“The current situation in the world should not have a negative impact on the political relations between Tajikistan and Russia.”
The sanctions imposed against Russia also have an impact on various areas of Tajikistan’s development, including social and economic aspects, the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjiddin Muhriddin told reporters in Dushanbe.
“Sanctions affect not only developing countries, but also developed countries. Therefore, Tajikistan is not an exception,” he stressed.
However, Muhriddin said that Tajikistan is actively working to strengthen trade and economic ties with Russia.
Mutual official visits over the past six months at the level of heads of government, co-chairs of intergovernmental commissions, deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers and other heads of ministries and departments, as well as investment events, have contributed to the intensive development of bilateral economic relations, says the head of the Foreign Ministry.
Sirodjiddin Muhriddin stressed that “the current situation in the world should not have a negative impact on political relations between Tajikistan and Russia.”
“Our relations with key strategic partners, including Russia, do not depend on external circumstances. We are developing these relations consistently, logically, exclusively taking into account the national interests of our country,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Khayriddin Usmonzoda told reporters that Tajikistan takes a neutral position regarding “the incident that occurred between two countries – Russia and Ukraine” and does not give preference to either side.
On August 4, at a press conference, he noted that Tajikistan pursues a pragmatic policy in the events between the two countries, and therefore this conflict had little impact on the pace of Tajikistan’s economic development.
“We are trying to strengthen relations with the countries of the region in this situation. Today, the countries of the region have brought their economic relations closer. The strengthening of economic relations between the Central Asian countries has made it possible to reduce the negative impact of events in Russia and Ukraine on the economic life of Tajikistan,” Usmonzoda said.
Khayriddin Usmonzoda rejected the weakening of Russia’s position and, consequently, the growth of China’s influence on Tajikistan after the events in Ukraine.
He stated that “Tajikistan maintains a balance with all influential countries and in this case does not give priority to any country.”
Source: Asia-Plus