Askar DARIMBET
ALMATY, April 22 (THE GLOBE)
The Chinese authorities are going to redirect a significant part of the Black Irtysh, Ili and its tributary Tekes. Realization of this plan will result in serious ecological damages and economic consequences for Semirechye, Eastern and Central Kazakhstan. The leader of the �Azamat� democratic party, who is a former ambassador to China, gave an exclusive interview to THE GLOBE.
Throughout all of Chinese history the problem of land and water was one of the key strategic problems. Recently this problem has become very acute due to the complex demographic situation in this country.
The trans-Asian railway is being built in the line with the �Great Silk Road� project. The railway is to run from the Pacific Ocean to Kazakhstan border. Eleven big towns are located along it. These towns are being modernized, their structures are to be completely changed. All these facts confirm that China is preparing a jumping-off place to rush to the northern-west. This is the only possible direction for China to let out its hegemonic energy.
Central Asia has traditionally been a strategically important region, situated in the middle of Eurasia. This region was called in the historical sources �the world�s axis�. According to an ancient saying, the man who possesses the world�s axis, owns the entire world. At present, after the break of the USSR, we can watch the superpowers, USA in particular, to be interested in this territory.
Settling the problem of the bordering lands, Kazakhstan gave a part of this territory to China. Such a small area will not play a special role for China, but it may help to strengthen our relations. According to the official version, these territories are of no economic value for the republic. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers it to be the final point in the bordering issue. Actually it is just the beginning. The problem of the bordering rivers proves that. Contradicting the widely accepted international standards, even before signing the agreement on the bordering rivers, China began to build a channel from the Black Irtysh to the town of Karamai. The channel is supposed to be completed by October 1, 1999.
As it is known, the negotiations between Kazakhstan and China regarding the bordering rivers and their exploitation will be held in May. It is obvious that China will be the dominant party at these negotiations. The country will determine the conditions. China can hardly be expected to take the interests of its western neighbor in consideration.
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