What goals can ultimately be pursued by Uzbekistan, and can this be seen as an attempt to achieve energy and water independence from Kyrgyzstan?

Domestic experts shared their views on this matter with "Vesti.kg".

The UNDP expert on water resources management, Taalaibek Makeyev, has stated:

 It is not necessary to say that this will help Uzbekistan avoid independence from Kyrgyzstan in water resources, he believes. "Because this is their internal reservoir, and there is no transboundariness." The water in this region is already used for the needs of the Tashkent oblast. This is a small, insignificant section of water that will work for their internal purposes. The water of Kyrgyzstan is provided for other rayons of Uzbekistan.

 With Makeyev, another international expert Edil Osmonbetov has agreed. However, the latter still sees certain disadvantages in this situation.

Of course, Uzbekistan can build any hydroelectric power stations on its territory," he said.  - The specifics in other context. The main goal of Uzbekistan is to achieve energy and water independence from the KR and from other Central Asian countries. However, the construction of such an object is a technically difficult process. Kyrgyzstan has this experience, because we have been doing this since the times of the Soviet Union. To build such an object, it takes from 5 to 10 years and huge financial costs. Now Republic of Uzbekistan is trying to build an export model of the economy. It's not so easy. Moreover, they are building 42 hydraulic structures. How can they do this, remains a question, given their internal economic problems?

As for Kyrgyzstan, for us, according to Osmonbetov, in this situation there are only advantages. Kyrgyzstan gives a free hand in this matter. This is a kind of additional argument, because in this situation we can also build our own objects.

But the consequences can affect and Kazakhstan with Tajikistan, - the expert believes. - Between the republics can create tension. Thus, this issue will hamper the formation of a common agenda for Central Asian countries.

Edil Kubatovich has suggested that the Republic of Uzbekistan is now trying to protect itself.

 It is clear that in light of pessimistic forecasts on water resources of Central Asia, according to which water will subsequently become a commodity, Uzbekistan tries to secure itself in advance, like Kazakhstan. But Uzbekistan has never rationally used water. With their monocultures, cotton - this is not an effective measure. It is quite justified, when it is done by the countries that are in the upstream. Otherwise it is just a waste of funds that could be channeled to other purposes. The best option in this situation is to switch to a mutually beneficial cooperation with partners in Central Asia, Osmonbetov has said.

Gladis Теmirchiyeva

Read more: vesti.kg