Dushanbe. June 14. “Asia-Plus” — The fact that Tajik-Uzbek relations between Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov took place in Tashkent despite multiple pessimistic forecasts indicates that relations between these two countries may finally stabilize, Tajik expert Zulfikor Ismolien says.
He said that for the first time in the history of Tajik-Uzbek relations Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov has lauded the official Uzbekistan’s view regarding construction of Rogun hydropower plant.
“Islam Karimov promised to release freight wagons designed for Tajikistan and which remain blocked on the territory of Uzbekistan under various pretexts and this is quite pleasant, because these wagons are loaded with such vital cargoes for Tajikistan as fuel, seeds, flour and etc,” he said.
Expert is confident that Tajik-Uzbek relations are now moving forward. “The fact that leaders of the two countries have agreed to conduct intensive negotiations for improvement of Tajik-Uzbek relations, first for the past 6-7 years, is very optimistic,” Ismolien said.