DUSAHNBE, September 8, Asia-Plus - A ceremonial meeting marking the 15 ^th anniversary of Tajikistan ’s Independence was held at the “Kokhi Borbad” Complex in Dushanbe today. 

President Emomali Rahmonov, inaugurating the meeting, congratulated the people of Tajikistan on the 15 ^th Anniversary of their Independence .

He recalled that the country’s independence was legalized at the extraordinary congress of Tajikistan’s Supreme Council on September 9, 1991.  “However, the independence was realized wrong and political struggle for power began that led to civil conflict in the country that could bring to collapse of Tajikistan,” said President Rahmonov.

“Despite the fact that security in the region depended on stability in Tajikistan some countries did want peace and accord to be reestablished in our country,” Tajik leader stressed.  

Rahmonov reminded once again that it was wrong to attribute the activities of terrorist and extremist forces to any religion.  He pointed to the necessity of stopping that tendency and dangerous game.  “”We believe that the main objective of the mankind is in addressing modern challenges and threats,” Rahmonov said, noting that the Tajik people knows value of peace and stability.   

Civil war caused devastating damage to Tajikistan’s economy and social sector and threw the country back for decades.  “The damage caused by the civil confrontation to the country’s economy amounted to US$7 billion,” Rahmonov said.  “Therefore Tajikistan has decided to introduce a new economic system taking into account modern market,” the president noted.  

“Tajikistan has good potentials of development of its energy sector and transportation infrastructure, “Over the past fifteen years, Tajikistan has built railways and tunnels to reduce its isolation from the neighboring markets.” 

Rahmonov also noted that the country’s industrial sector that had been seriously damaged during the civil was developing year out.  He pointed to the necessity of taking measures to process cotton inside the country.   

“Economic development is impossible without training of qualified specialists and development of science, therefore the government pays a special attention to enhancement of these sectors,” Rahmonov said.  

He reminded that as a result of the civil war 126 schools had been destroyed, 125,000 families had been affected and 58,000 children had been become orphans, 20,000 teachers had left the country and the other part of them had become refugees.  .

Over the past several years, Tajikistan has worked out many projects to enhance the social sector, and many of them are currently being implemented.  “Over the past six years, expenses on the education sector in Tajikistan have increased approximately eight times, from 42 million Somonis in 2000 to 336 million Somonis this yea,” Rahmonov said, adding that four other projects totaling more than 250 million Somonis will be launched before 2008.  

Over the years of independence, 500 new schools have been built and 25 new higher educational institutions have been established in Tajikistan.  At present there are 1.7 million pupils and 123,000 students in Tajikistan.  Some 500 Tajik students are studying at higher educational abroad, in particular in Russia, Egypt, Australia and other countries.  

On Tajikistan’s foreign policy, Rahmonov noted that its strategy met the country’s national interests and was aimed at strengthening of stability and security in the region.  “Tajikistan has made good successes on international arena and established diplomatic relations with 111 countries of the world,” said Rahmonov, “At present Tajikistan has its diplomatic missions in 15 countries across the world and is member of 50 international organizations.” 

He stressed a decision to mark a Year of Aryan Civilization in Tajikistan had been made to study values common to all mankind.  “The people of Tajikistan was faced with a threat of losing its history, culture and language, and we today pride ourselves on the fact that Tajiks are one of ancient nations making contribution to development of the region,” Rahmonov stated, stressing that the decision to mar the Year of Aryan Civilization was not politically or ideologically motivated.  

Rahmonov also announced that ceremonies to mark the 1150 ^th anniversary of the founder of Tajik-Persian literature, Abu Abdullo Rudaki, would be held in Tajikistan in 2008.