DUSHANBE, December 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — Yesterday afternoon, President Emomali Rahmon met with representatives of Tajik creative intelligentsia and media.
The meeting that was held at the Committee for TV and radio-broadcasting lasted more than four hours.
Speaking to those present, President Rahmon mainly touched upon issues related to strategic goals of the government for achievement of energy and food security as well as bringing the country out of the transport impasse.
“When such problems arose, our ancestors were always consulting the people and jointly finding solution to them,” said the president, “During the energy crisis that has been lasting in our country for eighteen years, your word today is important as never before.”
Rahmon noted that his words about bright future of the country had been misinterpreted by some foreign media. “When I suggest the bright future I mean energy security but not “communism” or “socialism” as some unconscionable journalists reported,” said the president, “We do not want any “ism.””
On the regional problems in Central Asia, Rahmon said that the most acute problem was artificial barriers created on the way of free movement of commodities, services and people.
“I call journalists of the country for unity for the sake of vital interests of Tajikistan and I call on officials not to make any difference between state-run and private media,” said he.
On the subject of completion of construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant, President Rahmon noted that that issue was a matter of life and death for our country.
“Every winter, when energy crisis occurs in the country, I suffer together with people,” noted he. “It grieved me that newborns died in 2008 because of electricity shortages and today, the whole Tajikistan realizes the significance of Roghun.”
Rahmon further called on the intelligentsia not to stay aside from the matter of collection of funds for construction of that energy giant and purchase of its shares. “Donations to Roghun and purchase of its shares are purely voluntary affair and we do not make anybody do this.”
The president stressed that “there ought not to evoke an atmosphere that Tajikistan allegedly needs nothing but Roghun.” “Besides Roghun, we will build roads, cultural and scientific facilities, power transmission lines and many other things, however, the Roghun project remains a priority,” Rahmon stated.
The head of state noted that shares in Roghun would be made available for trading on the country”s stock market in January 2010. “The shares will be put into circulation January 6, 2010,” President Rahmon said.
According to him, the government is able to construct the Roghun HPP without donations and issuance of shares but it will take more time.
