Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan working on border demarcation

TASHKENT. Feb 7 (Interfax) - Tashkent and Bishkek have started negotiations on border demarcation, Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromzhon Aloyev said on Tuesday.

"Working groups of our countries have started working on demarcation of the state border," Aloyev said at a roundtable on prospects of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz strategic partnership.

The working groups held their first meeting this year, he said, adding that the second meeting was planned for the near future.

A protocol on the exchange of instruments of ratification of the agreement on certain sections of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz state border was signed during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Bishkek on January 27.

Back in 2017, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement on delimitation of 85% of the state border, the total length of which is 1,378 kilometers. The remaining 15% was disputed and sparked conflicts between residents of border territories.