Bishkek seeks 'peaceful resolution' to border differences

MOSCOW

Kyrgyztan seeks a peaceful solution to border differences with neighboring countries, President Sadyr Zhaparov said on Friday.

Speaking at People's Kurultai, a national gathering in the capital Bishkek, Zhaparov said border delimitation has already been completed with three countries, starting with Tajikistan.

Zhaparov said "protracted border delimitation" process was the main reason of deadly Kyrgyz-Tajik clashes in September, and pledged to finish the drawing of state boundaries "in the shortest possible time."

"Border problems can be solved only in two ways – through peaceful negotiations or militarily, shedding the blood of citizens. Kyrgyzstan, as a democratic state, has always stood firmly on the position of peaceful settlement of border issues and will continue to take this position," he said.

Many border regions in Central Asia are disputed since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

The country, however, has to be strong to protect its interests, and therefore Kyrgyzstan will continue to strengthen its defense, the president added.

He said Kyrgyzstan is buying combat drones from Türkiye, such as the Bayraktar TB2, Akinci and Aksungur.

"When I took office, we did not have armored military equipment, and at the moment unprecedented funds have been allocated from the republican budget, with which special armored vehicles of the Tiger brand, heavy army trucks, Bayraktar TB2, Akinci and Aksungur attack unmanned aerial vehicles and other modern types of weapons and military equipment have been purchased," he said.

The first People's Kurultai is being held at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic in Bishkek. Ministers, state and public officials and employees are in attendance.