DUSHANBE, May 28, 2013, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon is currently in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on an official visit and for attending an informal summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member nations.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, State Adviser to the President for Foreign Policy Erkin Rahmatulloyev, Defense Minister Sherali Khairulloyev, Security Council Secretary Abdurahim Qahhorov, Minister of Transport Nizom Hakimov, Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources Rahmat Bobokalonov, Chairman of the State Committee on Land Management and Geodesy Mahmadtohir Zokirov, Chairman of the Committee for Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs Maliksho Nematov, Chairman of the Committee for Emergency Situations Khairiddin Abdurahimov, President of the Academy of Sciences Mamadsho Ilolov, Customs Service Head Gurez Zaripov, Communications Service Agency Head Beg Zuhurov, and Border Guards Commander Sherali Mirzo are accompanying Emomali Rahmon on his visit to Kyrgyzstan.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev on May 27 on the sidelines of the two-day Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) talks.

The two leaders made a joint statement, in which they outlined the main direction of further bilateral cooperation between their countries.

The Tajik president’s official website reports Rahmon and Atambayev have noted that further strengthening of good neighborly and allied relations meets national interests of both nations and ensures regional security ands stability in the Central Asian region.

The presidents stated continuation of joint efforts to ensure further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields.

The sides noted that completion of the process of demarcation and delimitation of Tajik-Kyrgyz border was of significant importance for further strengthening of good neighborly relations.

For the purpose of preventing incidents in border areas, the presidents ordered their governments to sign a government-to-government agreement that would prohibit from constructing economic facilities along the border until the demarcation and delimitation process is completed.

The sides also attached significance to further expansion of cooperation on issues related to rational use of water-and-energy resources and conduct of concerted water-and-energy policy.

They also underlined the necessity of active cooperation in implementing projects for construction of power transmission lines, including the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000).

The sides also pointed to the necessity of expansion of bilateral transportation cooperation as an important element of integration and strengthening of trade and economic ties.  In this connection, the presidents underlined the importance of completion of rehabilitation of the Dushanbe-Jirgatol-Karamyk-Sarytash road.

The sides also pointed to the necessity of expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz Service reports that Kyrgyzstan’s President Almazbek Atambayev noted yesterday that he and Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon have agreed to propose the construction of a major railroad when they meet on May 28 with other leaders in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).  Atambayev reportedly said the railroad would connect Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan before continuing to Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Persian Gulf.

Today, Emomali Rahmon is expected to hold talks with parliament speaker and prime minister of Kyrgyzstan.

Today evening, Emomali Rahmon will attend the informal summit of CSTO member nations.