DUSHANBE, April 15, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Change of power in Kyrgyzstan will not affect good neighborly relations between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Suhrob Sharipov, director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on April 15.

“Relations between out countries are based on bilateral and multilateral agreements,” Sahripov said.

In the meantime, Professor Abdunabi Sattorzoda, the deputy head of the Center for Strategic Studies, noted that the change of power in Kyrgyzstan could weaken Tajikistan’s positions in water-and-energy disputes between upstream and downstream countries of the Central Asian region.

“As is known, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan shared the same stance on this issue and it is natural that Tajikistan will remain alone until the situation in Kyrgyzstan is stabilized completely,” said senior expert from Tajik think tank.

However, he expressed confidence that everything would resume its normal course soon.  “Anyway, official position of Kyrgyzstan on the regional water-and-energy disputes will not change, despite the change of power,” Professor Sattorzoda said.