DUSHANBE, August 29, 2008, Asia-Plus — An official visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to Tajikistan started today morning with laying a wreath at a complex to the National Unity and Revival. After that, President Medvedev went to Nations Palace, where he was met by President Emomali Rahmon.
The Tajik and Russian leaders first held bilateral talks and then enlarged negotiations with participation of the delegations of the two countries started.
State and prospects of further expansion of bilateral Tajik-Russian cooperation in different fields were major topic of the negotiations. The sides considered issues related to trade-economic cooperation, military and military-technical cooperation, as well as functioning of the Russia military base in Tajikistan.
They also discussed humanitarian and education cooperation, including the possibility of opening of branches of Moscow State University and some other Russian higher educational institutions in Tajikistan.
Besides, the sides exchanged views on the most important issues of regional policy.
The meeting resulted in signing of six cooperation documents. Rahmon and Medvedev signed a joint statement and witnessed the signing of six government-to-government agreements by representatives of the two countries.
The sides signed the following cooperation documents: an agreement on mutual protection of the right to the results of intellectual activity, used and gained in the course of bilateral military-technical cooperation; a cooperation agreement between the ministries of culture of Tajikistan and Russia; a cooperation agreement between the ministries of agriculture of Tajikistan and Russia; and an agreement between the governments of Tajikistan and Russia on establishment and activity of an international research center Pamir-Chakaltay; and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between Russia’s open joint-stock company (OJSC) Inter RAO YeES (Russian Unified Energy Systems) and Tajikistan’s of Energy and Industries in developing new energy projects in Tajikistan.
After the negotiations, Medvedev went to headquarters of the Russian military base in Tajikistan. President Rahmon is accompanying his on the visit to the Russian military base.
