A telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev and the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in connection with the events at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. Press service of the Foreign Affairs Ministry reports.
The minister informed the head of the UN about the number of human casualties, including among the civilian population, as well as destruction of a large number of objects of social and civil infrastructure, including schools and residential buildings, the facts of looting of property of Kyrgyz citizens.
Information was provided on high-level political and diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation of tensions. The minister noted that he regrets that the Tajik side does not comply with the previously reached ceasefire agreements.
The Foreign Minister drew the attention of António Guterres that the Kyrgyz side, solely for the purpose of self-defense and protection of the sovereign territory of the Kyrgyz Republic from another unprovoked invasion of the Tajik armed forces and irregular paramilitary groups, took decisive response measures.
For his part, the UN Secretary-General noted that he was following the development of the situation with deep concern. He stressed the inadmissibility of further aggravation of the conflict and the importance of its speedy resolution only through a constructive peaceful dialogue between the parties.
António Guterres confirmed his readiness for a face-to-face meeting with the President Sadyr Japarov in New York on September 20.
The head of the UN also assured the head of the Foreign Ministry that he would discuss the current situation on the border with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan.
Emergency situation has been introduced in Batken region. Shooting began at several sites of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the morning of September 16. Settlements in Leilek and Batken district came under fire. The Ministry of Health reported 122 victims, 24 people were killed. As a result of the armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, residents of seven villages in Batken and Leilek districts, as well as Dzhekendi village in Chon-Alai district of Osh region, left their homes.
Presidents Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon agreed to ceasefire. But, according to the latest data from the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, the Tajik side violated the agreements again.
