OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General welcome ceasefire and call for continued de-escalation along Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border

WARSAW/VIENNA, 16 September 2022 – OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid welcomed the ceasefire reached between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, following reports of armed clashes and casualties on the border between the two countries.

“The recent clashes at the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are deeply troubling,” said Rau. “We express our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. We appeal to both sides to refrain from using force, commit to exclusively peaceful means to resolve pending issues, and prevent any further escalations.”

“I welcome the immediate efforts towards constructive dialogue between the two sides, encourage them to respect the ceasefire agreed on 16 September, and continue the negotiations on border delimitation and demarcation,” said Schmid. “The OSCE stands ready to assist, if requested, and I will remain in close contact with both sides.”