DUSHANBE, September 12, Asia-Plus – More than 250 guests from more than 25 countries took part in the Sixth Forum of Tajiks and Persian-speaking Peoples in Dushanbe September 8.
Scientists, poets and artists such as Said Jalol Badakhshi from the United Kingdom, Masoud Mirshohi from France, Manouchehr Farhangi from Spain, Masoud Sipand from the United States, Aliasghar Sherdust from Iran and as well as well-known Tajik filmmaker and public figure Davlat Khudonazarov and others were in Tajikistan for the forum.
President Emomali Rahmonov inaugurated the forum. Addressing the forum, Rahmonov noted that it was dedicated to strengthen relationships between the Persian-speaking peoples. Tajikistan’s leader called on Tajiks and Persian-speaking peoples to more actively participate in development of Tajikistan’s economy.
Rahmonov termed Iran a powerful regional state. “Iran is a progressive and powerful state in the region, being capable of playing a significant role in development of Tajikistan and
Afghanistan.” According to him, Iran enjoys many capabilities in different sectors, especially in the industrial and technological domains.
He called on Iran to provide assistance in the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy, noting that that could ease the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.
Urging Iran to contribute to ventures, investment and trade in Tajikistan, Rahmonov noted that many Tajiks wanted “their Iranian brothers to come to Tajikistan and contribute to projects and investment in the country’s economic sector.”
In his address, President Rahmonov also called on Muslim countries to develop high technologies. ”Today, many Muslim countries help each other. However, many Muslim states, being rich in natural resources, remain behind in the development of high technologies.”
On the problems of globalization in the current world, the president noted that the globalization had both positive and negative aspects, and therefore “Muslim countries should help each other under these conditions and the relations should be candid.”
”Geopolitical games that started at the end of the 20th and in the beginning of the 21st century have affected the economies and policies in the region,” Rahmonov stated, reminding that during that period many politicians and researchers from different countries had begun attributing the activities of terrorists and extremist forces to Islam and the Muslim people. ”Our holy religion of Islam bears no relation to these challenges and threats,” Rahmonov stated.
Dialogue between civilizations must be developed to avoid clashes between religions and civilizations, Rahmonov stressed.
It was decided that an extraordinary Forum of Tajiks and Persian-speaking Peoples will be held in 2008, when Tajikistan will hold celebrations to mark 1150th anniversary of the famous poet and founder of Tajik-Persian literature Abu Abdullo Rudaki.
The First World Forum of Tajiks was held on September 9, 1992.
