DUSHANBE, August 29, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan and Russia intend to expand military and military-technical cooperation in future as well, a joint statement issued by President Emomali Rahmon and his Russian counterpart, President Dmitry Medvedev, In Dushanbe on August 29 said.  

“Tajikistan and Russia intend to strengthen bilateral interaction in military and military-technical fields in future as well for providing regional security,” the statement said. 

The document, in particular, noted that the Russian military base in Tajikistan is an important factor for providing regional security and stability in Central Asia. 

The presidents of the two countries confirmed readiness to provide necessary conditions for efficient functioning of the base though joint efforts.  

The leaders of the two countries attach significance to further expansion of trade-economic and scientific-technological cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia. 

The statement identified energy sector as one of priority areas of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Russia and said that implementation of the joint Sangtuda-1 hydroelectricity project and introduction the Sangtuda-1 station into full operation, scheduled for the end of 2008 – the beginning of 2009, will become an important event.  The sides also confirmed interest in implementation of other joint projects in the energy sector, including completing construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station (HPS), according to the joint statement.

The sides, in particular, noted that expansion of economic cooperation will promote further implementation of mutually beneficial projects in the fuel-energy sector, including exploration work carried out jointly with Russian state-controlled gas company Gazprom and development of natural-gas fields in Tajikistan.  

Rahmon and Medvedev also underlined the significance of expansion of bilateral cooperation in innovation, mining and metallurgy, construction, transportation, and telecommunications fields, as wells producing food products and processing farm produce.  

The document also noted that Tajikistan and Russia share similar stances on international problems and agreed to expand constructive foreign policy interaction both in bilateral forma and within regional and international organizations such as the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the United Nations and the OSCE for consolidating peace, stability and security.