Tribal Delegates Walk Out of Unification Talks

KARA-OI — The delegation of the Iradi Freedom Society walked out of unification talks at the headquarters of the UN mission here yesterday, after the Democratic Party of Irad offered the tribal regions one-third of the seats in a unified Territorial Legislature. The talks were the first direct negotiations between the two sides since the Bishkek ceasefire of 2007 and grew out of the referendum initiative proposed in 2008.

According to IAC delegates, the DPI proposals also sought state control over the mountain water catchments. Bektur Zhumabek uulu, who led the delegation, said the offer reflected neither the tribal regions' two-thirds share of the territory nor their share of the population. "The mountains were given by God to the horses and the herds, not to the stock exchanges of Talas," he said as the delegates left the hall. The Karakoyun elder Biybolot Moldosh uulu was among those who walked out with him.

A DPI spokesman said the party's proposals "remain on the table" and that seats had been apportioned according to official population figures. Other questions, including whether the El-Choro riders would be merged with the State Defense Corps, were left unresolved. UN officials said the mission remained available to both sides. No date has been set for further talks.