On Thursday November 19, Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda received Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbayev, who was on a working visit to Tajikistan.

According to the Kyrgyz MFA press center, the sides discussed a wide range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and delineation of the mutual border.  

Kyrgyz minister reportedly noted that Kyrgyzstan was committed to resolving interstate issues between countries in a peaceful, diplomatic way and to maintaining a stable situation along the Kyrgyz-Tajik.

He also called on the Tajik side “to focus on the prompt description of the remaining sections of the state border at the level of the government delegations of the two countries.” 

For his part, Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda reportedly noted the need to create acceptable and mutually beneficial conditions for trade and transportation of goods.

The two sides reached an agreement to hold regular consultations on in water and energy resources issues, the Kyrgyz MFA press center said.  

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic were established on January 14, 1993 by signing the Protocol.

The Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic has functioned in Dushanbe since March 1997 and the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan functions in Bishkek.

The basic documents, which regulate the main directions and fundamental principles of the bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, are “Dushanbe Agreement on the Main Interstate Relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic” signed on July 12, 1996 and “The Agreement between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic on Good-Neighborly Relations and Partnerships” signed on May 26, 2004.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have not yet resolved the border delineation problem.  The border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of unrest repeatedly since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.  The countries share 971 kilometers of border – of which only 504 kilometers has reportedly been properly delineated.  Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan renewed interest in border delimitation suggests that the governments want to dedicate more attention and resources to the communities living in the Ferghana Valley.