FERGANA VALLEY

On 18-24 September, the SRSG for Central Asia and Head of the UNRCCA, Mr. Kaha Imnadze, undertook a working visit to the bordering regions of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the Fergana Valley to observe the dynamics of cross-border cooperation against the backdrop of the steadily deepening collaboration among the countries of the Valley, including progress achieved following the signing of the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border agreement, and the tri-partite Khujand Declaration of March 2025.

In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, while meetings with local authorities, border services, and civil society representatives, Mr. Imnadze commended the progress achieved since the signing of the border agreement. He commended advances in physical demarcation, the development of trade and business links, and the growing cooperation between provincial and local authorities, as well as closer interaction between the border services of the two countries. Mr. Imnadze encouraged his interlocutors to build on this positive momentum by advancing confidence-building measures, deepening cooperation among local communities, and creating new opportunities for cross-border dialogue and exchange.

He also familiarized himself with the situation along the Uzbekistan’s border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, noting the constructive cooperation between the border services, and the increase in trade and population flows, as a clear indication of steadily strengthening ties between the cross-border communities.

Mr. Imnadze, welcoming the deepening cooperation across the Fergana Valley, reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to support national and local efforts to sustain dialogue, expand connectivity, and consolidate peace and stability in the region.

The visit was organized with the support of the United Nations Resident Coordinators in Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Antje Grawe; in Tajikistan, Ms. Parvathy Ramaswami; and in Uzbekistan, Ms. Sabine Mahl, whose engagement was instrumental in facilitating meetings with local stakeholders and presenting ongoing UN work in the border areas. Resident Coordinators in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan also accompanied the SRSG during the border visits and other meetings.

While in Fergana Valley, Mr. Imnadze visited UN-supported project sites in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, where he met beneficiaries and partners working to promote transboundary socio-economic cooperation, foster trust among communities and local authorities, and empower women and youth. He highlighted these efforts as tangible examples of how inclusive cooperation strengthens resilience and transforms border areas into spaces of stability and shared opportunity.

The SRSG also visited the trilateral border stele at the junction point where Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan meet - inaugurated in March 2025 as a symbol of good-neighbourliness and strengthened regional dialogue.