Presidents of Russia and Tajikistan conduct negotiations

The President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has conducted negotiations with his Russian colleague Dmitry Medvedev and completed his visit in Moscow. The meeting in Kremlin turned to be very productive for both sides. Upon the results of the negotiations Emomali Rahmon and Dmitry Medvedev have signed a joint communiqué. The document contains information concerning the stable growth of trade turnover and the intention to expand the cooperation of Russia and Tajikistan in trade and economic, scientific and technical sectors. The heads of states again confirmed their interest in the construction of Rogun HPS and mini hydroelectric stations. During the negotiations sides have also discussed the fuel and energy sectors, geological explorations and the development of natural gas fields in Tajikistan.

The issue concerning the rent for the territory occupied by the Russian military base still remains open. Most likely until 2014 everything will remain as it is now. No one will pay the rent for now. Dmitry Medvedev assured Emomali Rahmon that Russia will introduce new migration rules, which will simplify the presence of Tajik migrants on the territory of Russia. Russia and Tajikistan are strategic partners. The presidents are satisfied with the results of the negotiations conducted in the mood of mutual understanding and trust. Emomali Rahmon has invited Dmitry Medvedev to visit Tajikistan with a state visit at any possibly opportunity.

Indian President visits Tajikistan

Pratibha Patil arrived with an official visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This is the first visit of Indian president in Tajikistan. The official part of negotiations was held in the new building of “National Palace.” The agenda of discussions was the deepening of economical cooperation between the two countries. The trade turnover between India and Tajikistan for the last year has totaled to 60 million dollars. The presidents are dissatisfied with such a result. They have agreed that intergovernmental commission will develop a plan of beneficial trade. Besides the issues of economical cooperation, the heads of states also discussed regional security. Pratibha Patil and Emomali Rahmon discussed the situation in Central Asian region, taking into consideration the extremist groups that have intensified their activities.

Not a single document was signed as the result of the negotiations. As it turned out, Indian President does not have sufficient credentials to sign documents on the highest level. Nevertheless, observers think that the visit of the Indian President has laid the ground for relations between the two countries. The opening of Indian-Tajik business forum is planned in the evening in the governmental residence.

Large mosque to be constructed in Dushanbe

A large mosque to be constructed in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. After the visit to the United States, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has paid a visit to United Arab Emirates, has familiarized with the project of the mosque, which was developed by Arab architects. The mosque will be able to fit 150 thousand believers. The construction of the mosque will be carried by “Adnan Safarini” company. The project will be financed by a Qatar emir. The head of state has advised the architects to use ancient Tajik ornaments and symbols, while constructing a mosque. The new mosque is not only a place for prayers, but also a large cultural and historical Islamic centre. Some halls of the mosque will be arranged specially for conducting scientific and cultural events.

Today the central mosque of Dushanbe does not fit all the believers during the Friday prayers, whereas during the holidays it is overcrowded. It is designed to fit only seven thousand people. Four times as much arrives for prayers. In total there are 17 large and 50 small mosques in Dushanbe. The Tajik Islamic High Council thinks that this is obviously not enough.

Tajik-Iranian cooperation discussed in Dushanbe

Dushanbe 06.12.2009, Stan--- a conference on Tajik-Iranian cooperation in new conditions was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Political scientists from both countries aim to define the priorities of mutually beneficial cooperation. Tajikistan has dozens of joint enterprises with Iranian capital. Iranian investors work in small and middle scale business sectors, producing food products and household appliances. In 2008 the trade turnover between the two countries exceeded 500 million dollars. Scientists say that two countries have reached the top in their relations and they don’t know where to move further. Political scientists propose serious conceptions to create efficient cooperation.

In course of 18 years, two countries have signed around 200 agreements in political, cultural and economical sectors. According to the Iranian Ambassador to Tajikistan Aliasgar Sherdust, the majority of agreements do not work. Participants of the conference think that in order to increase the effectiveness of cooperation of the two countries, it is necessary to receive advice from scientists. The reports and offers of political scientists will be given to the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe.

Cartagena summit seconds Tajikistan’s request for extension of its mine-clearance commitments

December 5, 2009, Stan -- Tajikistan has signed the 2009 Cartagena declaration “Solidarity Obligation on a Mine-free World,” according to Tajik Mine Action Center (TMAC).

The declaration was signed by participants of the Second review Conference on the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-personnel Mines that was held in Cartagena, Colombia from November 29 to December 4.

States and international and non-governmental organizations that gathered in Cartagena ten years after the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention entered into force were represented at the highest possible level and the conference was given the name “The Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World.”

Tajik delegation participating at the conference was led by Minister of Justice Bahtiyor Khudoyorov.

Delivering a statement at the conference, Khudoyorov drew attention of those present to the landmine problem on the Tajik-Uzbek border. He noted that since 1999, landmines laid by Uzbek authorities along the Tajik-Uzbek have killed 87 Tajik civilians and injured 74 more. This year, two Tajiks have been killed by mines on the Uzbek border.

Tajik minister called on international community to share Tajikistan’s concern over minefields along borders and mine explosion victims in Central Asia.

The conference adopted the Cartagena Plan of Actions for 2010-2014 and the Ottawa Convention signatory states seconded Tajikistan’s request for extension of its mine-clearance commitments for the next ten years.

The First Review Conference – the Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free World – took place in Nairobi, Kenya from November 29 to December 3 2004.

We will recall that Tajikistan signed the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on their Destruction (the Ottawa Convention) in 2000. All signatory states undertook to ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel land mines they possess, as soon as possible but no later than 10 years after signing the convention. In the case of Tajikistan, this means that the country should be mine-free by 2010.

President Rahmon holds meeting to reviews energy situation in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, December 5, 2009, Asia-Plus -- On Friday December 4, President Emomali Rahmon held a meeting to review the energy situation in Tajikistan and discuss ways to solve energy shortage problems, according to presidential press service.

The meeting participants included members of the government, heads of large enterprises and banks, chancellors of universities and chairmen of a number of cities and districts of the country.

Speaking at the meeting, the head of state called on senior representatives of president’s office, ministries, enterprises and organizations, local authorities and wealthy businessmen to show initiative at buying shares in the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP).

Rahmon named construction of new power plants and rehabilitation of existing hydropower plants as well as construction of new power transmission lines and use of energy-saving light bulbs as factors contributing to achievement of the country’s energy independence.

Minister of Finance Safarali Najmiddinov reported on the process of issuance and sale of shares in Roghun and rights of shareholders. The shares will be made available for trading on the country's stock market in 2010.

The minister, in particular, noted that they would issue the Certificates of Shares of different face values – in 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 somoni. According to him, the shares will be given out during the first days of 2010. “Enterprises and persons that will buy shares for more than 5,000 somoni will be given special inscribed Certificates of Shares,” Najmiddinov said, noting that the shares would have four degrees of protection.

President Rahmon stressed once again that only nationals of Tajikistan had the right to buy shares in Roghun, the press service said.

The meeting participants expressed readiness to buy the shares and transfer money to help Roghun’s construction.

UNHCR: Global Appeal 2010

"Alerting donors, organizations and individuals to the plight of millions of refugees and others of concern to UNHCR."

Gllobal Appeal is an agenda setting done by the UNHCR for the year of 2010 and 2011. It states its mission, strategy and basic facts of the refugee needs around the whole world. The main aim is to ensure protection of the people of concern; refugees and internally displaced people. Furthermore, it seeks partnerships and funding groups.

Visit the official webpage OR read about the agenda for Somali refugees in 2010 in PDF.

Victims of Sexual Violence

Dadaab, Kenya, November 30

Hagadera is one of three refugee camps from the complex of Dadaab in north-west Kenya. A group of women there call themselves "survivors" as they fled a conflict from their countries, mainly Somalia. Nevertheless, they are victims of sexual violence in the camp. Most of the women appeal to a special Gender and Development Office, backed by the UNHCR, which helps to empower them by training programmes. A Gender Recovery Center is due to open this month at Hagadera's hospital and will be run by the International Rescue Commitee. A similar recovery center is planned to be open in other two Dadaab's camp of Ifo and Dagahaley.

Source

Deadly Bomb in Mogadishu

BBC reports on the suicide bomb attack in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia. The attack left killed at least 22 people, including three government ministers.

The blame had been put on the Somali Islamist group 'al-Shabab'. Nevertheless, the group denied being responsible for it, accusing the government for it. Al-Shabab controls much of Mogadushu and country, and made a statement that it is not in the nature of al-Shabab to target innocent people. However, the group is the main reason why hundreds of thousands Somali citizens have fled their country since January.

Source

EU sponsors improvements on Tajik-Afghan border

Dushanbe 03.11.2009,STAN-The maintenance works of the border post “Sokhcharv”, which is located on the Tajik-Afghan border were completed. The maintenance works were sponsored by the European Union. The constructors have changed the roofing and put into operation the new housing block for the families of servicemen. The border post “Sokhcharv” is located on the border of Tajik Badakhshan with Afghan Fayzabad. The line of state border on this part is defined by the Piyanzh River banks. The border is almost open here; there are no border poles and protective wires. The border detachments are constantly on duty here.

“The border management assistance program to Tajikistan” was initiated in 2004. Since then, the European Union has provided over 25 million dollars for the maintenance works of objects on Tajik-Afghan border. The border posts play a key role in reliable protection of state border in this region. The open parts of the border can be passed by shepherds as well as drug smugglers with heroin. The EU is familiar with this situation, this is why the program of the EU is prolonger for another five years.

Tajikistan’s Public Council meets in Dushanbe today

DUSHANBE, December 4, 2009, Asia-Plus -- A session of the Public Council of Tajikistan has opened in Dushanbe today morning.

Presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, the session has brought together representatives from public associations, political parties, religious organizations, creative unions and ethnic communities.

Senior representatives of political parties and experts consider that issue related preparations for the parliamentary elections due in February 2010 will be a major topic of the session.

They added that it could not be ruled out that the issue of participation of the population and public associations in construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant (HPP) through buying shares in Roghun would also be discussed at the session.

The Public Council of Tajikistan was established in April 1996 on the basis of the Public Accord Agreement signed first on March 9, 1996 for the period of three years by pro-government political parties and NGOs in a show of support for the peace process. It was prolonged for further three years in 1999.

The Public Council now comprises representatives of state bodies, political parties, religious organizations and civil society. Seven of eight officially registered political parties of the country are represented in the Public Council. The Public Council established the Social partnership Club, which brings together some 70 representatives of the Public Council to discuss and find consensus on pressing social issues

by Rufat
The largest in Central Asia, Nurek Hydroelectric Power Station broke down. The emergency happened this morning at 6:30 AM. As a result the majority of Tajikistan’s districts are remaining without electricity: 75 percent of the country’s territories including the capital Dushanbe, strategic objects are using reserve sources, the Tajik Aluminum Company “TALKO” is one of them. There was no electricity for more than three hours, all the efforts were used to eliminate the emergency and at the moment the consequences of the emergency were partially eliminated and several objects are already receiving electricity.

The reasons of the emergency are not being announced yet. However, according to “Asia Plus” informational agency, which refers to the press-secretary of “Barki Tojik” Nozirdzhon Edgori, the country was hit by unexpected cold snaps, which have resulted in the increase of electricity consumption and which consequently resulted in the overload of power lines and subsequent automatic shut down of the entire Tajik energy system. This shut down is anticipated by the technical peculiarities of the system to avoid the emergencies on the HPS. According to Edgori: “As the energy system of Tajikistan was running in autonomous regime, outside the United Energy System of Central Asia, the power lines were overloaded, which was besides caused by the cold snaps, almost the entire country this morning woke up deenergized.