Toraliyeva said The Kazakh prime minister visited Tashkent last week. Moreover, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev talked over telephone with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov. Both countries have a common problem – lack of water whose source is the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. The other two countries – Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan from where these rivers run lack electricity.”
Energy crisis has led the countries to consequences in economy and humanitarian field, which in turn can destabilize a political situation, Toraliyeva said.
At present it is essential to take steps to set up a dialogue on a water issue with Islam Karimov and create conditions for negotiations and compromises, Toraliyeva said.
However, the Uzbek and Kyrgyz leaders do not have the unified position on the water issue, in spite of their discussions, Toraliyevac said.
I do not think the Kazakh and Uzbek leaders have reached an agreement on the water issue – on constructing hyrdotechnical properties in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Toraliyeva said.
Kazakhstan holds a softer position on the water issue than Uzbekistan, Toraliyeva said.
Moreover, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have a lot of issue which they solve bilaterally without Uzbekistan’s participation, Toraliyeva said.
In addition, there are other political, economic and social issues on which Kazakhstan will not toughen its position toward Kyrgyzstan, the expert said.
