President warns against attempts to impose “alien models” of democracy

President Emomali Rahmonov has said the reality of the 21st century for his country means having a “balanced” relationship with the world around it. In an article published by the Russian newspaper ‘Nezavisimaya Gazeta’ outlining his vision of Tajikistan in the 21st century, Rahmonov said that while his country was not “thrusting our model of democracy” on anyone, it would not accept any “alien models...which may only worsen the situation and lead to splits, political crises and the loss of independence”. However, he stated that Tajikistan must diversify its interstate relations. “Without this, it will find itself distanced from very important political, economic, scientific and cultural processes.” On the republic’s natural resources, he warned that unless measures were taken to preserve its water resources, a difficult period would begin for all the Central Asian nations. “Everybody should realise that water is no less valuable than oil, gas, coal and other types of fuel and energy sources,” he said. “We find ourselves on the border of the Islamic and European worlds,” he stated. “Our country is moving along the road to an open society and we are certain that this is precisely the way it will be in the coming century...We see the genuine rebirth of our people, not by means of bans, but by the most favourable development for the national interests and peace of the country.”