Foreign Minister tells about Tajik aggression to Minister of Austria

13:55, 22 сентября 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Darya PODOLSKAYA

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev met with the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported.

The parties discussed topical issues and promising areas of political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. They considered the issues of possible organization of mutual visits at the highest and high levels, which will give an additional impetus to the development of Kyrgyz-Austrian cooperation.

Particular attention was paid to the discussion of issues of trade and economic cooperation and the upcoming eighth meeting of the Kyrgyz-Austrian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation and the Kyrgyz-Austrian Business Forum, which will be held on September 29 in Bishkek.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic also informed about the situation at the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border. He noted that the illegal actions of the Tajik side are an aggressive and destabilizing action that runs counter to bilateral and multilateral agreements between the countries.

Jeenbek Kulubaev stressed that the Kyrgyz side adheres to the unchanged position to resolve disputed issues exclusively by peaceful means, political and diplomatic methods.

Minister Schallenberg expressed his regret over the current situation in the region, emphasizing the particular importance of peace and stability in Central Asia for Europe.

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 198 victims, 59 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.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kyrgyzstan opened a criminal case on crimes against peace.