Dushanbe and Moscow are full-fledged partners - Russian deputy PM
DUSHANBE. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Russia and Tajikistan are full-fledged partners and relations between them have been developing in a step-by-step fashion, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said.
"Tajik-Russian relations have been developing both as part of bilateral cooperation and within different multilateral formats in which Russia and Tajikistan participate," Shuvalov said at the 12th session of the Russian-Tajik Intergovernmental Commission in Dushanbe on Friday.
"We have been full-fledged partners in all of these formats and are prepared to further promote our relations," he said.
Russia is Tajikistan's major trade partner. The two countries' mutual trade fell by 3.6% to $1.29 billion in 2013 year-on-year, accounting for 19.5% of the overall volume of Tajikistan's foreign trade over that period. Exports of Tajik commodities to the Russian market stood at $123.1 million, while Russian exports to Tajikistan totaled $906.3 million.
Shuvalov said that the main goal of his visit to Tajikistan was to build upon the agreements reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Dushanbe in October 2012. At that time, Russia promised to launch duty-free oil shipments to Tajikistan (such deliveries have already begun) and ease requirements for Tajik migrant workers employed in Russia. In return, Tajikistan agreed to allow Russia's 201st military base, Russia's largest military facility abroad, to stay on its territory for another 30 years.
"Following the president's visit [in 2012], the government of the Russian Federation received instructions to implement these agreements as part of specific documents and instruments of ratification adopted by the parliaments of the two countries. We have already accomplished a certain part of this work," Shuvalov said.
Tajik Deputy Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, for his part, assured Shuvalov that "the doors to the republic remain open for Moscow."
"Russia has always been our strategic partner. Our relations rely on traditional close political, trade, economic, humanitarian and other ties, which have been developing at a rapid pace," Rasulzoda said.
When assessing the progress made in implementing the October 2012 accords, the Tajik official said that "we have accomplished a large amount of work in the past two years."
"A vivid example of our joint efforts is the development of our mutual beneficial cooperation in trade, key sectors of the economy, energy, transport, communications, investments, military, and military-technological issues. We cannot fail to note the progress made in the sphere of workforce migration," Rasulzoda said.
Russia has over 1.1 million Tajik migrant workers. In accordance with recent agreements, Russia allows them to stay on its territory without registration for 15 days (previously no more than a week) and to apply for work permits valid for up to three years (previously no longer than one year).
Shuvalov is expected to meet with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon later today.
The session of the intergovernmental commission continues at the moment.