DUSHANBE, October 3, 2012, Asia-Plus — A roundtable entitled “Russia and Tajikistan in the Context of Eurasian Integration” is taking place at the international multimedia press center of RIA Novosti in Moscow today.
RIA Novosti reports the meeting is dedicated to the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Tajikistan.
The meeting is expected to consider a number of issues related to the possible large-scale investment in development of Tajikistan’s economy, projects of joint development of Russia and Tajikistan, prospects of establishment of the Russian Corporation for Cooperation with Central Asia’s Countries proposed by Russian drug control chief Viktor Ivanov, and Tajikistan’s joining the Customs Union and later the Eurasian Union.
The meeting participants will also discussed the problems of illegal migration from Tajikistan to Russia, smuggling narcotics out of Afghanistan into Russia via Tajikistan’s territory as well as issue related to regional security connected with deployment of a network of military bases in Afghanistan and the region after the withdrawal of the main part of the U.S. troops and the NATO contingent from Afghanistan.
We will recall that Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive in Tajikistan on an official visit on October 4.
Bilateral political, economic and humanitarian cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia will figure in Russian president’s discussions with high-ranking Tajik state officials. The sides are also expected to consider cooperation within integration unions and exchange views on regional problems.
Meanwhile, the source in the Tajik government says the sides intend to sign a government-to-government plan “On Modernization of Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan, under which Russia will assist Tajikistan with modernization of its armed forces.
The source also noted that it could not be ruled out that the sides would sign an agreement, under which Tajik nationals may stay in Russia without registration during 15 days also and vice versa, and a government-to-government agreement on restoration of the tax-free status for the Russian oil products exported to Tajikistan is expected to be raised at the meeting, the source said.
“Besides, issues related to writing off Tajikistan’s debts to OJSC Sangtudinskaya GES-1, which operates the Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant in Tajikistan,” the source said, adding that the Russian side would also be offered to participate in construction of small and medium-sized hydropower plants in Tajikistan.
