Tajiks, Uzbeks Agree on International Probe into Energy Project

Excerpt from report by Russian internet news agency Regnum, specializing in regional reporting

Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to carry out an international examination into the construction project of the Zarafshon hydroelectric power plant in northern Tajikistan, Rashid Gulov, deputy chief engineer of the Barq-i Tojik (Tajik Electricity) open joint-stock holding company, said today, 12 November, a Regnum news agency correspondent reports. Gulov said that during two days, talks had been held between a Tajik official delegation comprising representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, energy and industry, land reclamation and water resources, as well as from the Barq-i Tojik energy holding and Uzbek experts in Tashkent.

The sides decided to invite an independent international organization to examine this project. The Uzbek side is insisting that the construction of the hydroelectric power plant will disrupt the land-reclamation system in four Uzbek regions.

[Passage omitted: background on the project]

Originally published by Regnum news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0001 13 Nov 07.

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