DUSHANBE, September 22, 2008, Asia-Plus — A roundtable meeting to discuss reality of existence of multiparty system in Tajikistan was held in Tajik Journalists’ Union in Dushanbe on September 20.
The meeting, organized by the public association
Journalist
and the Dushanbe weekly
Jomea
(Society), brought together representatives from the People’s Democratic (PDPT), Democratic (DPT), Social-Democratic (SDPT), Islamic Revival (IRPT) and Communist (CPT) parties as well as representatives of the National Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan and media.
According to Abdughani Mamadazimov, head of the National Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan, the multiparty system had existed in the country even before acquisition of independence. “In August 1990 already, the Democratic Party of Tajikistan was founded and began functioning in the country along with the Communist Party,” Mamadazimov said.
On the present situation in the country, he noted that besides the fact that eight politically parties now officially function in the country, two other factors prove the reality of existence of the multiparty system in the Tajikistan. “Firstly, three political parties, including PDPT, CPT and IRPT, are represented in parliament and secondly, political parties have their organizations in all regions of the country,” Mamadazimov said.
The SDPT leader Rahmatillo Zoirov noted that the discussed issue is very important and stressed that existence of a number of political parties does no reflect the reality of existence of multiparty system in the country. “I, as party leader, do not see competition between political parties,” said Zoirov, “We compete mainly with state institutions.”
According to him, if authorities had not interfered in relations between the ruling PDPT and other parties, a two- or three-party model, consisting of equally strong parties, might have been formed in Tajikistan.
This meeting was the first of a series of regular political meetings, which are held under financial support of the British Embassy in Dushanbe.
