Tajik, Uzbek diplomats discuss regional environmental problems

DUSHANBE, September 14, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Tajik Ambassador to Uzbekistan Muzaffar Huseinov has met with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Uzbekistan.

According to information posted on Uzbek MFA’s website, a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan Muzaffar Huseinov took place on September 12.

The sides reportedly discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.  The environmental problems and other issues being of mutual interest were in the focus of the meeting.

We will that Uzbekistan has sent a protest letter to the United Nations complaining of the environmental damage from Tajik aluminum smelter.  Uzbek media outlets report an appeal by residents of Uzbekistan’s Surkhondaryo region to the United Nations General Assembly was handed over by the Uzbek Environmental Movement (UEM) to the UNDP CO in Uzbekistan on September 6.

The appeal that was reportedly signed by more than 757,000 residents of the Surkhondaryo region, in particular, says that people have experienced the catastrophic effects of pollution of the environment by the aluminum smelter in the neighboring Tajikistan for thirty-five years.

In the meantime, TALCO has rejected allegations by the Uzbek Environmental Movement that its plant caused serious environmental damage to Uzbek regions.  TALCO top managers noted that they paid proper attention to investment in environment-friendly technology and implementation of environmental projects.

Uzbekistan also opposes the Roghun hydroelectricity project, claiming that the giant power plant project could bring catastrophic consequences. Tajik experts, however, dismiss Tashkent's warning as “baseless.”