Kyrgyzstan Reaches Electricity, Water Accords With Neighbours

Text of report by privately-owned Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency website

Bishkek, 10 June: Kyrgyzstan will supply 1bn kWh of electricity and additionally discharge 1.2bn cubic metres of water, that is in excess of its own needs, to neighbouring countries. An agreement to this effect has been reached at a regional conference of the heads of the Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek water resources, fuel and energy sectors.

The conference discussed the issues of using water, energy and fuel resources [as published] of the Naryn-Syrdarya river basins in 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009. The conference was held at the Kyrgyz Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources Ministry on 9-10 June 2008, the ministry’s press service has said.

The question of preparing draft bilateral intergovernmental protocols for signing between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan was agreed at the conference.

Uzbekistan refused to sign the protocol of the quadrilateral meeting. In connection with this, it has been decided that the mentioned amount of electricity and additional water will be provided only after the signing of the quadrilateral agreement.

Originally published by AKIpress news agency website, Bishkek, in Russian 1157 10 Jun 08.

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