DUSHANBE, February 27, Asia-Plus – New Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to Tajikistan Abdul Wahhab ibn Zaraa today presented credentials to President Emomali Rahmonov.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting with Rahmonov, Saudi diplomat called the meeting productive and successful. According to him, the meeting focused on state and prospects of expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Ambassador vowed to boost bilateral cooperation, “which currently does not correspondent to its real potential.”
He noted that Tajikistan is an important partner for Saudi Arabia in Central Asia. According to him, during the meeting President Rahmonov had proposed to consider the possibility of opening Tajik embassy mission in Saudi Arabia that will be the first Tajik diplomatic mission to be opened in Arab states. The ambassador also noted that Saudi Arabia intends to open its diplomatic mission in Dushanbe.
Abdul Wahhab ibn Zaraa outlined economic cooperation as area of which could drive the bilateral relations between the two countries. “I will try to arrange visits of Saudi businessmen to Tajikistan in order that they could familiarize themselves with branches of Tajikistan’s economy, in which they could invest,” the ambassador said.
Asked whether they had considered issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, Saudi diplomat said that that issue had not been touched upon during the meeting.
Asked to comment on reports released by some media about the possibility of his country’s providing its air space to Israel for making air strike on Iran, Abdul Wahhab ibn Zaraa stated, “Such subject does not exist and therefore there should no be comments on it.”
