Tajikistan International Affairs - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tajikistan Establishes Diplomatic Relations with Botswana

As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tajikistan and Botswana was signed by the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the UN, Jonibek Hikmat, and the Foreign Minister of the African Republic, Lemogang Kwape. Recently, within the framework of the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Botswana, the Tajik arts of atlas and adras, as well as the Garden festival, were recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind. Tajikistan is actively working to expand its cooperation with promising partners from friendly states.

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Agree on More Disputed Border Areas

As reported by RFE/RL, officials from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan say the two countries agreed on another 24 kilometers of the border between the two former Soviet republics after special talks on the issue were held over the past week, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said on December 5th that the talks were held in the northern town of Buston, near the Kyrgyz border. According to the Kyrgyz government, the next round of talks regarding other parts of the border will be held on Kyrgyzstan's territory on a day that is yet to be determined. In a sign of thawing relations, back on November 9th 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic announced that a further 17.98 kilometres of its border with Tajikistan had been agreed upon, with another meeting of the of topographic working groups due to be held in Batken from November 11th to17th. A long-standing source of conflict between the two nations, it is emblematic of the problem that even the length of the border - sometimes cited as being 975-kilomtres long, and at others times 972-kilomteres - is rarely agreed upon. As of January 2023, Tajikistan’s President Rahmon stated that 614-kilometres have been agreed upon, backtracking on a previously stated figure of 664. The delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border has been an issue for decades, but turned into an extremely urgent problem in recent years after several deadly clashes took place along disputed segments of the frontier. With its scant natural resources and dwindling water supplies, the border has been the scene of numerous skirmishes for many years. In 2014, all borders between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were closed indefinitely to Kyrgyz and Tajik citizens following clashes over a bypass road in disputed territory; mortars were fired and both armies suffered casualties. In the spring of 2021, trouble flared up again when an armed conflict along one segment of the border left 36 Kyrgyz nationals, including two children, dead, and 154 injured on the Kyrgyz side. The Tajik authorities officially said that 19 Tajik citizens were killed and 87 were injured during the clashes. Many border areas in Central Asian former Soviet republics have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The situation is particularly complicated around the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan meet.

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Russia and Tajikistan will Strengthen Fight Against Terrorism, Extremism, Illegal Migration

In a document published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, which was prepared by the Russian Federation, it was stated that Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will strengthen the fight against terrorism in the OSCE space. CIS countries, meanwhile, advocated “promoting a positive agenda, and openness to discussing the most difficult issues and challenges”. “We consider it important to comply with the rules of procedure and other decisions of the OSCE decision-making bodies, as well as to follow the principles of impartiality, transparency and accountability”, the statement said. In addition, the countries advocated a “commitment to a de-ideologized, pragmatic dialogue to resolve common security problems”. In particular, the authorities of these countries stated they would take measures to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the document notes. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov recently participated in a plenary meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, and held a number of bilateral contacts and a trilateral meeting with the current and future chairmen of the organization.

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EBRD Commits to Green Investment in Tajikistan

EBRD Pledges New Resources for Green Investment in Tajikistan The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is committing fresh funds to facilitating better access to green technologies and climate adaptation for businesses and households in Tajikistan, a news release on the bank's website states. The US$ 50 million Tajikistan Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF Tajikistan II), launched by the EBRD and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), will promote higher standards of energy and resource efficiency and support the country’s transition to a greener economy. GEFF Tajikistan II will encourage residential and commercial borrowers to invest in green and innovative solutions (available through the programme’s website) that promote the efficient use of water and the sustainable management of land. It will pay special attention to the country’s agribusiness sector, which employs almost half of Tajikistan’s workforce and is responsible for more than 22.5 per cent of gross domestic product. Up to US$ 13 million, including US$ 11 million under GEFF Tajikistan II, will be earmarked for three domestic financial institutions: Bank Arvand (US$ 4 million), microlenders Humo (US$ 5 million) and Imon International (US$ 4 million). With a joint base of more than 540,000 clients and operational even in remote mountainous parts of the country, the three institutions are well placed to bring much-needed green finance to even the smallest borrowers across Tajikistan. The new facility builds on the US$ 25 million Green Economy Financing Facility I (GEFF Tajikistan I), which was supported by the European Union and operational from 2019 to 2023. GEFF Tajikistan I supported more than 4,600 sub-projects. Each year, these generated over 24,000 MWh of energy savings, reduced CO2 emissions by 5,195 tonnes and cut water consumption by 5.2 million m3. GEFF Tajikistan II is supported by donor funding from South Korea, Austria and the GCF.

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Tajikistan to Connect with China’s Telecommunications Network

According to RFE/RL's report on November 17th, Tajikistan unveiled intentions to integrate with China's telecommunications network as part of efforts to enhance internet accessibility in the country, which is ensconced in mountainous terrain and lacks direct access to the sea. This move aligns with the expanding influence of Beijing in Central Asia. Despite recent progress, Tajikistan still grapples with one of the world's slowest internet services, routing all traffic through a government-controlled center. As disclosed by the state news agency Khovar, the initiative coincides with the construction of a highway linking Dushanbe, the nation's capital situated in the western region, to a town bordering China.

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Leaders of Tajikistan and Iran Deliberate on Bilateral Relations in Dushanbe

The November 8th meeting between the presidents of Tajikistan and Iran marks a significant stride toward repairing the previously strained relationship between the two nations. Held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital, the talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Ebrahim Raisi covered crucial areas of mutual interest and cooperation. Among the agreements reached during this encounter, a standout is the agreement on visa-free travel for citizens of both countries, underscoring the deep linguistic and cultural bonds that unite them. Moreover, both leaders signed memorandums of understanding focusing on transportation, the establishment of free economic zones, and collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking. This joint approach in tackling shared challenges underscores a shared dedication to bolstering the security and prosperity of both nations. President Raisi's visit is widely seen as an effort to thaw the previously frosty relations between Tajikistan and Iran. Strains emerged after Tajikistan's 2015 decision to outlaw the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, an action that Iran did not endorse. Nonetheless, the recent discussions and agreements suggest a potential pivot in diplomatic ties between the two nations. As highlighted by by RFE/RL's Tajik Service, this development could herald the beginning of a new phase in Tajik-Iranian relations.