DUSHANBE (TCA) — Belarus has called on Tajikistan to work together in the market of Afghanistan, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during his meeting with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on December 1 in the Belarusian capital Minsk, Belarus’ BelTA news agency reported.

“We have had many meetings with the leadership, business, and political elite of Afghanistan. However difficult the situation may be there, still this is a country of millions of people. They ask us to help them with technology and manufactures there. And I thought that if we set up such enterprises in Tajikistan, Afghanistan (with the participation of our people), we will be able to do it fast,” Lukashenko said.

“You could be a good consultant and guide for us because you are best informed of the situation in Afghanistan. It would be a good job if shared between the three countries,” Lukashenko added.

Lukashenko also said he will send representatives of Belarusian major companies to Tajikistan to study the possibilities for setting up new joint ventures there.

“I believe that we need something that would become a true foundation of our relations. This is, of course, the economic sector,” the Belarusian leader said. “I will send representatives of our largest companies, and we will try to set up joint ventures in Tajikistan, which will work both for the market of Tajikistan and third countries.”

The Belarusian president also said that an agreement was reached to organize a large-scale expo of Belarusian goods and to hold a business forum in Tajikistan in the near future.

“We have agreed to hold, in the near future, maybe in spring, a large-scale expo of our companies and enterprises in Tajikistan. The idea is to branch out together into the markets of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Lukashenko said.

TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoev has issued a decree emphasizing that evidence obtained under torture is inadmissible in the country’s courts, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported.

Continue reading

KABUL (TCA) — Speaking at the 7th Hearth of Asia Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan on December 1, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stressed the need for regional connectivity and cooperation in trade and transit as well as in the fight against terrorism and ensuring stability in Afghanistan and in the region, TOLOnews reports.

Continue reading

ASHGABAT (TCA) — Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on November 29 launched the construction of a new railway from the Turkmen border to the city of Turgundy in Afghanistan, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

The President called the event “historical,” adding that “we render comprehensive support and assistance to fraternal Afghan people and will continue putting all efforts that enhance the revival of the neighboring state”.

Having highlighted the decision on an increase of the volumes of energy supplied from Turkmenistan to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Berdymukhamedov greeted Turkmen railway workers who have commenced the construction of the railroad to Turgundy at the request of Afghanistan.

Turkmen road construction personnel will not only build the railway but also develop its entire infrastructure. All these will allow increasing the throughput capacity of Turgundy railway station and improving its importance for the trade turnover of Afghanistan that does not have direct access to sea. This railway will allow the country to export efficiently its production to external markets and import required foreign goods.

The railways and automobile roads will connect Turgundy, located in the Herat Province of Afghanistan, with Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat and on with Turkmenbashy Port on the Caspian Sea. The transport corridor will then be continued across the sea to Baku, Azerbaijan and farther via Tbilisi in Georgia to Ankara and Istanbul in Turkey.

DUSHANBE (TCA) — A youth network of gender champions, composed of 45 young adults, including 15 men and 30 women, was established by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on November 29.

Continue reading

BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court dealt a heavy blow to freedom of speech on November 30 by upholding three defamation rulings punishing critics for apparently insulting the “honor and dignity” of the now former President, Almazbek Atambayev, Human Rights Watch said.

Continue reading