DUSHANBE, August 25, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Friday August 24, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon sent a telegram of congratulations to his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine, the Tajik president’s official website reports.
In his message, Rahmon, in particular, noted that “Tajik attaches significant importance to expansion of bilateral cooperation with Ukraine.” “We are sure that through joint efforts we will strengthen our partnership, which is based on solid historical traditions of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation,” President Rahmon said.
He also expressed hope for further development of relations between the two peoples “that are based on principles of equality and mutual respect for interests.”
Independence Day of Ukraine is the main state holiday in the modern Ukraine, celebrated on August 24 in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence, 1991. For the first time, the holiday was celebrated on July 16, 1991, as the first anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine accepted by Verkhovna Rada in 1990. Since the Declaration of Independence was issued later, and confirmed on the referendum of December 1, the date of the holiday was changed. Beginning with 2004, August 23 is celebrated as the Day of the National Flag, thus preparing the platform for the Independence Day celebrations.