Tajikistan Prez on India visit from tomorrow

New Delhi, Aug 5: Giving a big boost to India's engagement in Central Asia, Tajikistan President Emomali Sharifovich Rahmonov will arrive here tomorrow on a five-day State visit, two days after the two countries agreed to jointly combat terrorism and narcotics smuggling and impress upon all countries to deny safe haven to terrorists.

The Tajikistan President will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders on issues including energy cooperation and counter-terrorism.

Beginning his State visit on Monday with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr Rahmonov will be in the capital till Tuesday and then travel to Jaipur and Hyderabad.

He will meet Dr Singh at 1115 hrs on Monday, followed by delegation-level talks between the two countries.

The two countries wil also sign several agreements for stepping up bilateral cooperation.

This will be followed by a business meeting organised by the CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM.

Vice Pesident Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will call on him tomorrow evening.

He will also meet former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the latter's Krishna Menon Marg residence and will later call on President A P J Abdul Kalam who will host a banquet in his honour.

On Tuesday, the visiting President will give an address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)on 'Tajikistan and the Vision of Central Asia' In the afternoon he will leave for Jaipur and later to Hyderabad.

The two countries, at their Second meeting of the Indo--Tajik Joint Working Group (JWG) on Countering International Terrorism, which concluded here yesterday, condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated their commitment to further strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation. The Indian delegation at the two-day talks was led by Mr K C Singh, Additional Secretary (International Organisations) in the Ministry of External Affairs while the Tajikistan delegation was led by Mr Abdullo Uldoshev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides reviewed the developments in the respective regions and shared concern on cross-border terrorism, emphasising the importance of action by all States to deny safe haven to terrorists.

They reiterated that cooperation in combating terrorism constitutes an important part of partnership between the two countries.

''They unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reiterated their commitments to further strengthen counter - terrorism cooperation,'' a spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry said.

The two sides expressed concern on the increasing spread of narcotics in the region and agreed that this directly threatened the security of both the countries.

The JWG emphasised the strengthening of bilateral mechanisms and agreed to continue to exchange information and share experience in the fight against terrorism.

The two sides also shared concern regarding financing of terrorism in the region underlining this as crucial in the counter terrorism strategy.

To bolster capacity building the Indian side offered training courses in various aspects of counter-terrorism. The Tajik side agreed to study the offer.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in the international fora and agreed to enhance cooperation through mutual consultations.

They also urged the early finalisation of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations which India has sponsored and Tajikistan has supported.

It was agreed to hold the next session of the Indo--Tajik JWG on Counter Terrorism in Dushanbe in the first half of 2007.

''The coming visit of the Tajikistan President will oost a solid relationship between the two countries,'' a senior official of the External Affairs Ministry said. Besides cooperation in counter-terrorism, the two sides have also agreed to strengthen relations in trade and industry, transport, education, scientific and technical cooperation and tourism.

The two countries signed a protocol of the third session of the India-Tajikistan Joint Commission on Trade, Economy, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

They have agreed to strengthen relations in industrial sector and discussed cooperation in mining sector including setting up joint ventures in minerals and mines sectors.

India also extended support to Tajikistan's entry into the WTO.

UNI

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