Russia urges Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan to solve border disputes by diplomatic means

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian Foreign Ministry urged Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on Wednesday to take necessary measures to settle border clashes through political and diplomatic means.

"The Russian side is attentively following the tense situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, which escalated again on the morning of Sept. 14 of this year as a result of shooting between border guards,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

She expressed a readiness to help the sides find mutually acceptable solutions "using the rich Russian experience of border demarcation, including with Central Asian neighbors."

The Kyrgyz border service reported a shooting Wednesday with Tajik border guards, who, as claimed, occupied positions at a disputed border section in violation of previously reached agreements.