Bishkek, May 1, 2021. / Kabar /. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev met with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Anne Linde on the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border via video conference, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported.
The Kyrgyz side has briefed on the events of 28-30 April 2021 and current state of affairs in Kyrgyzstan's border areas.
It was noted with great sorrow that there were casualties on both sides, including among the civilian population. In this regard, in Kyrgyzstan, May 1-2, 2021 were declared days of national mourning in memory of the victims of the armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in Batken Oblast of Kyrgyzstan.
Kazakbaev, noting the inadmissibility of further escalation of the conflict and the importance of solving it only through constructive peaceful dialogue between the parties, stressed the need to respect earlier agreements on a ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops. At the same time he assured about the adherence of Kyrgyzstan to bilateral and international obligations and agreements.
He also informed that the number of evacuated persons exceeded 27 thousand as a result of the conflict. In light of this, noting the difficult humanitarian situation in Batken Oblast, he expressed hope for OSCE support. Additionally, assistance was requested for the post-conflict rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructure and social facilities, as well as dwelling of civilians.
Chairperson-in-Office Linde thanked the Kyrgyz side for its special contribution to the peaceful resolution of the situation and welcomed the finding of a common understanding that the conflict should not deepen. The OSCE commended the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the leadership of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the signing of the Protocol on the Resolution of the Armed Conflict in the border areas of Batken Oblast of Kyrgyzstan and Sughd region of Tajikistan. In this context, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office called on the parties to comply strictly with the agreements reached.
Linde outlined the OSCE's commitment to an early settlement of the conflict and its readiness to assist in the resolution of border disputes and post-conflict rehabilitation. Additionally, the Chairperson-in-Office stressed the importance of re-establishing trust between the peoples of the border regions in the post-conflict period. She expressed the readiness of the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to assist in this matter.
At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to maintain further dialogue on the pressing issues on the agenda.
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