DUSHANBE, April 17, Asia-Plus – During his recent visit to Tajikistan, the OSCE Chairman-in-office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, met in Dushanbe with leaders of Tajik political parties.
During the meeting, Davlatali Davlatov, the first deputy head of the People’s Democratic Party (PDPT), advanced an opinion that the OSCE should pay more attention to issues of confidence building measures and strengthening of mutual understanding between Participating States of the OSCE, in particular in the Central Asian region. “It is lack of confidence that has impeded successful development of the countries of the region,” the PDPT deputy head said.
He termed use of natural resources by the countries of the region as one of arguments. “For example Tajikistan, which accounts for some 65 percent of water resources of Central Asia, uses only 5 percent of water, while efficient use of water resources of Tajikistan is one of priorities of economic interests of all countries of the region,” Davlatov said.
“High prices of hydrocarbon fuel and the fact that world reserves of coal, oil and natural gas annually decrease should make leaders of Central Asia’s states cooperate in seeking alternate power sources and ways to develop hydropower,” said the PDPT representative, “However, because of lack of confidence and mutual understanding large energy project remain unimplemented in Tajikistan.”
Minister Moratinos seconded position of Tajikistan and said that if Tajikistan initiates discussion of the problem of use of water resources at the regional level, the initiative will find understanding and support from him.
