DUSHANBE, September 12, Asia-Plus — Preparations for three summits that will be held in Dushanbe next month are under way, President Rahmon remarked at a meeting with journalists in Tursunzoda on September 11.   

Summit meetings of the CIS, the Collective Security Treatment Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) will be held in the Tajik capital from October 5-7. 

According to Rahmon, the CIS summit will focus on the issues related to reforming the CIS, regulating labor migration and fighting drug trafficking.  

Asked about Tajikistan’s expectations of the CIS summit, the head of state pointed out “further development of integration processes both within the CIS area and within other organizations in the post-Soviet area.”  

On Tajikistan’s relations with the Russian Federation, Rahmon noted that cooperation with Russia has been at high level.  “Our relations are trust and dynamic,” the president said, adding that repeated meetings with President Vladimir Putin and a progress of construction of the Sangtuda-1 power plant are evidence of that.  

“We have an active military-technical cooperation,” said Emomali Rahmon, “There a few unsolved issues on implementation of agreements that were signed, but these issues are gradually being solved.”  

Commenting on work to finish constructing the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS), the president reminded that the main work will start at the end of this month.  “The national budget has earmarked 30 million US dollars for this purpose,” said Emomali Rahmon, “At first we will start the work with use of national funds and then we will announce an international tender.”  

Asked about relations with Uzbekistan, he stressed that “relations with this fraternal country are assessed as good both in bilateral format and within the framework of regional organizations.”  “True there are some unsettled issues, in particular on visa regime between the two countries, but experts are currently working on this issue and I believe we will concur with the Uzbek side in this respect.”