Problems with water are becoming more vivid in cross-border relations of Tajikistan and Kygyzstan. The today’s visit of Kygyz president to Tajikistan was mainly sparked by this problem. As you remember recently on the border between the two countries erupted a conflict which involved not only the civilians but also the representatives of law-enforcement bodies of both sides.

The incident began on the evening of March 26 on the border of Kyrgyzstan’s southern Batken district and Isfara in Tajikistan. About 150 Tajiks, accompanied by their district government chief and police officers crossed what, according to Kyrgyzstan at least, is the border.

Fortunately that conflict was immediately eliminated but the grievances have remained. The water problem is mainly related to the delimitation of borders in Fergana Valley, which is mess itself. Simply people don not know where their territory ends and the territory of another country starts.

Hopefully the agreements of our presidents (rus) will lay the foundation for handling the water and border problems between our countries, if not wholly at least partially.

In order to avoid further conflicts, Rahmon and Bakiev ordered their governments to prepare an Intergovernmental agreement on prohibition of any economic activity along the border till the end of the process of delimitation and demarcation and also the lease of pastures on the territory of Kyrgyzstan by Tajik citizens.