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Experts: Central Asian countries may solve water and energy problems without intermediaries

Politics Materials 28 January 2010 12:25 (UTC +04:00)
Experts believe if intermediaries do not interfere in the process, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be able to solve regional water and energy problems in the near future.

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 28 / Trend V.Zhavoronkova /

Experts believe if intermediaries do not interfere in the process, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be able to solve regional water and energy problems in the near future.

"It is my deep conviction that the three countries, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, have enough will and political vision in order to resolve these issues without mediators and without the intervention of great powers," Uzbek expert Sergey Yezhkov told Trend over the telephone.

The major water problems in Central Asia are that before getting to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the region's two main water-bearing rivers of Syr Darya and Amu Darya flow through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which results in the loss of much of the water. Mostly Uzbekistan, whose main crop is cotton, suffers from the lack of water.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan do not have enough electricity, and countries have no opportunities to generate it through thermal power plants (TPP) due to lack of raw materials. Therefore, to generate electricity, these states use water and now are in need of constructing additional hydroelectric power plants (HPP).

This can further reduce the flow of water to Uzbekistan, which disturbs the government and creates tensions between the countries of the region.

Uzbekistan's relations with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan can be described as "strained". But, the countries will soon come to a compromise in this regard, experts say.

Uzbekistan is looking for common ground and mutual understanding with the neighboring republics in the issue of distribution of water resources in Central Asia, the Uzbek expert said.

"Uzbekistan does not set the task of confrontation with neighboring states, Yezhkov added.

Establishment of cooperation between Uzbekistan and neighboring countries in the water and energy problems may prevent political factors, such as interference, Kyrgyz expert on Central Asia Orozbek Moldaliyev believes.

"If the major powers would not interfere in the relations, they soon are able to establish," Moldaliyev told Trend over the telephone.

According to Yezhkov, the task is clear, as the possible consequences of pending disputes are clear and the sides need only to agree.

The expert said that usually the mediators perform more decorative function rather than a real influence on the situation. Real impact on this issue means to promote infringement of interests of either one or the other country, the expert said.

Investing in hydropower projects in the region, may help improve relations between the parties, in addition, it is advantageous for Uzbekistan, Moldaliyev said.

"Investing in hydropower projects meets Uzbekistan's interests, as water is a very cheap form of energy production," he said. "Moreover, if Uzbekistan invests in construction of hydroelectric power stations, the country will be able to work together to regulate the distribution of power and water, without prejudice to each other."

The process of cooperation among Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has already begun, but it is very slow, Russian expert on the CIS and Central Asia Leonid Gusev said. He believes this is connected with the many differences among the countries.

"In any case, this question will not be easily solved, too large bundle of contradictions accumulated between countries" Senior Fellow at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Institute of International Studies Gusev told Trend  in an e-mail.

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