DUSHANBE, July 1, 2010, Asia-Plus – Unfortunately, an uneasy situation has emerged in the sphere of joint use of water-and-energy resources in the Central Asian region, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev noted, answering to questions from Asia-Plus, concerning the settlement of the water-and-energy problem in Central Asia, Uzbekistan’s halting of freight cars bound for Tajikistan, and role of OSCE in settlement of such conflicts.
Mr. Saudabayev noted that Kazakhstan’s position regarding rational use of the water-and-energy resources in the region remained invariable. “Settlement of disputable problems through negotiations for reaching mutually beneficial compromises is the only possible approach,” he said. “Kazakhstan is located downstream of the Syr Darya River and we perceive the water supply problem. Therefore, we realize well that this problem could be successfully solved due to concerted water policy of all Central Asia’s countries,” said the OSCE CiO, “We have repeatedly called on all sides to work out universal mechanism of regulation of the water-and-energy relations on mutually just basis that would ensure the long-term settlement of the problem of power deficiency in the upstream countries in the winter period and the problem of water deficiency in the downstream countries during the vegetation period.”
He noted that approximation of positions of the Central Asian countries regarding the use of water-and-energy resources could not be considered in isolation from development of efficient models for economic development of each of the countries.
To strengthen water-and-energy and environmental security in Central Asia, OSCE intends to bring dialogue between the countries of the region on the water-and-energy problems to a higher level, within the framework of international law, Saudabayev said. He also noted that the countries of region must take effective measures to promote the settlement of the water-and-energy problems. “The settlement of the problems within the framework of OSCE is impossible without support and understanding of the countries of the region, you know,” the OSCE CiO noted.
“As far as the problem of transit of freight bound for Tajikistan via Uzbek territory is concerned, this issue should be discussed through negotiations with involvement of relevant government and economic structures of the two countries,” Mr. Saudabayev stressed.
