The leaders of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan met on July 26 near the site of a bitterly contested border area that was the scene of deadly clashes on July 22. The Tajik president’s official website said that both governments had committed in future to work with local communities to explain the need for peaceful coexistence. Further talks on bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and delineation of the mutual border took place in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata on July 27.
According to the Tajik president’s website, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and his Kyrgyz counterpart Sooronbai Jeenbekov agreed to take necessary measures to develop the bilateral trade between the countries and boost direct contacts between the business communities of the two countries.
In the course of the talks, a special attention was reportedly paid to the issue of strengthening confidence between the people of the two countries, especially residents of border areas.
The two leaders reportedly pointed the necessity of locally arranging cultural activities and festivals in border areas and expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, sports and tourism.
Rahmon and Jeenbekov also exchanged views on a number regional and international views being of mutual interest, the Tajik president’s website said.
Meanwhile Kyrgyzstan’s online news agency 24.kg citing Kyrgyz president’s press service, says Sooronbai Jeenbekov stressed on July 27 that the arrival of Emomali Rahmon would give an additional impetus to mutually beneficial cooperation.
“We are satisfied with yesterday’s talks, which were held in an atmosphere of complete understanding and trust. I am sincerely pleased with the agreements reached on enhancing bilateral cooperation. We have shown a common opinion on the acceleration of the delimitation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, agreed to work on the border issues based on “from simple to complicated” principle, adhering to mutual respect and consideration of mutual interests. We exchanged views on regional and international issues, including water and energy issues in the region, where Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan play an important role. In this context, Kyrgyzstan highly appreciates and supports the constructive policy of Tajikistan to draw the attention of the world community to the problems of water use at the global level,” Sooronbai Jeenbekov was quoted as saying.
He reportedly noted that, thanks to the support of Emomali Rahmon, a historical meeting was held in the border area. “This has not happened since the beginning of our independent history. I am confident that our meeting will become a strong pillar of further decisive actions on strengthening and expansion of bilateral cooperation,” Kyrgyz leader said.
For his part, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon reportedly said that he was very glad to meet Kyrgyz leader Sooronbai Jeenbekov “in hospitable Kyrgyz land.” “It will allow us to continue a constructive dialogue on topical issues of the Kyrgyz-Tajik agenda. We are interested in the stable development of cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, we attach great importance to the consistent strengthening of good-neighborly relations. Tajikistan reaffirms its readiness to strengthen political dialogue, deepen trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations,” Emomali Rahmon was cited as saying.
