DUSHANBE, September 29, Asia-Plus — A roundtable meeting formally titled “The Fate of 201st Russian Military Base in Tajikistan: Independent View” was held in Dushanbe today.
Organized by the Dushanbe independent news agency, Tojnews, the meeting brought together a number of Tajik independent experts political scientists and journalists to share their opinions over state and prospects of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and Russia and further fate of the Russian military base here.
Speaking at the meeting, Tajik expert Qosim Bekmuhammad noted that relations between Tajikistan and Russia in all fields did not meet national interests of Tajikistan. According to him, Russia does not have well-defined policy in the Central Asian region and Tajik official circles not always try to protect their interests.
Chairman of the Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan, Abdughani Muhammadazimov, in particular, noted, “Tajikistan has naively hoped over the last seventeen years that Russia would assist it with construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS). Illusions disappeared after a statement made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Tashkent in January this year.”
We will recall that in late January Tajikistan handed a note to Russia”s official representative in Dushanbe expressing concern about Medvedev”s comments on the construction of hydropower stations in the region.
During a visit to Uzbekistan in January this year, Medvedev said that all plans on the construction of new hydropower stations should be approved by all the Central Asian countries.
The Tajik MFA’s note said that Medvedev”s statement contradicted Tajik-Russian agreements, including one on Russia”s involvement in the construction of the Roghun power station on the Vakhsh river.
Muhammadazimov considers that Tajikistan should raise the issue of payment for the use of a military base on its territory.
According to Tajik known journalist Rajab Mirzo, disagreements between Tajikistan and Russia began in 2004 when the Russian border troops were withdrawn from Tajikistan. He expressed confidence that all issues related to the Russian military base in Tajikistan would be solved during President Rahmon’s visit to Russia in October this year.
“Before 2001, Tajikistan itself had asked Russia to deploy a military base on its territory, but after the NATO forces entered Afghanistan a new player appeared in our regions – the United States and relations between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation began changing,” said journalist Nourali Davlatov, “However, our countries are tied by many things, and I believe Russia will make concessions to Tajikistan over the lease of its military base here.”
