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confrontation is developing in the context of the growing demand for natural gas after the man-triggered catastrophes in Japan and plans not to use nuclear power in Europe, especially in Germany. Rivalry between "Nabucco" and "Southern Flow" is a result of mutual interdependence and the depletion of fuel-and-energy resources in the modern world.
Kaspiisky region: politika, ekonomikz, kultura,", Astrakhan 2011, No 3, pp. 101-107.
A. Klimenko,
Cand.Sc. (Military) (IFE of RAS) DESTABILIZING FACTORS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN KYRGYZSTAN AND UZBEKISTAN
The situation in Central Asia from the point of view of ensuring stability and security remains very complicated. The territorial and other related inter-state contradictions started to appear after disintegration of the USSR and at present are far away from being solved.
The demarcation of borders is one of the main knots of contradictions in relations between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. According to different data, from 70 to 100 disputed pieces of land exist along the perimeter of Uzbek-Kyrgyz border lengthy of 1300 km. Today, only the parts of the border in mountain ridges and valleys without essential differences remain having been delimitated. In particular, the disputes were caused by the parts of the boundaries along such water routes, as channels, rivers and water basins, where not only issues of territorial demarcation but also of water-economic settlement existed.
The most acute disputes are caused by some parts of Fergana valley. At present, 75 questioned pieces of land in the south of Kyrgyzstan gradually are turned out to become subject to influence of Uzbekistan, according to data of Public Foundation "For International Tolerance". Besides, two Uzbek enclaves with population from 40 to 50 thousands exist on the territory of Kyrgyzstan. In its turn, the Kyrgyz enclave with 600 settlers exists in Uzbekistan. These enclaves lack a direct access to the territory of their states creating big difficulties for their population. The parties repeatedly tried to solve this problem, but they have substantially different approaches to its solving.
The Uzbek leaders tried to conclude an agreement with their Kyrgyz colleagues on the exchange of the territories. However, the Kyrgyz party considers the proposed options as unacceptable, since realization of these options would almost completely separate two districts (Leilek and Batken districts) from the other territory of the state. The decision of this question is complicated by discovery in one enclave (Sokh enclave) of oil fields, as well as by recent attempts of both parties to seize the enclave by force. Uzbekistan possesses much grater military forces and increases its military contingent on the boundary with Kyrgyzstan and in enclave Sokh.
For the recent period a new factor, which may have an impact on solving this problem, emerged in spring of 2005 in the course of "colored revolution" in Kyrgyzstan. The total number of Uzbek citizens in Kyrgyzstan accounts for 700 thousand people. The Uzbek Diaspora is settled mainly just in the rebellious Osh and Dzhelalabad regions in the south of the country. Its representatives use corrupted local officials to occupy the key posts in some branches of economy (trade, agricultural production and the sphere of service) and in local governing bodies.
The leaders of new, recently appeared organizations, started to raise demands on the obligatory Uzbek quota in the parliament and executive state organs, on the legislative act to fix the posts of the governor of Osh region and the mayor of the city of Osh for the persons of Uzbek nationality. Therefore from the start of troubles they took actions to aggravate the situation for achievement of their objectives. With due account of the claims of Tashkent for some territorial parts of Kyrgyzstan as well as nationalist feelings in Uzbek Diaspora and the analogous feelings of the group of extremists of residents in Kyrgyzstan, these circumstances may become a great problem for regional security and stability. It was completely proved in the course of disturbances in May and June of 2010 in the cities of Osh and Dzhelalabad, which resulted in 2000 victims and wounded persons and about 100 thousand refuges of Uzbek nationality.
The second significant knot of inter-state contradictions between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is connected with different views on spread of terrorism in the region and ways and means of struggle against it. The assault of fighters of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan to the south of Kyrgyzstan in 1999 aggravated gravely the relations between Tashkent and Bishkek. In time of the events in Batken the president of Uzbekistan accused Bishkek of promoting the situation, when bandits freely crossed the boundary of Kyrgyzstan earlier and for two years freely several times left Tajikistan and through Kyrgyzstan entered Uzbekistan. As a result, bandits arranged their attacks, brought tons of explosive materials to Kokand, Andijan and Namangan through the territory of Kyrgyzstan, as marked the president of Uzbekistan.
The Kyrgyz authorities, on their side, declared that repressive actions of Tashkent against religious figures and Islamic organizations in the beginning and in the middle of the 1990s provoked a strong
reaction and contributed to formation of the armed opposition conducting military actions, and Tashkent had to struggle against them.
At the same time, it should be said that the leadership of Uzbekistan often applies forced methods carrying out anti-terrorist activities contrary to meaning of neighbors. For instance, the Uzbek servicemen mined a part of territory of Kyrgyzstan and gorges around enclaves Sokh and Shakhimardan, which resulted in human victims among local residents and delivered great damage to cattle-breeding. Only thanks to persistent demands of Kyrgyzstan and international organizations the Uzbek specialist arranged works of mine clearing. The Uzbek party ignored the claim for payment of material compensation for the suffered damage.
In addition to the mentioned difficulties, there exist problems between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the sphere of economic reciprocal action, including joint usage of water resources of the region.
"Mirovye derzhavy v Tsentralnoy Azii", M., 2011, pp. 95-98.
Khakim Abdullo Rakhnamo,
Cand. Sc. (Pol.) (Tajikistan)
ISLAM in HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
of UZBEKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN
A wide range of questions connected with teaching and research of Islam in Central Asia attracts a great interest of academic community both in the region itself and outside its boundaries. For the last years, a great number of scientific studies, conferences and projects were devoted to research of these problems. As the comparative analysis of the contents of the research in this sphere demonstrates, the complex of the corresponding problems is subject to study in three main
