DUSHANBE, November 3, 2010, Asia-Plus – In the course of the second session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli (Lower Chamber of the Parliament) of Tajikistan deputies have approved the law “On the state budget of Tajikistan for 2010.”
Jamshed Norinov, Deputy Minister of Finance, said that Tajik rail carrier Tajik Railways will have to repay its nearly 40mln USD debt owed to Uzbekistan.
“However, due to well-known obstacles with transit of cargoes, the Tajik Railways will not be able to repay some 11mln USD of the total debt,” he said, adding that this year’s income of the Tajik Railways made 473mln Somoni, while losses make 484mln Somoni which exceed gross income by 11mln Somoni. Tajik Deputy Finance Minister added that gross income of the Tajik Railways in 2009 made 50mln Somoni.
Deputies of the Lower Chamber have approved the idea to repay the Tajik Railways’ 11mln USD debt to Uzbekistan.
According to Moukhiddin Kabiri, deputy of the Lower Chamber, noted that relations with neighboring Uzbekistan in the field of transit of rail cargoes are deteriorating year by year. However, he stressed, that Tajikistan is still trying to avoid filing appeals to any international courts regarding this issue.
