CSTO concerned as Uzbek-Kyrgyz border dispute reignites

PanARMENIAN.Net - CSTO Deputy Secretary General Ara Badalyan has been dispatched to Bishkek to tackle a land dispute between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the Organization said in a statement.

The border dispute between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan centers on the former’s unilateral demarcation of the border and its alleged seizure of large tracts of Kyrgyz agricultural land which had been lent to Uzbekistan for temporary usage during the Soviet period but was never returned.

At a special meeting of the Organization’s Permanent Council on Monday, March 22, Kyrgyzstan’s Representative in CSTO, Aman Mambetseitov, briefed the participants on the situation on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border in Aksy district, Jalal-Abad region of the Kyrgyz Republic.

"Members of the CSTO Permanent Council expressed concern over the escalation on the border,” the Organization said later. “It was decided to monitor the situation.”

Kyrgyzstan has turned to the CSTO on Tuesday to address tensions with Uzbekistan after Uzbek armored vehicles and troops were deployed near their disputed border.

Uzbekistan deployed two armored personnel carriers and 40 troops to the disputed border section last Friday and closed the Madaniyat highway checkpoint on the border with Kyrgyzstan, also imposing restrictions on Kyrgyz citizens’ entry at the Dostuk highway checkpoint.

In response to this, the Kyrgyz side sent two armored personnel carriers and special force troops to this area and stopped the passage of Uzbek citizens and their vehicles at three checkpoints leaving only one open at the border between the two countries.

The CSTO comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.