DUSHANBE, June 24, 2008, Asia-Plus — President Emomali Rahmon today morning received visiting head of the Congress of Bukhara Jews, head of the CIS Jewish Communities’ Federation also chairman of the Israel-Russia-CIS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Levi Levayev.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Rahmon, Levayev said that in the course of the talks they had discussed the present state of Jewish community in Tajikistan. He noted that Tajiks and Bukhara Jews, an estimated 350,000 Bukhara Jews now live around the world, share common culture and language.
Touching upon the issue of Dushanbe’s last synagogue that was demolished recently, Levayev said that they are ready to finance construction of a new synagogue in Dushanbe but the final decision on that issue will be made during his next visit to Dushanbe. Scheduled for late September.
We will recall that the one-story synagogue was located in the city center, where authorities have begun construction of the Palace of the Nation — presidential complex complete with parks and fountains. The synagogue and all other old buildings in the neighborhood were demolished under the Dushanbe city administration”s urban-renewal project.
According to Mr. Levayev, they also discussed a number of economic issues, including the possibility of investment in development of Tajikistan’s economy. “I expressed readiness to consider this issue,” said Levayev, who is also chairman of the Israel-Russia-CIS Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He also noted that during his stay in Tajikistan, he intends to hold a number of talks to discuss issues related to gold and silver mining as well as production of oil and natural gas in Tajikistan.
