DUSHANBE, April 17, Asia-Plus — There are no considerable divergences in views and estimates of Tajikistan and Russia on what is currently happening on western border of the CIS, the first Deputy Foreign Minister, Abdullo Yuldoshev, told a press conference in Dushanbe on April 16, commenting on the possibility of the NATO expansion to the East.
According to him, they are thoroughly studying what Mr. Putin said at the NATO summit in Bucharest.
On the Russia’s proposal to lift economic sanctions against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the deputy minister noted that that issue concerns bilateral relations between Russia and Georgia and expressed hope that optimal solution of the problem will be found.
Asked about visa regime between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Mr. Yuldoshev said that that the issue will be solved soon.
“The issue of ceasing the visa regime with Uzbekistan should be solved in the near future,” said the deputy minister. “As far as I know, the Uzbek side has some technical difficulties. However, I believe we will get to know new information about this issue in the near future.”
We will recall that a visa regime between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan came into effect in September 2000. The new regime was put into effect in line with the agreement between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan signed by the two countries” foreign ministers in Dushanbe on May 16, 2000. The new regulation does indeed allow citizens of the two countries to visit the adjoining border districts without visas for a period of up to three days.
