On February 28, 2019, in the official residence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan, H. E. Mr. Hajime Kitaoka, the award ceremony of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun of the Emperor of Japan to Mr. Talbak Nazarov took place, according to Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe.
Mr. Nizomiddin Zohidi, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, reportedly also attended the ceremony.
The Embassy says Mr. Talbak Nazarov, being the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, made a great contribution to the development of diplomatic relations of Tajikistan with Japan. He took the initiative to open the Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe in 2002. It is also important that he contributed to the promotion of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue. Besides this, in 1998 he did a lot to investigate the murder of Dr. Yutaka Akino, who died tragically during the civil war in Tajikistan while serving as the Civil Affairs Officer of the United Nations Observer Mission in Tajikistan (UNMOT). He accompanied President Emomali Rahmon during his first visit to Japan.
During the award ceremony, Ambassador Kitaoka noted that Mr. Nazarov was at the forefront of the development of Tajik diplomacy and brought up a huge number of diplomats, who proudly call him their teacher.
In turn, Mr. Talbak Nazarov thanked the Japanese Government and people for the honor and reward. He noted the importance of strengthening the friendly relations between two countries, which were established under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan in the most difficult times for Tajikistan and have existed for over twenty five years.
The Order of the Rising Sun is the first national order of Japan, which was introduced by the State Council of Japan on April 10, 1875. Order is awarded to Japanese and foreigners. This is the first time when Tajik citizen was honored with The Order.
Mr. Talbak Nazarov serves as a Doctor of Economics, Professor and Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Starting as a University lecturer in 1960, Mr. Talbak has contributed to the development of Tajik professional cadres in economics and in particular – in the area of finances. He served as a Head of the Chair for Finances and Credit and as a Dean of the Faculty of Economics and from 1982 to 1988 as the Rector of Tajik National University. He has been an Independent Director of OJSC Agroinvestbank since April 2007. Afterwards he worked in the Government of Tajikistan as the Minister of Education from 1988 to 1990, the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the State Planning Commission of the Republic from 1990 to 1991 and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan from 1994 to 2006. Mr. Talbak Nazarov contributed to the successful conclusion of the General Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and National Accord in Tajikistan since 1997 which put an end to the civil war in the country. Mr. Talbak has a strong academic background; in 1960, he graduated from Leningrad Institute of Economics and Finances.
