DUSHANBE, June 10, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday June 9, British Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Graeme Loten, gave a press conference on relations between the United Kingdom and Tajikistan. 

Mr. Loten noted that the second week of June is the time when they traditionally celebrate the official birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and here in Dushanbe when they mark the occasion with a reception they call the Queen’s Birthday Party (this year on Friday June 13).

“This year the event coincides with the first-ever visit by a British music band to Tajikistan.  “Maroon Town” will be playing concerts in both Dushanbe and Qurghon Teppa as well as attending other events,” said Ambassador Loten.  “It is a good time to reflect on the state of relations between our two countries.”

According to him, the British team is traveling around the country getting acquainted with the people, organizations and places around Tajikistan and trying to understand better their challenges and achievements.  

DFID program has been increased this year to around $10 million in various fields, including support to the arbitration process, community development in the Zarafshon Valley, support to private sector development, regional work in HIV/AIDS and important efforts to enhance coordination with other donors and the Tajik government.  In addition DFID spent over $3 million on emergency humanitarian assistance during the past severe winter. 

The United Kingdom continues cooperation in the counternarcotics sector, its support for the European Union’s strategy in Tajikistan (notably in the field of border management on the Tajik-Afghan border), and its encouragement of the democratic process within Tajikistan, not least in its active cooperation with the OSCE Office.  

He also noted that he is pleased to say that the relationship between the Great Britain and Tajikistan remains strong.  “President Rahmon has this week sent a congratulatory message to her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her official birthday,” said Ambassador Loten.  “Both Governments are committed to finding ways to strengthen our cooperation and to do even more together to shape a better world.”    

Meanwhile, Mr. Loten noted that over the four-year period of his service as Ambassador to Tajikistan a number of British investment companies have left Tajikistan because of unfavorable investment climate in the country. 

As an example he cited Avocet Mining PLC that was engaged in gold production in the Zarafshon Valley.    

According to him, when he arrived in Dushanbe in 2004 as Ambassador, representatives of four or five British companies that were working in Tajikistan that time came to him and noted that problems of taxation, corruption and a number of other problems impede development of business in the country.  They had to leave Tajikistan and at present there is no any large British company in the country, he said.  

At the same time, Mr. Loten noted that he has noticed some changes for the better in political and socioeconomic life of Tajikistan over four years of his service as ambassador in the country. 

More restaurants and shops have appeared in the cities and new schools and hospitals have appeared in rural areas, according to him.  However, to provide further development Tajikistan ought to solve the infrastructure and energy problems, Ambassador Loten said, reminding that the country had faced severe energy shortages during the past difficult winter.    

The British Ambassador also touched upon tendencies that, according to him, could be called positive for a certain time.  He, in particular, noted that Tajik youth currently seek seasonable work in Russia, while if they had had an opportunity to work in Tajikistan, life in the country and Tajikistan’s economy would have thrived more appreciably.