DUSHANBE. April 28 (Interfax) - Tajikistan has been complying with all of its agreements with Uzbekistan, regarding the cross-border movement, since April 25, said Khushnud Rakhmatullayev. spokesman for the Tajikistan State National Security Committee's Main Border Directorate.
The statement followed claims by Uzbek border guards that Tajik border guards do not let Uzbek citizens cross the contentious parts of the border, despite an agreement reached at a meeting between border officials on April 14.
"All the agreements are being fully complied with by Tajikistan," Rakhmatullayev said.
Under the agreements, Tajik border guards should allow residents from the Uzbek village of Kazarma and town of Bekabad to cross over to Tajikistan, and Uzbek border guards should allow residents of the Tajik town of Sarvak, Asht district to cross over into Uzbekistan.
"A ten-day period was granted to resolve all necessary issues concerning the implementation of the agreements on mutual border-crossing. Starting from April 25, Tajikistan has been performing the agreements," the spokesman said.
"The accusations by our Uzbek colleagues are baseless," Rakhmatullayev said.
The relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been difficult. There have been no flights between the two countries since 1992, shortly after both gained independence. In 2001, Tashkent introduced visa requirements for Tajikistan; Dushanbe quickly followed suit. Mines were planted on some sections of the 1,333-kilometer border, though 16% of its length remains non-delimited, i.e. disputable.
For this reason, the two countries often experience border incidents, sometimes involving shooting.