DUSHANBE, February 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — President Emomali Rahmon’s state visit to Latvia has resulted in singing of a number of bilateral documents.
Yesterday morning, Tajik leader held talks in Riga with his Latvian counterpart, President Valdis Zatlers and then enlarged negotiations with participation of the government delegation of the two countries were held.
The negotiation focused on restoration of economic cooperation that had existed between the two countries in the Soviet time, according to Tajik president’s executive office. In the course of the negotiations, the sides, in particular, pointed to the necessity of resuming cooperation between Tajikistan and Latvia in processing cotton fiber, leather and wool, as well as fruits and vegetables. The delegations also considered ways to establish bilateral cooperation on development of natural resources, water-and-energy resources as well as transportation and tourism in Tajikistan, the source said.
According to presidential press service, the negotiations resulted in signing of five documents between Tajikistan and Latvia, including a joint statement by the presidents, an agreement on avoiding double taxation and tax evasion regarding income and capital taxes, a protocol of cooperation between the foreign ministers of the two countries, an agreement on aerial communication between Tajikistan and Latvia, and a cooperation agreement between the Tajik and Latvian chambers of commerce and industry (CCIs). The agreement between the CCIs, in particular, ensures mutual exchange of information about the economic situation in both countries and about legislation regulating entrepreneurial activity and promotes exchange of visits of entrepreneurs” delegations.
In the joint statement, the presidents confirmed their mutual wish to expand bilateral cooperation between their countries and vowed to take efforts to boost mutually beneficial trade.
Rahmon and Zatlers also declared for intensification of political dialogue between Tajikistan and Latvia, expansion of the intergovernmental and inter-parliament cooperation as well as consultations on important bilateral and international issues.
Both leaders noted that Tajikistan and Latvia shared similar stances on the most significant regional and international issues.
Condemning terrorism that poses threat to peace and stability, they supported efforts taken by international community to fight international terrorism and confirmed their readiness to expand cooperation in this sphere. The sides also supported international measures to prevent drug trafficking and organized crime and noted that they would continue providing support for establishment of stability in Afghanistan and reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy in the future as well.
The presidents also underlined significance of expansion of cooperation within framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and the NATO Partnership for Peace Program in order to promote maintenance of peace and stability in the world. Latvia supported cooperation of Tajikistan with the NATO within the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).
Latvia and Tajikistan established diplomatic relations on May 11, 1994. The diplomatic cooperation between the two countries is carried out mainly through participation in international organizations. Tajikistan has not yet appointed its diplomatic representative to Latvia, whereas on April, 2007, Igors Apotkins was appointed the Latvian Ambassador to Tajikistan, although he is residing in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The economic cooperation with Tajikistan has not been very active so far, therefore closer ties between the two countries would open up new markets for the entrepreneurs, which have expressed interest about cooperation in such sectors as industrial production, energy, tourism, agriculture, construction, transport and logistics, banking, insurance and financial services.
