Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov received the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Stanislav Zas. Press service of the Cabinet reported.
Issues of regional security were discussed during the meeting.
The head of the Cabinet noted that over the period of formation and development, the role of the CSTO in the system of international regional organizations in the field of security has noticeably strengthened and increased. At the same time, he informed the CSTO Secretary General about the recent military invasion of Kyrgyzstan by Tajikistan.
«As a result of fire strikes by the Tajik side, civilian and social infrastructure facilities in the border villages of Batken region were destroyed. Twelve schools, 11 kindergartens were affected, 612 houses were almost completely burned down. At least 63 people from among the civilian population and military personnel were killed, 198 people were injured, more than 142,000 people were evacuated,» Akylbek Japarov emphasized.
He added that Kyrgyzstan has always been and will be a supporter of resolving all issues exclusively by peaceful means.
«This is our permanent position. However, we will not allow encroachments on our territorial integrity and sovereignty. We do not need someone else’s, but we will not give our own. Such illegal and destructive actions of the Tajik side undermine the authority of our common organization,» the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers said.
He added that the civil society of Kyrgyzstan rightly wonders what kind of collective security can we talk about when there are armed conflicts and clashes between the states within the organization.
Stanislav Zas expressed condolences in connection with the recent events at the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border, noting that such tragedies should not be repeated in the future.
He highly appreciated the clear focus of the Kyrgyz side on resolving the issues peacefully.
During the meeting, the CSTO Secretary General informed Akylbek Japarov about the preparations for the next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, which is planned to be held in Armenia.
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 206 victims, 62 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.
