Turkey wants lasting settlement of Kyrgyz-Tajik issues

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s parliament speaker said Monday that Turkey wants permanent steps to be taken to resolve issues between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Mustafa Sentop was commenting to reporters before receiving Altynbek Mamayusupov, secretary general of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-Speaking Countries, in the capital, Ankara.

"Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are our two brother countries. Our expectation is for some permanent steps to be taken for the issues [between the two countries]," Sentop said.

Turkey is ready to do its part for the issues between the two countries, he noted.

"We are ready to do our best to provide a permanent solution and also to mediate between our brothers," he added.

Violence erupted last Wednesday between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan centered on control over the local water distribution network, Kyrgyz media reported.

Surveillance equipment was installed by Tajik officials at the Golovnoi water distribution center, which Kyrgyzstan says is located in an area where sovereignty is yet to be defined, according to the Radio Free Europe news website.

Clashes broke out with the intervention of border troops from the two countries, and soldiers were sent to the region with armored vehicles from both sides.

Tensions over control of the water supply continued Thursday, however, with residents throwing stones at each other.

At least 39 people were killed -- including a 13-year-old girl -- and 134 wounded along the disputed segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, according to the Kyrgyz Health Ministry.