DUSHANBE, June 7, 2011, Asia-Plus — Acknowledgement of confidence-building and integration is not yet at the proper level in Central Asia and there are problems in this area that are waiting for solution.
According to the presidential press service, President Emomali Rahmon remarked this in his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on June 6.
Tajik leader stressed that there were no problems in the region that could not be solved through good will and constructive cooperation between neighboring nations. “This position concerns, first of all, water-and-energy resources issues and the main clue to this problem is cooperation,” President Rahmon stressed.
“Some 60 percent of Central Asian water resources originate in Tajikistan and we are always ready for constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation in the interest of all the countries of the region.”
In his statement, President Rahmon noted that shortage of substantial energy resources was one of factors impeding economic development of the country. Since Tajikistan is lacking its own substantial oil and natural gas reserves, it is forced to import from other countries.
“We will never leave our neighbors without water and have even offered to use water reserves of Lake Sarez to provide the population of Central Asia with water,” said Rahmon. “At the same time, Tajikistan has experienced acute electricity shortages during autumn-winter period over the last fifteen years. During six months, people have had electricity only for six hours per day, and therefore, we are sure that Tajikistan has the right to use its natural resources in full compliance with many documents of international law as a way out of this situation.”
Tajik president noted that Tajikistan’s hydropower facilities will never be operated in prejudice of other nations.
Rahmon stressed the hydropower sector was of significant importance not only in terms of providing the region with cheap and ecologically pure electrical power but also in terms using renewable sources of sustainable energy. Besides, development of hydropower sector contributes to the reduction of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, Tajik leader said.
President Rahmon noted that the European Union and its parliamentary structure could make more weighty contribution to creation of favorable atmosphere for such cooperation.
“Tajikistan expects that in the framework of its Strategy for Central Asia, the European Union will pay more attention to the issues of expanding cooperation between the countries of the region, strengthening confidence building measures, giving new impulse to development of relations and removing obstacles in the way of free movement of commodities, capital and manpower,” Emomali Rahmon said.
On June 6, President Rahmon also held talks with the European Parliament (EP) President Jerzy Buzek. They discussed bilateral relations and the need to carry out reforms in Tajikistan, the source said.
