Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Reach Agreement on Shared Use of Chechme Spring

Delegations from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan held a joint meeting on April 24 in Tashkent to discuss the delimitation and demarcation of their shared border.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and head of the State National Security Committee (GKNB) of Kyrgyzstan, Kamchybek Tashiyev and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, The Caspian Post reports citing Akipress.

The parties approved the route description of the proposed border line, which places the Chechme (Chashma) spring on Kyrgyz territory. They also agreed on the key terms of a draft agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and the Government of Uzbekistan on the joint use of the Chechme spring.

Both sides emphasized that Chechme is a shared heritage of the peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Agreements were reached on the following:

• The Kyrgyz side will ensure free and unhindered access for Uzbek citizens to the spring.
• The Uzbek side will be allowed to use two-thirds of the water formed by the spring.
• Any actions that could affect the quantity or quality of the spring's water must be coordinated with Uzbekistan.

Both parties pledged, in the spirit of friendship and good neighborliness, to refrain from any measures that could prevent the full use of the spring by citizens of both countries.

They also agreed to finalize and sign the agreement on joint use of the spring and the treaty on the border section between the two countries in the near future.

During the talks, the sides also discussed the status and operational regime of specific border checkpoints. Both countries expressed satisfaction with progress toward a unified approach for the checkpoints to ease travel and transportation.

They also highlighted the importance of promptly signing a protocol and amending the 2004 agreement on border crossing points.

A follow-up meeting of working groups from the relevant authorities of both countries will take place soon.