Uzbeks, Tajiks Resume Border Talks After Three-Year Pause

Lightly marked border between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan near the city of Khudjanda

DUSHANBE -- An Uzbek delegation has arrived in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, to discuss delimitation of the Tajik-Uzbek border.

The talks, which are expected to last thru February 22, are the first after a break of three years.

The Tajik-Uzbek border delimitation talks have been stalled since February 2009 after Tajikistan rejected Uzbekistan’s proposal to give up some disputed lands to the Tajik side on condition that Tashkent will gain full control of Farkhod water reservoir along the two countries border.

The Tajik-Uzbek border is over 1,000 kilometers long, 20 percent of which remain disputed.

The Uzbek delegation will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, who is expected to join the group on February 21.

Based on reports by RFE/RL's Uzbek and Tajik services