DUSHANBE, February 13, 2009, Asia-Plus — Agreements reached during Tajik president’s six-day trip to Europe that have included talks with leaders of Latvia, Belgium, and Lithuania as well as senior officials of the European Union and NATO to this date look successful and productive, Tajik political scientist Parviz Mullojonov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
According to him, these agreements demonstrate that Tajikistan’s multivector foreign policy is becoming reality. “Therefore, there ought to consider President Rahmon’s trip to Europe within the framework of mutlivector foreign policy Tajikistan has consistently conducted over the past decade,” Mullojonov said.
“This means gradual deviation from orientation to only one country and implementation of more balanced foreign policy,” said the expert, “Russia remains main geopolitical partner of Tajikistan; but Tajikistan should move toward closer cooperation with countries of the West and the East as well.”
He further added that the multivector aspect of the country’s foreign policy had become stronger over the past two-three years that had been caused by economic reasons.
“The country has urgent needs in large-scale investment, while hope for Russian investments has becoming more and more delusive,” noted Mullojonov. “In this connection, Tajikistan has been taking efforts to intensify the West-oriented, although achievements in this direction have remained quite modest for a long time.”
We will recall that after Lithuania, President Rahmon is traveling to Estonia today afternoon.
