DUSHANBE, April 30, – Tajikistan”s President Emomali Rahmon today suggested that a special council for national development, comprising representatives from the government, parliament and civil society, should be set up.
Addressing the sixth joint session of Tajik parliament today, Rahmon outlined the main directions of domestic and foreign policy of the country.
He named continuation of public management system reforms, development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as paying more attention to human factor and encouraging society to actively participate in development of state as main priorities.
Rahmon proposed to set up the Council for National Development. “The council participants should include representatives from the government, parliament and civil society,” the president said.
On the financial sector, Emomali Rahmon strongly criticized the current state of financial accounting and accountability that should be brought into compliance with international standards. “It is necessary to establish a single information network of tax and customs services,” the head of state noted.
Dwelling of the issue of providing loans, Rahmon pointed to the necessity of doubling loans provided to remote mountain areas. He also noted that it is necessary to speed up the work on establishing free economic zones in the country.
Noting that energy is one of priorities of the country’s economic development, the president ordered to project the energy development concept for 2007-2015.
On the agrarian sector, Emomali Rahmon named provision of food security of the country as one of the key tasks of the work in the agrarian sector.
Touching upon development of the health sector, he pointed to the necessity of drafting new laws on family medicine and medical insurance.
Addressing the session, Emomali Rahmon also dwelled on issues related to development of political parties and public associations in Tajikistan. He underlined the importance of raising role of political parties and public associations in social life. Rahmon also pointed to the necessity of improving legislative work of parliament.
“Tajikistan fulfills all its obligations on the human rights issues,” Rahmon said, noting that time has come to establish an independent institution of human rights in the country.
On Tajikistan’s foreign policy, Rahmon outlined relations with Central Asia’s countries as priorities of the country’s foreign policy. Concerning regional cooperation, the president suggested that Central Asia’s states should establish a regional economic union on an equal footing with each other.
Noting that use of water is one of factors to contribute to expansion of relations between the countries of the region, Ramon proposed to set up a regional water and energy consortium.
Rahmon noted that Tajikistan is ready to expand its cooperation with member nations of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC).
He also noted that Tajikistan has traditionally good relations with China, Western states, including the United States and the European Union’s countries, as well Afghanistan, India, Iran, Japan, Turkey, the Southeast Asian countries and the Muslim world, including Arab countries. Rahmon added that Tajikistan attaches significance for further expansion of cooperation with these countries.
He also underlined the importance of Tajikistan’s membership of the United Nations, OSCE, OIC, ECO and cooperation with international financial institutions.
