BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Kazakhstan’s Senate
has ratified a protocol amending the agreement between Kazakhstan
and Uzbekistan on checkpoints along their shared state border dated
September 4, 2006.
According to the Senate's document, the protocol provides for
upgrading the status of the Syrdarya–Malik and Tselinny–Ok Oltin
road checkpoints from bilateral (interstate) crossings to
international (multilateral) checkpoints. It also introduces
round-the-clock operations, replacing the previous daytime-only
schedule.
Additionally, the agreement expands the functionality of the two
border crossings from a restricted regime for passenger vehicles
only to cargo-passenger operations.
Under the new arrangements, the Tselinny–Ok Oltin checkpoint
will accommodate passenger vehicles, empty freight vehicles, as
well as oversized and/or heavyweight cargo and goods.
Meanwhile, the Syrdarya–Malik checkpoint will serve passenger
vehicles and empty freight transport only. Commercial cargo and
goods transportation through this crossing will not be
permitted.
According to the Senate, implementation of the protocol,
together with the ongoing modernization of infrastructure at
checkpoints along the Kazakh-Uzbek section of the state border, is
expected to ensure a more balanced distribution of transport and
passenger flows.
