In a statement delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York, the Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erlan Abdyldayev, noted on September 24 that Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan could provide with electricity the entire Central Asia.  

“Construction of new hydroelectric power plants in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan could allow the Central Asian countries to fully meet their requirements in electric power,” Abdyldayev said.

Concerned about his country’s electricity shortage, he called for Central Asia to reach a common understanding on the rational use of energy resources and an expeditious resolution of border disputes, according to the UN News Center. 

Continuing on the subject of the regional cooperation in different areas in Central Asia, Abdyldayev expressed concern that separate countries tried to ensure their development at the expense of other countries.

He expressed support for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which contain a number of targets that are priorities for his country, including poverty reduction, high-quality education, health care, economic growth and environmental protection.

Turning to issues of security and stability, he expressed concern about tensions in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Ukraine, and noted that terrorism, extremism and religious intolerance afflict his country, as they do so many others.  Observing that the “confrontational position of some countries” is hindering the international community’s ability to tackle those threats, he called on world powers to set aside their disputes and undertake joint efforts to counter threats to international security.

He went on to note there needs to be a General Assembly resolution on inter-religious dialogue and cooperation for peace.