DUSHANBE, May 7, Asia-Plus  -- We discussed state of Russian-Tajik relations, in particular humanitarian cooperation, Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, told journalists yesterday, following his meeting with President Emomali Rahmon.  

“The most important thing is that we reached an agreement on opening of Tajik culture center in Russia and Russian culture center in Tajikistan as well as preparation of legal documents for establishing these centers,” Russian diplomat said, noting that interregional cooperation between the two countries is expanding successfully as well. 

According to him, more than 70 agreements have to date been signed between the regions of the two countries that is evidence of continued development of friendly relations between Tajikistan and Russia.    

He added that a group of Russian officials is scheduled to arrive in Tajikistan within the next few days to consider the issue of opening of branches of a number of Russian universities in Tajikistan.  

“Besides, a delegation of Russia’s Irkutsk region is arriving in Dushanbe tomorrow or day after tomorrow to discuss cooperation issues with Tajik officials,” Abdulatipov said.  

He noted that all mentioned measures have been realized within the framework of preparation for the next Russian-Tajik parliamentary forum, which is expected to be held in Dushanbe in October this year.  

Preparation of a visit of the Russian president for participation at a summit of heads of state of member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as well as preparations for Russia-Tajik parliamentary forum and the CIS intelligentsia’s conference in Dushanbe are under way, according to him.  

            Asked about possible participation of Russia in consortium for completing construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS), Mr. Abdulatipov noted that there ought not to assess interstate relations in terms of participation or not participation in construction of that hydropower plant.  “For example, in first years of my work here, a two-way trade between our countries amounted to some $400 million, while this year, it will exceed $1 billion this year,” Ambassador Abdulatipov stressed.  

“In my opinion, the Roghun project is of importance for both Tajikistan and Russia, and Russia could participate in the project directly, through its companies, or through mechanisms of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) jointly with Kazakhstan,” said Russian diplomat.  “Participation of Russian specialists and equipment could also be named a kind of Russia’s participation in construction of this facility.”