DUSHANBE, December 1, 2012, Asia-Plus — Leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) of Tajikistan, Muhiddin Kabiri, has visited Norway as member of a delegation of leaders of Islamic parties and movements, according to IRP’s head office in Dushanbe.
On November 28, the delegation members held talks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Haque Nawaz Akhtar Chaudhry, a Pakistani-Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party and 4th Vice President (deputy speaker) of the Norwegian parliament.
In the course of the talks, the sides reportedly discuss the current situation in the Muslim world as well as the political and economic situation in Central Asia.
“Norwegian foreign minister, in particular, noted that his country is interested in participation in implementation of energy projects in the region, including Tajikistan, and stressed that this direction is one of priorities of Norway’s policy in Central Asia,” the source said.
For his part, IRP leader reportedly noted that Norway’s position on implementation of energy projects in Tajikistan meets interests of not only Tajikistan but the whole region as well.
Kabiri also pointed to the necessity of carrying out political reforms in Central Asia’s countries as soon as possible so that the region would have more contacts and ties with Europe, the source added.
The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan was founded in October 1990 and it was officially registered on December 4, 1991. It was banned by the Supreme Court in June 1993 and legalized in August 1999. Its official newspaper is
Najot
(Salvation). According to some sources, IRP now has some 25,000-30,000 members. It won two seats in the 2010 parliamentary elections. The Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is the only Islamic party registered in CIS Central Asia.
