09/11/10 Press-release. On transit of cargoes following to Tajikistan through the territory of Uzbekistan

Дата публикации: Feb 09, 2012 1:35:47 PM

PRESS-RELEASE. ON TRANSIT OF CARGOES FOLLOWING TO TAJIKISTAN THROUGH THE TERRITORY OF UZBEKISTAN

Recently, a number of news agencies referring to officials of the Republic of Tajikistan, began to redisseminate false and baseless materials on the situation on the pass through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of railroad cars with cargoes following to the Tajik territory.

Contrary to the objective facts and elementary logic, the Tajik officials continue to claim about the so-called “Delays in cargo on Uzbek territory”, which are allegedly a major cause of “negative consequences for the stability and economic security of Tajikistan”. Provocative accusations have been resumed on the so-called “Rail blockade” from Uzbekistan.

The facts and available statistics show that the statements by the authorities of Tajikistan do not correspond to reality and are baseless. In particular:

- according to official information of the customs service of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the volume of transit cargo to Tajikistan is not reduced and has a stable tendency of growth. Thus, for over 9 months 2010 the volume of freight flow by railway transport on the territory of Uzbekistan in the direction of Tajikistan made up 57,192 railroad cars with 3 094 984.7 tons of a total weight of cargo, i.e. 1780 railway coaches and 220304 tons of cargo more than the same period of 2009;

- statistics of the State Joint-Stock Railway Company “Uzbekiston Temir Yullari” also show that on the outcome of 9 months of this year the growth rate of transit cargoes’ delivery to Tajikistan accounted for 102 percent.

It should be noted that the statements of the representatives of the Republic of Tajikistan are contrary to the Tajik official statistics, according to which on the outcomes of 9 months of this year Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover increased by 3,6 percent and made up 2634,2 million US dollars. At the same time, Tajikistan’s export increased by 14 percent, the import - virtually remained at the level of last year’s index. Country’s GDP for the said period increased by 6,2 percent. Given the fact that the entire foreign trade turnover of Tajikistan is provided through the main trunk railway artery (Sogd, Dushanbe and Khatlon regions of Tajik railway company) linked to Uzbekistan, and in the case of the so-called “transportation blockade” the Tajik economy, obviously, could hardly reach the specified level. The macroeconomic indicators of development of Tajikistan testify about totally unfounded statements by the officials of Tajikistan.

The simple fact that large-scale artificial control and congestion of many trains on the territory of Uzbekistan is technically unrealizable also indicate about unfounded and contrived claims of the Tajik side. Since there is not such a huge length of local railways in Uzbekistan. This can paralyze the railways of Uzbekistan, lead to catastrophic consequences in it’s economy itself.

Given the aforementioned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan once again states the following:

1. Uzbek side, within existing bilateral and multilateral agreements, fully fulfill its commitments on transit cargo to/from Tajikistan.

2. Certain problems with delayed transit through the territory of Uzbekistan of trains with goods to Tajikistan occur only for reasons of technical, logistical problems, and are caused by big increase in traffic and the heavy workload of the railway infrastructure of Uzbekistan, the need for routine repair work on certain sections of the railway.

The increase in freight traffic is also due to accomplishments by the Uzbek side of its obligations under international agreements to ensure the passage of non-military and humanitarian goods to Afghanistan.

3. Uzbek side affirms its commitment and readiness for constructive approach of emerging problems, the search for mutually acceptable solutions through negotiations.

4. Unfounded accusations and unsubstantiated statements of Tajikistan officials addressed to Uzbekistan do not contribute to the development of good neighborly and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries, undermine the trust and mutual understanding in interstate relations.