickly as possible the existing long-standing issues," Abdyldaev said.
The issues emerging between the states "should be resolved in the spirit of mutual understanding and aspiration for compromise," the Tajik foreign minister said.
"Formulas suiting everyone do not exist" and Bishkek is urged to use talks to resolve all issues, Aslov said.
"What is happening on our borders can not but cause concern and anxiety, border guards and other representatives of law enforcement authorities of both parties not always have enough tact and patience, unfortunately," Aslov said.
During the negotiations Tajikistan proposed "a number of certain measures to demilitarize potential conflict zones [in border areas] and to decrease tension there," Aslov said. "We will hope they will be implemented soon," the minister said.
