Ilhom Nematov says demarcation of Uzbekistan’s state borders with neighboring countries will be fully resolved in 2020

First Deputy Foreign Minister Ilhom Nematov told Kun.uz correspondent about Uzbekistan’s negotiations with neighboring countries on border issues and their results.

“Border issues are extremely important to Uzbekistan. For three years, at the initiative of our President, we have been conducting intensive dialogue with all CA states on border issues. Specifically, on September 5, 2017, during the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan, we signed a 1,170-kilometer delimitation and demarcation agreement. An agreement was signed in March 2018 during the state visit of our President to Tajikistan, thereby resolving the delimitation issue with this country.

The issue of demarcation with Kazakhstan has begun in 2014. Despite all these years of negotiations since 2004, there are reasons why it has not been completed yet. Because we negotiated in a completely different context three years ago. There was no way to make some compromises. At the moment, based on the instructions of our President, we are solving the issue on the basis of land exchange, which is in the interests of both parties. Negotiations with Kazakhstan are coming to an end. If we do not reach an agreement by the end of this year, we will sign a demarcation agreement with Kazakhstan next year and formalize a full border,” Ilhom Nematov said. 

The First Deputy FM also touched upon the negotiations with Turkmenistan on the establishment of state border lines.

“Our negotiations with Turkmenistan on delimitation and demarcation of state borders are going well and intensively. We have held a number of meetings so far. There will be a meeting in Turkmenabad soon. We concluded the deal with the Turkmen side this year. We will sign the agreement with them next year and we will fully resolve the issue,” the Deputy FM added.