DUSHANBE, September 23, 2013, Asia-Plus — The board (Shuro) Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament considered the issue of ratification of an agreement to extend the stay of some 7,000 Russian troops in Tajikistan at a September 23 meeting, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov.
Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says the board also discussed amendments proposed to the laws on precious stones and precious metals, public health, mineral resources and electronic coupling.
All these issues have been tabled to the agenda of a sitting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation that will take place in Dushanbe on October 1, Sultonov said.
We will recall that President Emomali Rahmon submitted the agreement on the status of the Russian military base in Tajikistan for ratification to the parliament on September 18.
Tajikistan and the Russian Federation signed the agreement on the lease for the Russian military base in Tajikistan here on October 5, 2012.
Russia’s lower house (State Duma) of parliament approved the law on ratification of the agreement on the lease for the Russian military base in Tajikistan this year on April 19 and the Federation Council (Russia’s upper chamber of parliament) passed it on April 27, 2013. President Vladimir Putin signed the federal law on the ratification of this agreement on May 7, 2013.
Moscow and Dushanbe clinched the agreement in October last year to extend the lease of the Russian military base in Tajikistan until at least 2042, with possible five-year extensions afterwards.
The agreement reportedly states that during its presence in Tajikistan, the Russian base will protect the interests of Russia and Tajikistan, ensure Tajikistan’s security jointly with Tajikistani armed forces, Russia’s own armed forces, and other troops and bodies in both countries.
To achieve these objectives, Russia will provide Tajikistan with weapons and military and special equipment in accordance with Russia’s laws on military technical cooperation with foreign countries.
The agreement regulates, in particular, the status of the Russian military base personnel, its jurisdiction and everyday work, and sets out the procedures for using the base together with Tajikistan’s armed forces.
The base was officially opened in 2004 under a previous agreement, which was signed in 1993, and hosts Russia’s largest military contingent deployed abroad.
A total of some 7,000 Russian troops are stationed at three military facilities collectively known as the 201st military base – in Dushanbe, Qurgon Teppa, some 100 kilometers from Dushanbe, and Kulob, about 200 kilometers southwest of Dushanbe.
Russia”s government has been highlighting the need for the base to remain in Tajikistan as foreign forces in Afghanistan start their drawdown next year.
