DUSHANBE, January 29, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan should appeal to the UN Security Council over an economic blockade imposed on it by Uzbekistan, known Tajik economist Hojimuhammad Umarov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him Uzbekistan has exerted pressure on Tajikistan from the very beginning of its independence, using economic sanctions against it. “Policy of the official Tashkent is not right and it is continuing to show that it is capable of unpredictable actions,” said Dr. Umarov, “Therefore, I would call Uzbek authorities’ decision to interrupt Turkmen power deliveries to Tajikistan another evidence of existence of Uzbek economic blockade against Tajikistan.”
Umarov is sure of expediency of Tajikistan’s appeal to the UN Security Council for establishment of a special commission that would assess the volume of damage caused by Uzbekistan to Tajikistan over the years of independence.
“Part of the Roghun dam that had been built in the Soviet time already had been destroyed during the civil war in the country and many people believe that it happened not without participation of the Uzbek side,” Umarov said.
We will recall that Tajikistan has long sought an investor to complete the Roghun dam on the Vakhsh River, some 120 kilometers east of the capital, Dushanbe. Construction was interrupted by the 1992-97 civil war.
To convince international community of the truth of its word, Tajikistan should have professional an scientifically-founded position an appropriate diplomatic team, the expert said, adding that Russia should also participate in the UN special commission. “We strongly depend on the Russian Federation and participation of its representatives in the commission logical,” said Umarov, “The fact that a large number of our labor migrants currently work is enough to make us conduct safe policy towards this country as influential power in the region”
On Russian president’s comments on water policy in the Central Asian region and construction of the hydropower stations in the region, Umarov noted, “Here, there is Tajikistan’s fault as well.” “Our foreign policy is also fluctuating and sometimes, we ourselves forget that Russia is our strategic partner that has been repeatedly stated by our authorities,” the expert said.
He noted that President Medvedev’s statement made in Tashkent on January 23 was not strategic nut tactical move meeting the present interests of Russia, which realizes that Uzbekistan “is the main player in the region.”
Dr. Umarov added that the present situation, when Tajikistan has become pawn of others’ wishes [Uzbekistan’s decision to interrupt Turkmen electricity deliveries to Tajikistan], proved once again that Tajikistan should take measures to complete construction of the Roghun station and thereby overcome the energy crisis.
