Day: December 29, 2021

The Kremlin says that opening the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his guests on the 30th anniversary of the CIS, and said: "The idea of establishing this organization was justified.”

In his words, integration has deepened in various areas, including security and economy. The ties that have been preserved since the Soviet times have played their positive role.

Ties that have been preserved since the Soviet era continue to play a positive role, including in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Putin added.

He noted that cooperation to overcome the pandemic was one of the main topics the CIS leaders agreed to discuss.

He also invited Russian chief sanitary officer Anna Popova to voice Russia’s proposal on the measures that the CIS countries may take together to withstand “the biological threats” now and in the future.

The CIS leaders exchanged views on topical issues of cooperation in the framework of the CIS, according to the Tajik president’s official website.

The meeting participants also discussed issues related to further expansion of economic, cultural, humanitarian and security cooperation between the CIS member nations s multifaceted, the Tajik president’s official website said.

Recall, foreign minister, presidential adviser for international relations, defense minister and some other high-ranking state official accompanied Emomali Rahmon on his working visit to St. Petersburg.

Established on December 8, 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization. It now consists of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine

On January 23, 1993, the Charter (Statutes) of the CIS was signed, setting up the different institutions of the CIS, their functions, the rules and statutes of the CIS. The Charter also defined that all countries have ratified the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS and its relevant (Almaty) Protocol would be considered to be founding states of the CIS, as well as those only countries ratifying the Charter would be considered to be member states of the CIS (art. 7). Other states can participate as associate members or observers if accepted as such by a decision of the Council of Heads of State to the CIS (art. 8). All the founding states, apart from Ukraine and Turkmenistan, ratified the Charter of the CIS and became member states of it. Nevertheless, Ukraine and Turkmenistan kept participating in the CIS, without being member states of it. Ukraine became an associate member of the CIS Economic Union in April 1994, and Turkmenistan became an associate member of the CIS in August 2005. Georgia pulled out of the organization in 2009. Ukraine ended its participation in CIS statutory bodies on May 18, 2018, following prolonged tensions with Russia

Source: Asia-Plus

The Tajik MFA information department says the parties discussed the issues of cooperation of Tajikistan with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its subsidiary institutions and ways of expanding cooperation in the framework of the OIC.

The sides also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest, including the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and mechanisms for providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

OIC’s website says the Secretary-General commended the active role played by the Republic of Tajikistan within the framework of the OIC, its support for joint Islamic action and hosting Afghan refugees.

On his part, the Permanent Representative reportedly reaffirmed Tajikistan's support for the role played by the OIC in serving Islamic causes.

Hissein Brahim Taha is a Chadian diplomat who briefly served in the government of Chad as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2017.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, formerly the Organization of the Islamic Conference, is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states. The Organization states that it is “the collective voice of the Muslim world” and works to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony.”

Source: Asia-Plus

“Taking into consideration the security situation in the region, our party board has decided that it would be better for Tajikistan to be close to Russia and join this Union,” DPT leader told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, Russia feels indecisive to a certain extent in Central Asia “despite organizations and alliances it has in the region.” “In other words, the majority of the Central Asian nations do not accept Russia’s proposals fully,” said Usmonzoda. “On the other hand, the regional security is provided by the Russian 201st military base deployed in Tajikistan. The Taliban, who now control Afghanistan, are afraid only of Russia. It is still unclear who is behind them that they were able to seize power in Afghanistan so confidently.”

“First of all, security aspects require us to join the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia to reinforce its military base in Tajikistan and provide regional security,” DPT leader said.

He also noted that labor migrants are a critical component in the economy of Tajikistan, and therefore, labor migrants should have favorable conditions and their right should be protected.

“With the accession of Tajikistan to the EAEU, our labor migrants will receive benefits, and, as a consequence, migrants’ remittances will increase,” Usmonzoda added.

He further noted that “accession to this organization does not mean that we will become a colony of another state.” “And at the same time we will be able to attract various funds from other sources and develop the economy,” Usmonzoda said

According to him, the problems that have arisen in Tajikistan today can be solved only with the help of Russia. “There are no other open doors,” DPT leader noted.

Asked whether Tajikistan’s accession to the EAEU will affect its relations with the European Union countries, China, South Asian countries and some other countries that view negatively this organization, he said, “We will continue our political and economic relations with all them on the basis of existing agreements.”

Recall, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB)’s analysts have assessed the economic effects of Tajikistan’s possible accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). According to them, the main advantages of the country’s possible joining the EAEU are expected to materialize in realization of the advantages of the common labor market and development of the country’s trade and investment potential.

The authors of an analytical report released by EDB on November 23, 2020, estimate that the annual growth rate of the nation’s economy may increase by up to 3 percentage points.

Economic Effects of Tajikistan's Accession to the Eurasian Economic Union says the high level of current trade integration with EAEU countries is one of the key prerequisites for Tajikistan’s accession to the Union.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia. A treaty aiming for the establishment of the EAEU was signed on May 29, 2014 by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, and came into force on January 1, 2015. Treaties aiming for Armenia's and Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union were signed on October 9 and December 23, 2014, respectively. Armenia's accession treaty came into force on January 2, 2015. Kyrgyzstan's accession treaty came into effect on August 6, 2015.

The Eurasian Economic Union has an integrated single market of 183 million people and a gross domestic product of over 4 trillion U.S. dollars. The EEU introduces the free movement of goods, capital, services and people and provides for common transport, agriculture and energy policies, with provisions for a single currency and greater integration in the future.

The Union operates through supranational and intergovernmental institutions. The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is the “Supreme Body” of the Union, consisting of the Heads of the Member States. The other supranational institutions are the Eurasian Commission (the executive body), the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (consisting of the Prime Ministers of member states) and the Court of the EEU (the judicial body).

Source: Asia-Plus

These additional requirements to get the work permit in Russia as well as to work in Russia reportedly apply to citizens of countries who are allowed to work without work permits. Failure to comply with them could result in not being issued a work permit.

According to some sources, fingerprinting and photography of foreign nationals who have arrived for the purpose of work shall be performed: for EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) citizens, within 30 calendar days from the date of arrival in Russia; for Commonwealth of Independent States citizens, when applying for a patent; and for highly qualified specialists (HQS), upon obtaining a work permit.

The medical examination of such foreign nationals must be performed prior to the completion of fingerprinting, but not later than 30 days from the date of arrival.

These requirements reportedly do not apply to certain categories of foreign nationals, for example, citizens of Belarus and children under 6 years old.

These requirements also do not apply to senor representatives of international (inter-state, intergovernmental) organizations entering the Russian Federation in connection with the performance of official duties, as well as members of their families.

The fingerprint registration and photography will also not be imposed for foreign nationals being chiefs of diplomatic missions, representative offices, consulates, officials, members of the diplomatic staff, consular officers, and members of administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions and consulates.

Under rules that came into force on October 31, 2021, foreign nationals entering Russia on a work visa must undergo a mandatory medical examination (for infectious diseases, HIV infection and drug addiction).

On June 23, 2021, the Federation Council approved the creation of a federal information system to collect information about the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population.

Source: Asia-Plus

Yesterday, the Committee for Tourism Development in collaboration with Khovar within the framework of the initiative of President Emomali Rahmon on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” held a scientific conference entitled “Water — The Main Source of Tourism Opportunities in Tajikistan.”

The event was attended by representatives of the Presidential Executive Office, Committee for Tourism Development, Khovar, ministries and departments, experts and specialists in the water sector, travel companies, sanatoriums, and educational institutions that train specialists in the field of tourism.

Tajikistan is rich in natural resources, its mountains are full of springs and clean water, many of which have medicinal properties. Water is the source of life and a key component of sustainable human development. In many countries, people suffer from a lack of access to clean drinking water.

Continuing the event, specialists and experts in the field of water resources read reports on water and energy resources management, tourism development, glaciers, ecological values and their central role, water with medicinal properties- one of the factors attracting tourists.

Before the conference, a photo exhibition was organized on water, interesting tourist attractions and the unique nature of Tajikistan.

Following the conference, an exchange of views took place on topical issues regarding President Rahmon’s initiative on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” and his contribution to the development of tourism.

Also, as part of the conference, the results of the republican competition for the best essays and articles on the topic of water and rural development and tourism were summed up, which was announced by the Committee for Tourism Development and Khovar.

Scientists, experts and journalists from all regions of the republic took part in the competition. The winners of the competition from Dushanbe, Khorug, Kulob and Isfara were awarded with diplomas and cash prizes.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan

Yesterday, the Director of the Drug Control Agency Habibullo Vohidzoda met with the Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov and the new head of the representation of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tajikistan Alexei Egorov.

The meeting focused on important issues of bilateral cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, as well as on regional security.

They also discussed a draft agreement between the drug Control Agency and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on cooperation and assistance in combating the trafficking of illict drug, psychotropic substances and their precursors for 2022-2024, which is currently under consideration by the parties.

Also, they got acquainted with the activities of service dogs and the demonstration of military-tactical exercises of the special operations department of the agency’s mobile unit, and well as took part in the burning and destruction of drugs.

Source: National information agency of Tajikistan