From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Aug 11 2000 - 11:35:16 EDT
Kyrgyzstan to take tit-for-tat action against Kazakh border restrictions
Text of report by the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar on 8th August
The trade roads of Kyrgyzstan end at its borders. Albert Bogdanov reports
from Bishkek:
Today we can speak about the blockade of the republic. On one side,
Uzbekistan has tightened the trade regime and banned the import of two
dozen types of goods, and on the other Kazakhstan has blocked all roads
leading to Russia and other countries. Although it was initially agreed to
allow 3,000 motor vehicles from Kyrgyzstan into the country free of charge,
only two [presumably thousand] have been let in. The remaining vehicles
loaded with quickly rotting fruits and vegetables destined for the Urals
and Siberia are queued up beside traffic-control barriers. But those which
managed to pass are also subjected to various checks, supposedly for
overloading. Transportation is becoming unprofitable. To make things worse,
railway transport has also been suspended.
"Unfortunately, economic relations with Kazakstan are becoming tense,"
[Kyrgyz] First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Silayev said. He confirmed that
a note had been sent to the neighbours saying that water supply to the
neighbouring country for irrigation would be cut off. Under an
intergovernmental agreement, the water is being supplied practically in
exchange for coal, which is delivered in small quantities and there are
fears that the Bishkek power stations will not be able to amass a fuel
stock for the winter.
Annoyed at all these things, Silayev ordered his subordinates to resort to
similar measures against Kazakh transport. "If I don't receive a single
complaint from Kazakhs about your measures, you may say goodbye to your
posts. We have had enough of debasing ourselves. It is time to take
actions. There is nothing worse than this. Trains and cars are not allowed
through and coal is not shipped. What else will they do to us?" the deputy
prime minister said. [Kyrgyz-Press].
Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 1600 gmt 08 Aug 00
BBC Mon CAU 100800/** jf/sa
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