Tajikistan's priorities are power generation, food security - pres.

16/3 Tass 181

DUSHANBE, March 16 (Itar-Tass) - Tajik leader Emomali Rakhmon said
three strategic directions would be the priority for this country within
the next few years: attaining energy and food security and pulling out of
transport isolation.
Rakhmon said so as he was addressing lawmakers in the newly elected
parliament on Tuesday.
"I've instructed the government to study the programs of all the right
political parties of the republic, and work out a uniform government
program for the country's economic development on their basis.
"In the near future, the main strategic directions for Tajiksitan are
attaining food and energy security and pulling out of transport
isolation," the Tajik leader said.
He reminded in this connection that the country was building dozens of
hydroelectric power stations, including the Rogun HPP, the largest in the
region, and that foreign capital participated in the construction of
transport tunnels and modern highways.
Rakhmon acknowledged the problem of corruption in the country. "All
public forces without exception should be involved in the struggle against
this negative phenomenon. We should begin with deputies and all the
echelons of executive power including the president," he said.
The president gave a positive valuation to the parliamentary election.
"This election has shown that we've made yet another step toward creating
a democratic civil society. Just a decade ago, the political parties could
not conduct their election campaign in peace; but during the latest one
they were acting freely, competitively and openly," Rakhmon underlined.
However, the Opposition party "Islamic Revival of Tajikistan" does not
share this view. It only won two seats in the 63-mandate parliament.
Western experts said the election did not conform to the basic democratic
standards.
In the new parliament, the representatives of the People's Democratic
Party led by Rakhmon have 55 mandates.
-0-myz/gor