Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to arrive in Dushanbe today. Lavrov’s two-day visit will be dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Tajik-Russian diplomatic relations, which were established on April 8, 1992, Russian Foreign Ministry has said.
In the course of his visit to Tajikistan Lavrov is scheduled to meet with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and other officials.
Lavrov is expected to discuss a wide range of issues in political, economic and humanitarian sphere as well as urgent directions of cooperation in such regional structures as CIS, CSTO, EurAsEC and SCO.
“Russian diplomats are confident that Lavrov’s visit to Tajikistan will contribute to strengthening of friendly relations and strategic partnership between Russian Federation and Tajikistan,” Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Speaking at the opening of the Moscow Steel and Alloy Institute’s branch in Dushanbe on April 17th, President Rahmon called Russia Tajikistan’s main strategic partner and urged Russia to take Tajikistan’s interests into account. President noted that Russia has such things in Tajikistan it does not have in any other Central Asian country. Rahmon cited Russian 201st military base and “Okno” complex and activity of Russian border advisers as an example.
