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Uzbek-Kyrgyz border disputes could be solved by 2017

Uzbekistan Materials 17 November 2016 17:41 (UTC +04:00)
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan now have a much better chance for resolving most of the disputed border areas than anytime during the last 25 years.
Uzbek-Kyrgyz border disputes could be solved by 2017

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.17

By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan now have a much better chance for resolving most of the disputed border areas than anytime during the last 25 years, Bruce Pannier, US expert on Central Asia and energy issues, told Trend Nov.17.

The expert pointed out that since Shavkat Mirziyoyev became the acting leader of Uzbekistan, the work on resolving border issues with Kyrgyzstan has progressed remarkably quickly.

Recently, the two sides have agreed on 56 previously disputed sections along their common border.

“That is more progress on demarcation in eight weeks than the two countries made in the previous 10 or 15 years,” said Pannier.

However, according to the expert, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan still seem to be having a difficult time in the area around the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir and it might take some time to agree on that section of the border.

“The two countries probably will not be able to agree on all the disputed border sections soon, but they have already agreed on about half of such areas and they are still moving forward,” said Pannier. “At this pace, most of the border issues, maybe some 80 to 90 percent could be resolved by next year.”

“We still need to wait and see if this new friendly relationship can last,” he added.

The total length of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border is 1,378 kilometers. More than 50 sections with a total length of 371 kilometers remain undocumented.

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