“We have to address the concerns of all countries in the region, to bear this in mind and to act to resolve any doubts, to make sure that all concerns disappear,” the Russian leader said.

“Is that possible? Yes, it is. Under what conditions? Subject to mutual understanding and increased trust, and provided that any projects that are carried out in the region benefit all countries and all the people who live in these areas,” Putin said.

“Can we achieve this? Yes, we can. How? By inviting all the parties concerned to take part in the work. I believe that in order to make those concerns disappear, all the countries in the region should get directly involved in the implementation of these projects,” Vladimir Putin said.

“We support the idea of inviting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to join the projects. The President of Kyrgyzstan and I discussed this today and yesterday, and the Kyrgyz side supports this approach. We invite our partners to participate in the collaboration. This will include participation in the management of future hydropower enterprises that we are talking about today and whose operation may cause concern,” the Russian President stated.

“President Atambayev and I have talked about it today and he said that these projects date back to the Soviet times. No one had any concerns then, bearing in mind that the projects were to be realised in a single state and there was no doubt that the state would never do anything to the detriment of some Soviet republics. What does this tell us? It tells us that if we establish the same rules for interaction and cooperation in the region, then there can be no threat from the realisation of such a project,” he concluded.

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said: “I would like to add a few technical details. Kambarata-1 was conceived as a water reservoir that would supply water in the summertime to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, because Kambarata-1 is supported by several existing hydropower stations: Shamaldy-Say, Uch-Kurgan and the famous Toktogul HPP”.

“What happens now is that when we need electricity in the winter, we drain the reservoir, and in the summer we cannot supply water to our neighbours. If we build Kambarata-1, we will be able to drain the water in the winter, and keep it in Toktogul until the spring so that we can then supply it to our neighbours. That was how it was designed to work. The Kambarata-1 HPP was conceived to address the irrigation problems in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. And if someone says something different, they just don’t know what they are talking about,” he said.

“In fact, as President Putin said, it was designed in the Soviet Union in order to solve the irrigation problems in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. And I am confident we can sit down with the neighbours and discuss all the issues,” Kyrgyz leader added.

“It is our neighbours that need Kambarata-1 first and foremost. However, we understand their concerns and we are ready to work with them. We must live in peace and be friends with our neighbours,” Kyrgyz head added.