Kyrgyz president favors peaceful solution to territorial disputes with neighboring states
BISHKEK. April 28 (Interfax) - All issues concerning undocumented sections of the border with neighboring countries need to be resolved through peaceful dialogue, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said.
"Issues concerning the borders with neighboring countries need to be resolved solely through peaceful dialogue and on the basis of mutual respect," the presidential press service quoted Japarov as saying on Thursday.
"I, as the country's leader, who pledged to protect the integrity and security of the state, will always treat the national interests of the Kyrgyz people as a priority when tackling state border issues. I have enough political will for that. At the same time, I would like to note that we respect the interests and integrity of neighboring states," he said.
The president of Tajikistan is also interested in resolving border issues with the Kyrgyz side solely through peaceful talks, Japarov said.
"The bilateral interstate commission is now continuing its work with the aim of achieving agreements on disputed sectors of the state border. Certain progress has been achieved," Japarov said.
"Meanwhile, we will not yield to provocative acts and will prevent possible negative occurrences on the state border, at the same time demonstrating reserve and strengthening our national security," the president said.
Besides, the armed conflict that broke out on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in 2021 highlighted the need to bolster security along the border, he said.
"Last year's armed conflict clearly underscored the need to give serious and urgent attention to security on the borders of our country. That's why, for the first time throughout the history of our country, modern military hardware and other equipment have been acquired with funds from the country's budget with the aim of strengthening our Armed Forces. This work will continue," the president said.
Issues related to disputed sections of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border "still pose a problem," and "resolving them will require accuracy, tolerance and consistency from us," Japarov said.
Japarov said on April 16 that 664 kilometers of out the 972-kilometer border Kyrgyzstan shares with Tajikistan had been agreed.
The Kyrgyz-Tajik border occasionally sees conflicts between local residents and border guards of the two countries over undocumented sections of the border.
