DUSHANBE, May 10, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi held a number of bilateral meetings in Doha, Qatar on May 9 on sidelines of the 11th Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade, the Tajik MFA information department reported.
Bilateral and multilateral relations within regional and international organizations figured during Zarifi’s talks with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani. The two also considered issues related to the beginning of construction of Central Asia’s largest mosque in Dushanbe.
Monday afternoon, Zarifi met with Qatari Diar top manager. This company implements Qatar-sponsored projects in Tajikistan and in the course of the talks, Tajik minister pointed to the necessity of resolving issues regarding implementation of the Dushanbe projects as soon as possible.
When completed, Tajikistan will be home to the region’s largest mosque, which will be able to hold some 50,000 worshippers. According to some sources, it will include tall minarets and painted columns that are to symbolize the world and the seven gates to paradise. There will be fountains to represent Tajikistan”s large water reserves as well as a museum, library and conference halls.
We will recall that Qatar will finance the construction of Central Asia’s largest mosque in Dushanbe and the implementation of a luxury real estate project in the Tajik capital. The Dushanbe Diar project is expected to include residential towers, a five-star hotel, shopping malls, conference centers and gardens. The project is reportedly Qatari Diar”s first in Central Asia.
On the same day, Hamrokhon Zarifi met with Swedish and Portuguese foreign ministers in Doha.
11th Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade has brought together government officials, experts and other authorities from many countries of the world to address the subject of enriching the Middle East’s economic future in light of the “Arab Spring”.
