Connor Creeley (UK Delegation to the OSCE) praises the landmark
border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which
resolves decades of conflict and instability along their shared
border.
"Thank you Chair.
The UK commends this historic border agreement between Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan. Since the 1990s, there have been repeated
outbreaks of violence over the long, shared border. After the
most recent clash in September 2022, both governments agreed that
enough was enough and began negotiations to resolve the conflict.
Through hard work and patient cooperation, a decades-long issue -
and source of instability for Central Asia - has now been
resolved, with the border delineated.
We note positively that both states achieved this agreement
without the need of any third-party mediators. Such actions by
our fellow participating States help to reaffirm the OSCE
commitments and uphold the Helsinki Final Act's core principles
of non-use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes and
cooperation among States. We hope this peaceful resolution will
help to promote stability throughout the region and serve as an
example to the wider world.
I encourage both countries to support their local communities on
the border. This agreement offers huge potential for regional
integration and supports economic cooperation and development. We
look forward to the resumption of cross-border trade and travel
that will help to build people-to-people ties. The UK will
continue to reiterate – in this Council and beyond – the
importance of diplomacy to help resolve disputes. We look forward
to a new era of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and
the OSCE stands ready to support. "
