DUSHANBE, January 27, Asia-Plus — Chairman of the Committee for Construction and Architecture, Matlub Khalifayev, told journalists Thursday [January 26] that preparation for working out a new general plan of the Tajik capital are ongoing.  

According to him, the term of the present general plan expired in 2005 but since workout of the new general plan requires serious efforts it has been decided to extend the term of validity of the present general plan of Dushanbe.  

“The Ministry of Economy and Trade is currently working out documents on economic analysis of the general plan,” Khalifayev said, noting that issues related to workout of the new general plan will be discussed at a government’s session set for January 27.  

“It is to be noted that the program takes into consideration all aspects of town-planning, including growth in population, development of infrastructure,” said “The new plan is also supposed to provide for pulling down old buildings and the construction of new residential buildings and social facilities.” 

Khalifayev noted that a number of organizations, including planning offices, are working on the new Dushanbe general plan and as it is endorsed by the government a contractor will be defined to worn on the implementation of it.  

DUSHANBE, January 27, Asia-Plus — Uzbekistan’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Community is undoubtedly a positive phenomenon, especially for ordinary people of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, local expert Rashid Ghani said in his interview with Asia-Plus. 

According to him, Uzbekistan’s admission to the Community will crate favorable conditions for solving a series of or problems, including the social ones.  

“It means that efforts will be undertaken to simplify the procedure of crossing the Tajik-Uzbek border,” said Tajik known political scientist, “It is not secret that Tajiks have many relatives in the neighboring country and Uzbeks have many relatives in Tajikistan, and cancellation of the visa regime (member nations of EAEC have visa-free regime for crossing state borders – Asia-Plus) will give an opportunity to visit each other without any delays and other problems.”

Besides, Uzbekistan’s joining the Community is expected to help solve a number of economic issues.   

“As matter of fact, Tajikistan is linked with outer world by rail communication via the territory of Uzbekistan,” said Mr. Rashid Ghani, “Now many problems of transportation of passengers and shipment of various cargoes may be solved.”  

Rashid Ghani also noted that Uzbekistan’s admission to the Community would facilitate solution of problems facing Tajikistan’s energy sector.      

            We will recall that Uzbekistan in September 2000 imposed a visa regime on Tajik citizens and later suspended the provision on visa-free transit travel between the countries that created problems for Tajik citizens.  Since the Nineties, the two neighboring republics have had no railway and air communication. 

DUSHANBE, January 26, Asia-Plus — On Thursday January 26, U.S> Ambassador to Tajikistan, Richard Hoagland, and Chairman of the State Committee



for the Protection of the State Border of Tajikistan, Saydamir Zuhurov, attended a



n official opening of new two facilities at the border crossing checkpoint facility “Bratstvo” on the Tajik-Uzbek border in Tursunzoda District.

This U.S.-funded border crossing facility is fully equipped with state-of-the-art computers and passport readers, which allows for real-time transmission of information on border crossing to all applicable Tajik agencies, as well as a dormitory, office space, and dining facilities for the assigned border guards.

 

These two module blocks – passport control facility and dormitory and housing for the assigned border guards – were constructed under financial assistance of the Government of the United States.

  

Ambassador Hoagland welcomed the impressive new facility:

 

“It”s a pleasure to see this progress and I thank all of you who helped make these improvements a reality.

 

I hope these facilities – and the professionalism of the Border Guards – are used and appreciated by many thousands of visitors to Tajikistan.”

Mr. Hoagland telling the ceremony noted that over the past twelve months alone, Tajik border troops received the U.S. aid worth US$35 million.

 

He said that such state-of-art border crossings would appear soon on the Tajik-Afghan border as well.

  

           

For his part, Tajik border service chief expressed gratitude to the United States for assistance provided to the Tajik border troops.

 

He noted that equipment of the “Bratstvo” international checkpoint facility has not yet been completed.

 

“New facilities will be built here, and works on improvement of facility for a total amount of 129,000 Somonis will continue,” Saydamir Zuhurov said.

   

           

The EXBS program coordinator Paul Shott noted that it was planned to construction 8 such checkpoint facilities for a total amount of US$9 million on Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan.

 

           

According to Parviz Sayfutdiov, chief of the “Bratstvo” checkpoint facility, some 200-300 people as well as 20-30 vehicles are proceedings daily via this checkpoint.

      

The United States has provided millions of dollars worth of inspection and detection equipment, vehicles, uniforms, and supplies to the Tajik State Border Protection Guards over the past several years.

 

The “Bratstvo” Crossing Point is the latest step in assisting Tajikistan meet international border standards to secure the territorial integrity of Tajikistan and to combat trafficking in narcotics, persons, and weapons.

 

DUSHANBE, January 26, Asia-Plus — Uzbekistan’s admission to the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) is expected to solve many problems in the region, among which is visa regime.  

Head of the State Committee for the Protection of the State Border of Tajikistan, Saydamir Zuhurov, remarked this today at a ceremony of opening of new facilities at the border crossing checkpoint “Bratstvo” (Brotherhood) on the Tajik-Uzbek border in Tursunzoda District (central Tajikistan).

“We have fraternal ties and therefore we hope that now people having relatives on both sides of the border will not be waiting for visa for months and will be able to see each other without any problems,” said the Tajik border service chief, “We expect for relief to ordinary people.”

DUSHANBE


, January 26, Asia-Plus — Senior representatives from


Tajikistan


’s Committee for Construction and Architecture gave a news conference on January 26. 

During the news conference it was noted that last year, the Committee specialists inspected some 2,000 facilities and construction sites across the republic and revealed numerous violations at more than 200 of them.  Heads of these facilities were fined a total of more than 530,000 Somonis for not satisfying requirements of town-planning and architecture.  

Matlub Khalifayev, head of the Committee for Construction and Architecture, told journalists that last year, 935 organizations in the republic were granted construction licenses, which is 208 organizations more compared to 2004.  

At the same time, inspections by the Committee specialists revealed instances when organizations were working without licenses.  “Last year, such instances were revealed at 986 construction sites throughout the republic,” Khalifayev said.  

To date, more than 1,000 organizations in


Tajikistan


have been licensed to carry out construction works, the Construction and Architecture Committee head noted.   

KULOB, January 26, Asia-Plus  — Tuberculosis continues posing serious threat to the Kulob region of Khatlon. 

Kulob Chief Sanitary Physician, Said Davlatov, has told Asia-Plus that 1,129 new cases of tuberculosis were detected in the Kulob region last year, which is 367 cases more compared to 2004.  

At the same time, he has noted that there is no reason for speaking about any TB outbreak in the region.  “With the beginning of implementation of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) program, a WHO scheme to standardize the detection, treatment and reporting of TB cases, an early diagnostic of the disease have improved,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said.  

“For example, for lack of diagnostics conditions no case of tuberculosis had been detected in Baljuvon since 2002,” said Davlatov, “But when in 2005 a TB department with all necessary equipment was opened at local central district hospital, 96 people in the district were diagnosed with tuberculosis and received intensive medical treatment.” 

He also noted that cases of TB were detected last year in all the ten districts of the Kulob region but the most serious situation was in Vose, Hamadoni, Farkhor and Kulob.  “Last year, in Vose, 294 new cases of tuberculosis were detected, in Hamadoni – 166 cases, in Farkhor – 101 cases and in Kulob – 191 cases,” the Kulob chief sanitary physician said.  

DUSHANBE, January 26, Asia-Plus – Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, has applied to the Russian Ministry of Education and Science proposing to send graduates of Russian language faculties at Russia’s teachers’ training institutes to Tajikistan by their consent to work off an agreed three-year period.  

Russian Ambassador told journalists this in



Dushanbe


on Tuesday January 24.  He added that it could allow resolving


Tajikistan


’s problem with shortage of teachers of the Russian language at schools.     

According to


Russia


diplomat, the Russian side could pay expenditures on paying their wages and other expenses, and the Tajik side will should provide the young specialists with dwelling.  

“If this suggestion is considered and endorsed, it will promote raising learning of the Russian language in


Tajikistan


,” Mr. Abdulatipov said, noting that centers for raising qualification of teachers of the Russian language  will function not only in


Dushanbe


but also in the provincial centers of


Tajikistan


.