The report said several mass media speculate over allegedly “transport blockade”, which is carried out by Uzbekistan against cargos intended to Tajikistan.

The agency said there are delays on freight delivery to Tajikistan through territory of Uzbekistan through railway due to technical problems, connected with high surge in freight turnover and overload of railway infrastructure in Uzbekistan.

The Tajik side accused Uzbekistan in violation of earlier signed legal documents in international cargo transit and tries to politicize this issue, and brought it outside bilateral format. The report said the Tajik sides statements are illegitimate and unfounded. Attempts of Dushanbe to appeal to various international organizations cause deep bewilderment.

Transportation of export and import cargoes of Tajikistan transited via the territory of Uzbekistan in three directions with target stations located in Dushanba, Kurgan-Tyuba and Sogd areas of the Tajik railroad.

The agency said there are no problems with passage of cargoes from border stations Bekabad and Kudukli to Dushanba and Sogd directions.

At the same time, there are difficulties in transit of cargoes to Kurgan-Tyuba directions, which are connected with increase of cargo flow and large load of railway infrastructure. This is connected with implementation of the Uzbek sides international agreements on transit of non-military and humanitarian freight to Afghanistan and significant growth of cargo flow and transportation volume in the first quarter of 2010.

Due to insufficient fund and technical means, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari (Uzbekistan Railways) has no opportunity to complete repair works and reconstruction of Termez-Amuzang area, which locates instable seismic zone and where large volume of mudflow observed. This situation is directly impacts passage of cargo cars to Kirgan-Tyuba directions of the Tajik railways.

At the same time, Uzbekistan currently is carrying out intensive work on ensuring intensive passage of railway cars with freights, which intended for economy of Tajikistan’s economy.

As of the mid-April 2010, over 1.298 million tonnes of transit cargo were transported, including 1.081 million tonnes to Tajikistan and 216,600 tonnes from Tajikistan. In particular, 347,800 tonnes of cargo was transported from Bekabad station to Sogd area of Tajik railway and 790,500 tonnes from Kudukli stations to Dushanba area.

The report said cargo delays negatively impacts to economy of Uzbekistan. The loss from cargo delay assessed at the size of US$3.5 million a year.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari called to ban transportation of the cargo through Termez-Amuzang area, but no ban was announced and the CIS and Baltic railway administrations continue to send railway cars to this direction.

To solve the problem, the Uzbek sides asked Tajik railway administration to change direction of cargo to other directions in line with international agreements. But the Tajik side did not answered and this issue remains open.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari undertakes all necessary measures to delivering cars and it prepared 600 cars with cargoes, which will be handed to southern regions of Tajikistan, through Kudukli station through Dushanbe directions.