DUSHANBE, March 20, Asia-Plus  - Speaking at a meeting with the representatives of the Tajik intelligentsia, President Rahmon has urged development, underlined the importance of linguistic knowledge  and named self-consciousness and patriotism contributing to strengthening of the national statehood.  He also hailed increase in number of independent media in the country.  

President Emomali Rahmon held a traditional meeting with representatives of the intelligentsia at Center for Strategic Studies on March 19.  First, the head of state congratulated representatives of the intelligentsia, who had come from all regions of the country on the occasion of Navrouz.  

Noting that the aim of the meeting is to discuss topical issues of socioeconomic development of the country, the head of state reminded that a series of events to celebrate the 1150th birth anniversary of the Abu Abdullo Rudaki (858-941), a meeting of heads of member nations of the Shanghai cooperation Organization (SCO), events dedicated to a Tajik Language Year, as well the third forum of the CIS scientists and creative intelligentsia and days of Russia Literature in Tajikistan will be held in Dushanbe this year.  Besides, Days of Tajik Culture will be head in seven countries across the world this year.   

The head of state underlined the importance of linguistic knowledge and use of state language in office work.  He called on administrators and intelligentsia to facilitate removing existing shortcomings in this sphere.

Emomali Rahmon stressed that division of human civilization into Western and Eastern is relative.  “They are two banks of one river,” the president said, adding that they should be mutually complementary.   

He reminded achievements of Tajik science and culture in the Soviet time.  Hundreds of thousands of books that were published that time showed contribution of Tajiks to development of world science and culture, according to him. 

He also noted that to develop the publication of magazines and newspapers, fiction and children''s literature, science and technology books and school-books, the government will allocate more funds this year for publication of books.  According to him, the first volume of a 50-volume publication “Stars of Literature” will have been printed by Navrouz.   

Rahmon also pointed to the necessity of compiling the National Atlas of the Republic of Tajikistan.   

Dwelling on a role of media, Rahmon expressed regret about insufficiency of Internet portals in the Tajik language. 

The president also pointed to the necessity of taking measures to ensure the country’s information security.  

He also hailed increase in the number of independent media in Tajikistan. According to him, the independent media have become a rostrum for discussion of the most topical problems.  “However, these discussions should not cause incitement of conflicts, regionalism, extremism and unfounded blackening,” said Rahmon.  “Media should refrain from publishing materials causing people’s distrust and breaking stability in society.”  

According to him, the government advocates journalists to reveal shortcomings in society and make proposals on how to eliminate problems in people''s lives, but criticism should be constructive and analytical.  “Unfortunately, media sometimes publish materials that are evidence of irresponsibility and short-sightedness of authors and publishers,” the president said.

The president also pointed the necessity of raising quality of education and developing and expanding new technologies.