DUSHANBE , January 23, Asia-Plus - Sunday evening, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov returned from his official visit to Turkey .

As it had been reported earlier, President Rahmonov arrived in Turkey on Thursday [January 19] upon invitation of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

TurkishPress.com quoted Sezer''s press office as stating that bilateral relations between Turkey and Tajikistan as well as regional and international matters were discussed during Rahmonov''s meetings in Ankara .  Sezer and Rahmonov had a t?te-?-t?te meeting and chaired meetings between respective delegations of the two countries. 

According to Rahmonov’s press service, Turkish and Tajik parties also signed several agreements.  The documents included bilateral government-to-government agreements “On Partnership and Economic Cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkey ” and “On Activity of Unit for Coordination of Joint Projects of Tajikistan and Turkey .”   The parties also endorsed a long program for economic cooperation between the two countries and a plan of its implementation.  They also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the area of tourism.  Leaders of the two countries inked a Declaration “On Expansion of Bilateral Cooperation Between Tajikistan and Turkey .” 

“Enhancement of economic relations will have positive impact on cultural, scientific and educational relations,” Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was cited as saying on Thursday.  For his part, Rahmonov stressed that Turkey gives priority to its relations with Tajikistan compared to other Central Asian republics, according to TurkishPress.com.  ''''We are ready to cooperate with Turkey and develop our ties in the commercial, economic, scientific, cultural and educational areas,'''' noted Rahmonov.

Rahmonov also separately met with Turkey ’s Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  Turkish Speaker Bulent Arinc was cited as saying that he planned to visit Tajikistan in 2006. 

On Thursday, President Emomali Rahmonov of Tajikistan also laid foundation of new building of the Tajik Embassy in Ankara on Thursday.  Speaking at the ceremony, President Rahmonov said that there had been friendly relations between Turkey and Tajikistan for a long time.  He recalled that Turkey was one of the first countries recognizing Tajikistan .  The ceremony was attended also by Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials

            On Friday January 20, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov was presented with honorary doctorate by Ankara ''s Gazi University .