Kyrgyz president fears war in the south

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/CEN-01-201213.html



SKyrgyz president fears war in the south
By Ryskeldi Satke
Dec 20, '13

President Almazbek Atambayev of Kyrgyzstan announced this month that a US$1 billion Kyrgyz-Russian arms deal is ready to be implemented, with delivery "soon" of "artillery pieces, tanks, shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles and other military equipment". [1] The Russian Federal Security Service controlled Regnum news agency [2] has coincidentally quoted a statement by Atambayev on December 16 referring to a possible "foreign army attack" on Kyrgyzstan. [3]

Domestic politics insiders in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, believe Atambayev was referring to complications with Uzbekistan in the Ferghana Valley. It is no secret that the present state of Kyrgyz-Uzbek relations is considered outside government as counterproductive given the numerous deadly cross border skirmishes between the states. Official Tashkent, the Uzbekistan capital, does not miss a chance to remind its neighbors in Kyrgyzstan of the possible consequences of any unilateral decisions Bishek makes to build hydro stations in the upstream rivers in the Ferghana Valley.

The complexity of the relations between the states outlines Central Asia's vulnerability to internal crises in light of unresolved disputes. Specifically, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are the two primary republics prone to interstate animosity.

A host of issues remain at the center of their ongoing hostility, with deadly encounters on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border continuing without urgent attention from either government. Aside from routine border shooting incidents, Uzbekistan has been irritated by Kyrgyz-Russian plans to control the regional water stream that is vital to Uzbekistan's agricultural industry.

[intaglio]

1. Why do I fear a man who fears war ...

Whilst he spends money on armaments.