WATER CONTINUES TO BE SOURCE OF TENSION IN CENTRAL ASIA
Alisher Khamidov: 10/23/01

The general preoccupation with the US-led anti-terrorism campaign is helping to mask tension among Central Asian states over the use of scarce water resources. Interstate disputes not only continue to fester, but some experts are concerned that the anti-terrorism campaign could result in an escalation of tension.

The Kyrgyz parliament touched off a fresh controversy in June with the adoption of a law that classified water as a commodity. In August, the Kyrgyz government followed up by announcing that it was preparing regulations to charge neighboring states, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, for the water they use.

Mountainous Kyrgyzstan, along with Tajikistan, are the main suppliers of water in Central Asia. Meanwhile, the low-lying states of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the major consumers of water, much of which is wasted due to inadequate infrastructure and inefficient irrigation practices.

Kazakhstan has sought to reach a barter accommodation with Kyrgyzstan, pledging to provide Bishkek with coal and power engineering equipment in return for water resources.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has continued its pattern of bellicose behavior towards Kyrgyzstan. Uzbek Prime Minister Utkir Sultanov told journalists in Tashkent on October 16 that Kyrgyzstan’s move to charge for water would add friction to already tense relations. "The introduction of the law contradicts the international norms," Sultanov said.

In recent years, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have feuded over water, borders and the conduct of a counter-insurgency campaign against Islamic radicals. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Uzbekistan, which is Central Asia’s largest country in terms of population, has not hesitated to exert pressure on its much smaller and poorer neighbor, Kyrgyzstan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Consistent with a pattern of retaliation, Uzbekistan halted all deliveries of gas to Kyrgyzstan, RFE/RL reported on October 18. Uzbekistan formally accused Kyrgyzstan of failing to honor an agreement signed in December 2000, under which Kyrgyzstan would provide Uzbekistan with 2.2 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectricity in return for oil and gasoline. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiev has acknowledged this failure. Uzbek officials also said Kyrgyzstan had failed to meet a $1.75 million debt obligation.

Some observers say the Uzbek gas cut-off was aimed to pressure Bishkek into reversing its water decision. Kyrgyzstan last winter endured a similar gas cut-off, which provoked a severe energy crisis.

Prior to the latest cut-off, Kyrgyzstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Tanaev issued a veiled threat to Uzbekistan, saying that an abrupt interruption of gas supplies would force Kyrgyzstan to rely more on hydroelectric power generation, leaving less water available to neighboring states. Since Uzbekistan’s water-intensive agricultural sector, especially cotton production, is dependent on Kyrgyz supplies, Tashkent may end up suffering during next year’s growing season.

Some Kyrgyz officials and observers have expressed concern that Uzbekistan’s military cooperation with the United States could embolden Tashkent to behave in a more aggressive manner towards Uzbekistan's Central Asian neighbors. On September 21, the chairman of the Kyrgyz Parliamentary Committee for International Relations, Alisher Abdimomunov, accused Uzbekistan of unilaterally occupying disputed territories along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Prior to September 11, Uzbekistan angered Kyrgyz officials by sowing its side of the border with landmines, ostensibly to deter incursions by Islamic militants.

At a news conference in Kazakhstan on October 21, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Johannes Linn urged Central Asian countries to settle political and economic disputes, including that concerning water use. He said the region’s long-term stability would depend greatly on the ability of Central Asian states to cooperate.

During Linn’s trip to Kazakhstan, the World Bank and Kazakhstan reached agreement on a water conservation project that would regulate the flow of water on the northern portion of the Sir Dray River and Aral Sea. Linn said after the signing ceremony that efforts were underway to reach a Kazakh-Kyrgyz water exchange agreement "in which the World Bank could act as the guarantor of the preservation of water resources," according to the Kazakhstan Today website.

Linn added that Kazakhstan supports the idea of World Bank involvement in the regulation of water usage. "The issue will have to be discussed with the Kyrgyz side, and possibly with the Uzbek side as well," Kazakhstan Today quoted Linn as saying.

Meanwhile, the ramifications of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz tension are evident in Kyrgyzstan. The state-owned utility, Kyrgyzgas, has warned consumers with outstanding accounts that their gas supplies will be cut off in the next few months if arrears remain unpaid. The overall debt owed by consumers approaches $5 million.

"I can't pay for all my utility bills. My salary is only 600 soms ($17 USD) per month," says Husanboy Saliev, a worker in Osh.

Editor’s Note: Alisher Khamidov is the director of the Osh Media Resource Center in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.

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Posted October 23, 2001 © Eurasianet
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