Joint Statement

• Country/entity

  Kyrgyzstan
  Tajikistan
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Joint Statement
• Date

  29 Jun 2021
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/interstate conflict ( Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan Border Clashes )
• Stage

  Pre-negotiation/process
• Conflict nature

  Territory
• Peace process

  Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan Border Process
• Parties

  The Republic of Tajikistan represented by President Emomali Rahmon, the Kyrgyz Republic represented by the President Sadyr Japarov.
• Third parties

  -
• Description

  This is a meeting between the two presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss a range of issues of shared interest between to countries. Although there is no substantive commitments made in the meeting, there is mention of series of existing trade pacts and interstate commissions.

• Agreement document

  KG_TJ_210629_Joint Statement.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

“At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, on June 28–29, 2021, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov paid an official visit to the Republic of Tajikistan.

The heads of state discussed the state and prospects of Kyrgyz-Tajik relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres, exchanged views on issues of regional and international agendas.

Expressing commitment to the principles and obligations enshrined in the Treaty on the fundamentals of interstate relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan of July 12, 1996 and the Treaty between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan on good neighborly and partnership relations of May 26,

2004, in order to further develop interstate dialogue on On the basis of equality, mutual respect and friendship, the Heads of State declare the following:

1. Kyrgyz-Tajik relations are based on centuries-old historical ties, common cultural and spiritual values.

2. The heads of state, realizing the high responsibility for maintaining the ties of friendship and good neighborliness, reaffirmed their determination to progressively develop relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan.

3. The Presidents noted the prevention of border conflicts on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border and the need for the parties to comply with international obligations and international law.

The Presidents express their intention to build a constructive dialogue on mutually acceptable terms, taking into account the interests of the two sides and resolving emerging issues exclusively by peaceful means and political and diplomatic methods.

4. The heads of state discussed issues related to the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border.

They spoke in favor of speeding up negotiations and searching for mutually acceptable solutions within the framework of the Intergovernmental Commission on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik State Border.

The Presidents are convinced that the principles of friendship and good neighborliness, on the basis of which the Kyrgyz and Tajik peoples have lived and built since ancient times, will contribute to the achievement of a mutually acceptable result.

5. The heads of state called for the continuation of the joint efforts of the states of Central Asia to intensify cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres.

They noted the importance of holding regular consultative meetings of the heads of state of Central Asia, which contribute to the formation of a new atmosphere of interaction in the region.

In order to give an additional impetus to mutually beneficial cooperation and ensure regional stability and security, they expressed their readiness to jointly promote the conclusion of a five-sided Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation in Central Asia in the 21st century.

6. The heads of state emphasized that there are necessary mechanisms for interaction for the development of interstate dialogue, primarily the Interstate Coordination Council, the Intergovernmental Commission for the Comprehensive Review of Issues of Bilateral Cooperation, the Intergovernmental Commission for the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik State Border and the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

An agreement was reached to hold a regular meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission for the Comprehensive Review of Issues of Bilateral Cooperation in the second half of 2021 in Kyrgyzstan.

7. The Presidents note the importance of the inter-parliamentary dimension of Kyrgyz-Tajik relations.

8. The heads of state noted the decrease in the volume of mutual trade between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan.

In this context, we advocated the adoption of appropriate measures to use the untapped potential of trade and economic cooperation.

They noted the need to organize mutual business economic missions, exhibitions in priority areas of economies and business forums.

9. The Presidents expressed their concern about the ongoing smuggling of goods in the border areas of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan.

It is believed that this circumstance is detrimental to bilateral economic relations.

10. The Presidents called for the establishment of interregional relations between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan.

They emphasized that the regions of the two states have sufficient opportunities for the implementation of joint projects in the agro-industrial complex, cultural, humanitarian, scientific and technical fields.

11. In order to meet the growing needs of the population and economies of the Central Asian states and

taking into account the negative trends in climate change and obligations under the Paris Agreement, the Heads of State expressed their readiness to mutually support the international initiatives of the two countries to develop their huge hydropower potential to provide the region and beyond environmentally friendly renewable energy.

12. The heads of state agreed to resume the work of the Interdepartmental Kyrgyz-Tajik Working Group to consider bilateral issues related to the use of water resources.

13. The Presidents noted the importance of continuing cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan on the implementation of projects for the construction of power lines, including the construction of the Central Asia-South Asia CASA-1000 regional power transmission line.

14. The heads of state agreed to create favorable living conditions for ethnic Kyrgyz in the Republic of Tajikistan and ethnic Tajiks in the Kyrgyz Republic.

15. The Presidents noted the need to intensify Kyrgyz-Tajik cultural and humanitarian cooperation through joint cultural events, which will help bring peoples closer together and strengthen interethnic and cultural ties.

16. The heads of state stand for strengthening the status of the UN as a universal international structure and the main platform for resolving issues of interstate communication, as well as its central coordinating role in international affairs.

17. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic welcomed the global water initiatives of the Republic of Tajikistan and noted the adoption on December 21, 2020 of the resolution of the UN General Assembly “UN Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Achievement of the Goals of the International Decade for Action 'Water for Sustainable Development', 2018–2028”.

18. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan welcomed the adoption of the resolution “Nature knows no borders:

transboundary cooperation is a key factor in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity”, initiated by the Kyrgyz Republic in the framework of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

19. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic welcomed the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to declare 2025 the International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers.

20. The President of the Republic of Tajikistan supported the candidacy of the Kyrgyz Republic to the UN Human Rights Council for 2023-2025.

21. Interaction will continue within the framework of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and other international organizations and forums.

22. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic expressed support for the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2020-2021, noted the relevance of the priorities proposed by the Tajik side and implemented in the anniversary year for the Organization.

23. The Presidents welcomed the holding in November 2021 in the city of Bishkek of the First Economic Forum "European Union - Central Asia" at the level of prime ministers of Central Asia and high representatives of the EU.

24. The heads of state expressed concern about the current military-political situation in Afghanistan in connection with the withdrawal of the international coalition troops, as well as the activation of anti-government armed elements.

25. The Heads of State noted with satisfaction the results of the official visit of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Republic of Tajikistan and express confidence that the talks held will contribute and give impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation.

The President of the Kyrgyz Republic expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan for the hospitality and warm welcome and invited the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to pay a return official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic.

The invitation was accepted with gratitude.

The dates of the visit will be agreed through diplomatic channels.”