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By Kamila Aliyeva

Tajikistan and Russia have agreed to cooperate in atomic energy and border security. The relevant agreements were achieved within the framework of the visit of Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Tajikistan on February 27.

Thus an agreement on cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy was signed by Farhod Rakhimov, President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Alexey Likhachev, Director General of ROSATOM, on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The deal has provided the legal basis for interaction between Tajikistan and Russia in the nuclear power sector for the first time in history while determining a wide range of cooperation areas including design, construction, operation and decommissioning of research reactors; spent fuel and radioactive waste management; rehabilitation of tailing storage areas and utilization of decommissioned uranium mining and reprocessing facilities; production of radioisotopes; use of nuclear technology in industry, medicine, agriculture; education and training of highly skilled personnel for the nuclear power industry, etc.

Besides, the agreement envisages the formation of joint coordination commission with the view of further consulting in the issues relating to the implementation of the above mentioned peaceful uses of atomic energy and search for mutually beneficial opportunities.

During the visit, Vladimir Putin awarded Tajik President Emomali Rahmon with the highest Order of the Russian Federation — the Order of Alexander Nevsky — for his “outstanding contribution to continued expansion and deepening of multifaceted bilateral relations and friendship between the peoples of Tajikistan and Russia”.

During their talks, the presidents of Russia and Tajikistan also paid special attention to the problem of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Russia and Tajikistan stressed the significance of further implementation of the accords on cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres in the interests of effectively countering challenges and threats to national and regional security.

Following the negotiations between the leaders of Russia and Tajikistan, the sides confirmed their resolve to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the struggle against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, illegal arms trade and other challenges and threats in the interests of ensuring national security and maintaining regional stability.

Furthermore, Putin has expressed his readiness to consider the proposals made by his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon, aimed at boosting bilateral educational cooperation.

Putin also mentioned bilateral trade and economic projects saying that the two countries were willing to further develop the projects.

Rahmon, in turn, said that Putin’s official visit to Tajikistan was an important step in the development of bilateral relations. The Tajik president stated that it was a good opportunity to discuss the pressing issues related to bilateral cooperation and exchange views on the current regional and global issues. "We are interested in boosting strategic cooperation with Russia which a country close to us in all respects," Rahmon added.

After his talks with President Rahmon, Putin told reporters that Tajikistan is a key country for regional security in Central Asia.

Putin said that he and Rahmon agreed to "step up joint efforts to defend the Tajik-Afghan border, using capacities of the Russian military base located in Tajikistan," RFE/RL reported.

He also said that Russian forces are based in Tajikistan "to provide security for both Tajikistan and the southern frontiers of the Russian Federation."

About 7,000 troops from Russia’s 201st Motor Rifle Division are stationed at three facilities in Tajikistan that are considered part of a single Russian base.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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