Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan discuss fulfillment of water withdrawal schedule

The 34th meeting of the Commission of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on the use of water management facilities of interstate use on Chu and Talas rivers was held in Cholpon-Ata city, Issyk-Kul region.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Kyrgyz delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic — Director of the Water Resources Service Almazbek Sokeyev, while the Kazakh delegation was headed by Vice Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation Nurlan Aldamzharov.

The parties discussed issues on the fulfillment of water withdrawal schedules for interstate sources and facilities on Chu and Talas rivers, the volume of completed works at the facilities as of July 20, 2024, the share co-financing of Kazakhstan for operation and maintenance of water management facilities of interstate use on Chu and Talas rivers.

In addition, they discussed the issue of amendments and additions to the agreement between the governments of the two countries on the use of water management facilities of interstate use on Chu and Talas rivers from January 21, 2000, on the development of a bilateral document on the regime of management and use of Chumysh hydrotechnical junction on Chui river and other issues.

The minutes of the 34th meeting of the commission were signed.

When asked by 24.kg news agency what changes are proposed to be made to the agreement, Almazbek Sokeyev replied that it is a purely economic issue. «There are objects on both sides, but they are not included in the agreement, so we want to discuss, include them and then jointly maintain them. We have been discussing this for a long time. The commission meets twice a year. There are no problems this year,» he said.