Tajik FM rules out return of Russian border guards to Tajik-Afghan border

DUSHANBE, July 18, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi has ruled out the renewed stationing of Russian border guards along Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan.

Hamrokhon Zarifi told  reporters today that Tajikistan and Russia are expected to sign an agreement on border cooperation during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Tajikistan scheduled for September this year.

Tajik minister stressed that the agreement did not mean that Russian border guards would return to the Tajik-Afghan border.

“This agreement stipulates border cooperation between the two countries and stay of a small group of Russian border-guard advisers in Tajikistan,” the minister said.

On the further deployment of Russian military base 201 in Tajikistan and the issue of leasing the Ayni airfield to the Russian Federation, Zarifi noted that negotiations on those subjects have been conducted since 2008 “constructively and without emotions.”

“Today there is no necessity for free deployment of foreign military bases on Tajik territory,” the minister stressed.

Commenting on rumors about deployment of the United States military base in Tajikistan, Zarifi noted that Tajikistan has never conducted negotiation with the United Sates on that issue and “such a dialogue is not expected in the foreseeable future.”

“As far as the construction of the live-fire training building at the National Training Center at Qaratogh is concerned, the construction of the center is carried out under financial support of the United States, the center itself is property of Tajikistan,” the minister said.