Five Russian schools will soon open in various cities of Tajikistan. The agreement between the two countries was signed today in Moscow. It's one of the results of Vladimir Putin's meeting with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon. In addition, the presidents agreed to create a simplified customs corridor to increase the number of fruit and vegetable shipments to Russia.
Dmitry Petrov with the details.
Our mutual trade turnover is $900 million. We're expanding our energy cooperation. Russia builds power plants and supplies oil products in exchange for southern food. Trade volumes have been growing. Today, Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon sign a whole set of bilateral documents that solidify our partnership. The spectrum of areas covered is vast: from tourism and a simplified customs regime to scientific cooperation and the development of the aluminum industry of Tajikistan.
Vladimir Putin: "There is no need to describe our relationship, as it is a truly allied relationship, in the full sense of the word, and a strategic partnership".
Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan: "Russia is a key strategic partner and ally of Tajikistan".
Almost 28,000 students from the southern republic study at Russian universities. More and more often, one can hear somebody speaking Russian in Tajikistan. The republic even invites Russian teachers.
Vladimir Putin: "It is encouraging to see the high demand for Russian higher education in Tajikistan. Russia is also promoting the study of the Russian language in Tajikistan. Today, we signed an agreement to build five Russian-language schools in Tajikistan that meet Russia's educational standards".
Tajikistan is demonstrating impressive growth rates. The new simplified customs procedures for agricultural produce between our countries will further contribute to that.
Emomali Rahmon: "These documents build the legal framework for a green corridor, thereby creating favorable conditions for the mutual supply of goods, including environmentally friendly Tajik vegetables and fruit, to the vast Russian market".
Naturally, for such a complicated region as Central Asia, security has always been a pressing issue. Moscow and Dushanbe have been cooperating in this field for more than 25 years.
Vladimir Putin: "We agreed to continue strengthening our defense, military-technical, counter-terrorism, and counter-narcotics cooperation on both a bilateral basis and within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Both of us noted the importance of the Russian 201st military base in maintaining peace and stability in Central Asia".
Another security matter (in a different region) was suddenly voiced after the briefing was over.
- Mr. Poroshenko announced that a Normandy format meeting would be held in June and that you would be attending it. Will you?
Vladimir Putin: "I do not know anything about it, nobody has discussed it with us. I don’t have it on my schedule".
Dmitry Petrov, Irina Vinogradova, and Pyotr Mamochkin Vesti, the Kremlin.
