Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured that Moscow will do everything possible to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan resolve the situation on the border exclusively through negotiations.
"Of course, we have been watching the situation on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border very closely and with great concern," the Russian President said on Monday at talks in Sochi with his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Zhaparov. He recalled that President Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan had recently visited Moscow and had also discussed the issue with him.
"The intention of the two sides to solve all controversial issues of this kind in the course of negotiations was positively perceived. I am sure that this goal can be achieved this way," Putin noted. "Everything that depends on us, we will do to help you resolve these issues," the Russian President assured.
"We need to find a way of solving all kinds of issues so that it's long-term and meets the interests of both sides," he said, noting that this issue is related "to the lives of specific people." "We will strive for that as well, we will help it in every possible way," Putin promised.
The situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border escalated on April 28. The reason was a conflict between local residents over access to water resources. It began near the Golovnoy water distribution point in the upper reaches of the Isfara River, which both countries consider their territory. On April 29, the conflict escalated into a clash between Kyrgyz and Tajik soldiers.
The two sides negotiated and signed a joint statement afterward in which they affirmed their readiness to end the confrontation and begin the withdrawal of troops.
Production of Sputnik V in Kyrgyzstan
Russian specialists are studying the possibility of producing the Sputnik V vaccine at a site in Kyrgyzstan, the head of state added.
"Our specialists are now studying the possibility of deploying the production of our prophylactic agent, now known throughout the world, Sputnik V, at one of the sites in Kyrgyzstan," Putin said.
He stressed that the states are actively cooperating in the fight against the pandemic. "Russia has provided and intends to continue supporting Kyrgyzstan in the supply of test systems, antiviral drugs and vaccines," the President noted.
Increase in trade turnover
Putin noted that trade turnover between Russia and Kyrgyzstan in the first quarter of 2021 grew by 6 percent, a trend that should be maintained.
"Unfortunately, last year the trade turnover slightly declined due to the pandemic. But in the first quarter of this year we are already seeing an increase of 6%. This is a good trend that we need to maintain, including using the intergovernmental commission, which is working quite actively, as far as I can see," the President said.
He stressed that Russia and Kyrgyzstan will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the basic treaty of friendship and cooperation in 2022. "Already now we can say that during these years the situation in our interstate relations is strengthening, developing. Russia ranks first in Kyrgyzstan's trade turnover," the Russian leader noted.
Putin reminded that in 2020 the cross-years of Russia in Kyrgyzstan and Kyrgyzstan in Russia were planned, but the pandemic prevented the implementation of more than 200 planned activities in a variety of areas, including youth exchanges and interuniversity contacts. "We will definitely do this as the epidemiological situation in both Russia and Kyrgyzstan improves," the Russian head of state said.
He also pointed out that Russia and Kyrgyzstan cooperate quite actively in international organizations, particularly in the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the United Nations.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS