Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Exchange Ratification Documents to Complete Border Delimitation Process
On January 27, 2023, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan completed the border delimitation process, exchanging ratification documents in a historic event as described by the leaders. President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan declared “Today is a historic day for us”. Similarly, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyóyev characterized the agreement as an important advance and credited it to the “political will” of his Kyrgyz colleague.
The border between the two countries extends for more than 1,300 kilometers, but the demarcation process was delayed due to the formation of a number of disputed zones along the border after the collapse of the USSR. After these zones were resolved, last autumn the foreign ministers of both countries signed an agreement to delimit the remaining 230 kilometers. This was later ratified by the parliaments of both countries.
Both governments hope that with this treaty the border problems between them will now be resolved. Kyrgyzstan also shares borders with China, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. While the former two nations have successfully delineated their borders, disputes remain with the latter. Consequently, armed clashes are common, with some even resulting in casualties in the past year. In the light of this treaty, it is hoped that similar clashes can be avoided in the future.
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