DUSHANBE, April 19, 2001, Asia-Plus — The Tajik-Uzbek intergovernmental commission for economic and trade cooperation, co-chaired by Tajik Vice-Premier Murodali Alimardon and his Uzbek counterpart Rustam Azimov, will meet in Tashkent, Uzbekistan within the next few days and the freight hold-up problem will be one of major topics of the meeting, the First Deputy Tajik Foreign Minister, Abdullo Yuldoshev, told reporters in Dushanbe today.
Mr. Yuldoshev stressed that more than 2,000 Tajikistan-bound freight cars containing fuel, building materials and other essential goods have been stranded on Uzbek territory since February 10, 2010.
“Delays in delivery of cargos for Khatlon province and Gorno Badakhshan via the railroad Termez-Amuzang evoke a special concern,” said Tajik official, “The passage of freight trains via this railroad has been suspended since mid-March that inflicted a huge damage on Tajikistan’s economy, especial the agrarian sector.”
We will recall that the hold-up has caused a dispute between the neighboring countries, with Tajikistan accusing Uzbekistan of intentionally blocking the freight transiting through its territory. Uzbekistan has blamed technical problems, along with bad weather and an increase in freight traffic.
Chill hit Tajik-Uzbek relations in recent months over Tajikistan”s plans to complete the construction of the Roghun hydropower plant despite Tashkent”s objections. Uzbekistan says the Roghun plant will leave it facing water shortages.
