From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Thu Jun 06 2002 - 09:50:25 EDT
Uzbek-Kazakh border delimitation group to resume work by 15 June 2002
Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency
Almaty, 4 June: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan intend to continue cooperation on
border issues. Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov has told
journalists that a relevant agreement was reached at a meeting of the heads
of the Kazakh and Uzbek governments, Imangali Tasmagambetov and Otkir
Sultonov, in Almaty on 4 June.
Idrisov has said that they exchanged views on the implementation of
agreements that were reached previously on border issues.
He said that both prime ministers agreed to instruct government delegations
involved in the border delimitation process to speed up this work.
"Relevant instructions will be issued," he said.
According to Idrisov, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have not so far agreed on
the delimitation of the border in three sections, namely Kzyl-Orda Region
[southern Kazakhstan], Arnasay dam, as well as Bagys and Turkestanets
populated areas. He said that additional work on delineating the border
should be carried out in these areas.
According to Idrisov, neither side has completed the scheduled work, which
should have been done by the end of May and beginning of June this year. It
will be completed after some additional field research work is done, he
said.
The press secretary of the Kazakh prime minister, Murat Buldekbayev, told
journalists after the meeting that the working group on border issues would
hold a meeting before 15 June to continue work, taking into account views
expressed during this meeting.
He said that Tasmagambetov was prepared to meet his Uzbek counterpart with
regard to this problem.
Both sides agreed that there was "quite fruitful" cooperation between the
two countries, Buldekbayev has said.
[The Uzbek prime minister] Otkir Sultonov in turn suggested consolidating
"the success that has now been achieved", the press secretary said.
Source: Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 1154 gmt 4 Jun
02
BBC Mon CAU 050602 ak/abm
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