From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Feb 06 2002 - 11:39:29 EST
TAJIKISTAN NEWS
30 January-6 February 2002
CONTENTS
(with hyperlinks)
TAJIKISTAN
Tajik president hopes to expand economic cooperation with Iran
Source: Eurasianet, 04.02.02
Tajik-Chinese agreement on cooperation in educational sphere signed
Source: Central Asia News, Tajik Radio, BBC Monitoring Service, 02.02.02
Asian Development Bank to help develop Tajik agriculture
Source: Central Asia News, Asia Plus, BBC Monitoring Service, 01.01.02
Tajik president dissolves directorate for combating economic crimes
Source: Central Asia News, Tajik Radio, BBC Monitoring Service, 01.02.02
Iran-Tajikistan Friendship Society to be formed
Source: Central Asia News, 01.02.02
REGIONAL
Central Asia Foreign Ministers meet for regional co-operation
Source: ITAR- TASS, 05.02.02
US Set for Long Stay in Central Asia
Source: IWPR, RCA No.102, 01.02.02
EU Holds Uzbekistan Talks in Widening Central Asian Contacts
Source: Central Asia News, 30.01.02
SOURCES USED
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foregoing.
TAJIKISTAN
Tajik president hopes to expand economic cooperation with Iran
Source: Eurasianet, 04.02.02
During talks with visiting Iranian First Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsin Aminzade,
President Imomali Rakhmonov termed cooperation with Iran one of the most important
aspects of Tajikistan's foreign policy, Asia Plus-Blitz reported.
But he likewise deplored the fact that five years after the end of the Tajik civil
war the two countries have still not adopted a comprehensive program of economic
cooperation. The two men agreed that the joint Tajik-Iranian commission on trade
and economic cooperation should work more intensively and effectively. They also
discussed the planned visit to Tajikistan of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and
the situation in Afghanistan.
Tajik-Chinese agreement on cooperation in educational sphere signed
Source: Central Asia News, Tajik Radio, BBC Monitoring Service, 02.02.02
Cooperation between Tajikistan and China in various fields is expanding with every
passing year.
Another step towards deepening this cooperation was the signing of a cooperation
agreement between the two countries' Education Ministries yesterday. The agreement
defines prospects for cooperation in the sphere of education over the next few
years, a Khovar news agency correspondent reports.
The document envisages exchanging students, post-graduates and teachers between the
leading educational establishments in the two countries.
The agreement was signed by Tajik Education Minister Safarali Rajabov and the
Chinese ambassador to Tajikistan, U.Khunbin.
Asian Development Bank to help develop Tajik agriculture
Source: Central Asia News, Asia Plus, BBC Monitoring Service, 01.01.02
A mission from the Asian Development Bank [ADB] in charge of a programme for
developing the Tajik agricultural sector will arrive in Dushanbe tomorrow. The
mission will be led by the programme's senior specialist, Ashraf Malik.
A competent source told Asia-Plus that the aim of the visit was to draw up a
project to rehabilitate the Tajik agricultural sector. The ADB delegation is
expected to meet Tajik government representatives to consider and discuss
conditions for giving a credit and details of the project.
The source said that a memorandum of understanding was also to be signed, and it
would form a basis for a credit agreement. The mission will stay in Tajikistan
until 22 February.
Tajik president dissolves directorate for combating economic crimes
Source: Central Asia News, Tajik Radio, BBC Monitoring Service, 01.02.02
The president of Tajikistan has signed a decree dissolving the Tajik Interior
Ministry directorate for combating economic crimes.
The decree says: The directorate for combating economic crimes of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Tajikistan is to be dissolved, and 32 positions in the
ministry's territorial agencies in the provinces are to be cut.
The government of Tajikistan is within two months to prepare proposals on
introducing appropriate amendments and addenda to norm-setting and legal acts of
the Republic of Tajikistan in connection with the adoption of this decree, as well
as on a new plan of management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan
and on the further use of the budgetary funds saved following the dissolution of
the directorate and staff reductions in the ministry's territorial agencies in the
provinces.
Iran-Tajikistan Friendship Society to be formed
Source: Central Asia News, 01.02.02
Head of Tajikistan's Organization for Friendship and Cultural Ties With Foreign
Countries, Meisareh Kalan Ava, here Tuesday announced the prospective formation of
Iran-Tajikistan friendship society. Without giving the exact date of its
formation, she said that the articles of Iran-Tajikistan friendship society has
already been prepared and ratified by its board of directors.
She referred to the objective of forming the society as the development and
strengthening of ties, commonalties and friendship between the two Persian-speaking
nations of Iran and Tajikistan.
Meisareh Kalan Ava added, "Scholars, intellectuals, men of science and pen, poets,
authors, cultural experts, historian and literary men from both countries will be
members of the society."
She said that on the basis on the friendship agreement reached between Iran and
Tajikistan, the society will be active in organizing conferences, festivals and
arranging scientific, cultural and artistic excursions between the two countries.
Despite the common language, religion, culture, history, and customs of the two
nations, this would be the first time since the independence of Tajikistan ten
years ago that such a friendship society is being established. This is despite the
fact that Tajikistan's friendship societies have earlier been formed with all
Commonwealth of Independent States as well as China, Japan, Pakistan, India,
Afghanistan and Turkey.
Tajikistan's Friendship Society, which is a non-governmental organization (NGO) has
been active for 20 years. It is one of the most active institutions in
establishing reations with other world states, planning and materializing the visit
of a great number of Tajik experts and intellectuals to foreign countries as well
as inviting foreign cultural delegations to Taikistan .
REGIONAL
Central Asia Foreign Ministers meet for regional co-operation
Source: ITAR- TASS, 05.02.02
The foreign ministers of four Central Asian countries Tuesday discussed the issue
of replacing the Central Asian Economic Community with a Central Asian Cooperation
Organization in the Kyrgyzstani capital of Bishkek, the Interfax news agency
reported.
The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan stressed
that they will strive to put into practice the joint statement issued by the heads
of state of the four countries in Tashkent last December.
Efforts will also be made to expand cooperation among the four countries in
politics, economy and humanity and in maintaining regional security and stability.
The ministers also discussed preparations for a summit meeting scheduled for
February 28 in Alma Ata.
Kyrgyzstani Foreign Minister Muratbek Yimanaliyev told reporters after the meeting
that the reorganization of the community will help boost the development of
relations between the countries and expand their cooperation.
One of the priorities facing the planned Central Asian Cooperation Organization is
to maintain and strengthen regional security, as well as accelerate the process of
regional economic integration, said Yimanaliyev.
The Central Asian Economic Community, formerly the Central Asian Union formed by
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 1994, got its current name after
Tajikistan joined it in 1998.
US Set for Long Stay in Central Asia
Source: IWPR, RCA No.102, 01.02.02
The US has said it won't contribute to the Afghan peacekeeping force, but it is
stepping up military deployment elsewhere in the region.
The steady build up of US military muscle in Central Asia made Hamid Karzai's
recent request for Washington to play a "continuous leading role in the region"
seem rather superfluous.
The Afghan prime minister made his comments when he visited Washington earlier this
week. Although his request for the US to contribute to the peacekeeping force was
turned down, he can rest assured of an American military presence in bases inside
and outside his country.
However, while Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics may welcome US army
contingents on their territory, Moscow is growing concerned that the force,
initially welcomed for its counter terrorism potential, will become a permanent
fixture in its own back yard.
Inside Afghanistan, the US is offering to support and train a new Afghan army and
national police force, while expanding its current capacity at Bagram airbase north
of Kabul. Over the border, it is speedily building up military bases that look
likely to stay there for the long term.
While there was initial hesitation in the Central Asian republics over inviting in
the US for an extended stay, the prevalent mood now has swung in the opposite
direction. America should remain in Kabul "for as long as the war against terrorism
exists," Karzai has commented. Uzbek president Islam Karimov has likewise talked of
its presence in his country as being "open-ended".
Senior figures in the US administration have now made similar comments. During a
recent visit to Tashkent, the leader of the Democrats in the US Senate, Tom
Daschle, said the American deployment in the region would be "long-term in
character".
In the light of President Bush's State of the Union address in which Iran and Iraq
were mentioned as potential targets of the US-led war against terrorism, it is
likely that American military bases in Central Asia will be used as the launch pads
for any regional military strikes. Besides the airbase at Bagram, the US currently
has 1500 troops stationed at Uzbekistan's Khanabad airbase where runways are
currently being upgraded. There are plans to increase the number of American
soldiers at Bishkek airport. And a deal has also been closed with Tajikistan to use
government bases.
Athough Moscow had welcomed the US presence as an anti-terrorist force, it is
unlikely to continue to be as supportive if the bases prove to be permanent
fixtures. A Russian daily reporting on a visit to the region earlier this month by
foreign minister Igor Ivanov ran the headline, "The Central Asia we have lost".
Iran, predictably, is also adamantly opposed to US intentions in the region and is
already buttressing its support for its longstanding allies, the Shia Muslim
community in western Afghanistan, in an apparent attempt to destabilise the
country.
There are reports that Tehran is sending agents into the region, reportedly to lure
locals away from Karzai's ruling coalition. Indeed, there's speculation that the US
is teaming up with a 20,000-strong Pashtun tribal army keen to put a stop to Iran's
interference in the country. For the moment, the US can count on the support of
Afghanistan and the Central Asian republics, as they have an interest in seeing a
well-equipped western force in the region.
The American military presence helps their fight against Islamic groups based in
Afghan territory, who have been a persistent thorn in their sides for several years
now.
EU Holds Uzbekistan Talks in Widening Central Asian Contacts
Source: Central Asia News, 30.01.02
The European Union promised Tuesday to strengthen political and economic ties with
Uzbekistan in what diplomats said was a drive to expand contacts with Central Asia.
"After the events of September 11, we are all aware of the strategic importance of
Central Asia, including Uzbekistan," said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique
following talks with his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov.
Spain is current holder of the rotating EU presidency. A joint statement released
by the two sides said the situation in and around Afghanistan offered, "the
opportunity for renewed cooperation with Uzbekistan and Central Asia by eradicating
factors which may lead to the growth of terrorism."
Pique said, however, that the EU would "encourage" Uzbekistan to consolidate
democracy and create a full-fledged market economy.
SOURCES USED
(Please inform mitali.atal@akf.org.uk if you know of other useful online sources)
Asia Plus Blitz
http://www.internews.ru/ASIA-PLUS/blitz/index.html
Central Asia Analyst
http://www.cacianalyst.org/
Asian Development Bank
http:// www.adb.org/Documents/News/2001/nr 2001080.asp
Eurasianet
http://www.eurasianet.org/
ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/vCD/Tajikistan?OpenDocument&StartKey=Tajikistan&
ExpandView
RFERL
http://www.rferl.org/bd/ta/magazine/default.asp
Tajikistan Update
http://www.angelfire.com/sd/tajikistanupdate/news.html
Transitions On Line
http://www.tol.cz/week.html
Harvard
Central Asia mail list: CentralAsia-L@fas.harvard.edu
Institute of War and Peace Reporting
mailto:saule@iwpr.net> Website: www.iwpr.net
IRIN
mailto:irin@ocha.unon.org
Yahoo CentralAsiaNews
centralasianews@yahoogroups.com
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