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Asia and Oceania
Tajikistan |
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Country information
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Tajikistan continues to regard Russia as its primary partner for both economic and security co-operation, although the relationship appears to be under some strain at present, largely due to the problems over Russian involvement in the Roghun hydro-power project. Under the terms of agreements signed in October 2004, Russia wrote off around $250 million of bilateral debt in return for substantial investment in the Tajik hydro-electric and aluminium industries and continues to maintain its largest permanent overseas military base in Tajikistan.
Tajik-Uzbek relations are uncomfortable as the Uzbek Government regards Tajikistan (largely erroneously) as a haven for Islamic fundamentalists and consequently inhibits travel and economic co-operation between the two countries and regularly interrupts gas supplies to Tajikistan. Relations with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are generally good, although there are resource-related cross-border tensions at local level in the Ferghana Valley and occasional minor armed incidents on the border, the last notable one being in May 2006.
Tajikistan supported the US-led coalition that overthrew the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and enjoys good relations with Karzai's government. Given the long shared border with Afghanistan, Tajikistan remains a strategically important country in the international community's fight against drug trafficking. Tajikistan shares a common linguistic and cultural heritage with Afghanistan (and Iran) and President Rahmon hopes to develop economic and trading links with Afghanistan, not least as a means of providing Tajikistan with a new southern export route with links to the sea at Karachi.
Tajikistan has deepened its economic and political links with both China and Iran in the last year. Both countries are providing large amounts of untied aid or soft loans for construction projects. Tajikistan is a keen member of the various regional groupings - Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Commonwealth of Independent States and Eurasian Economic Community. However President Rahmon aims to pursue a balanced foreign policy and also maintains good relations with the EU and US, both of whom are major donors to development and security programmes in Tajikistan. The EU has signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Tajikistan, although not all Member States have yet ratified the document. The German Presidency of the EU prioritised relations with Central Asia and drafted an EU Central Asia strategy.
Tajikistan's Relations with the UK
Diplomatic Representation
The UK opened an Embassy in Dushanbe in December 2001. Graeme Loten has been HM Ambassador since July 2004. A Tajik Embassy opened in London in May 2008 offering a full consular and visa service.
Cultural Relations with the UK
There is no British Council presence; Tajikistan is covered by the British Council office in Tashkent who have a modest programme focussing on teacher training and assistance to the Tajik Pedagogical University.
Recent Visits
High level contact is limited.
Incoming
- Former Foreign Minister Nazarov visited the UK and met FCO and DfID Ministers in 2001, 2003 and 2006.
- Former Economics and Trade Minister Soliyev visited the UK in 2003.
- General Rustam Nazarov, Head of Tajikistan's Drugs Control Agency, visited the UK in 2004.
- General Zuhurov, then Head of the Tajik Border Guards, visited the UK in July 2006.
Outgoing
- HRH The Duke of York paid a two-day visit to Tajikistan in July 2006, during which he opened the new Embassy building and visited development projects in the area of Kurgan-Tube.
