Tajik ruling party responsible for completing Rogun HPP.

27/12 Tass 42

DUSHANBE, December 27 (Itar-Tass) - Completion of the construction of
the Rogun hydropower plant was among key items on the agenda of the past
congress of the ruling People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT).
Its delegates made public the election platform and nominated
candidates to the national parliament. The polls to the lower chamber of
the national parliament are scheduled for February 28 and to the chamber
of senators - March 25.
Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, the permanent leader of party since
the time of its foundation in 1999, said that "the construction site of
the Rogun HPP is becoming these days a testing place for the people's
national dignity, and party members as spiritual patrons of Rogun bear
double responsibility for this great and noble cause".
The speech by the Tajik leader is printed on Sunday on the site of the
Hovar government news agency and is widely aired by all republican
state-owned TV networks.
Rakhmon hailed the nation-wide charity movement of donations to the
completion of the mammoth station on the Nurek River, ranging from
businessmen to university students. The Tajik leader is convinced that
each "conscious and well-to-do citizen and patriot of the Homeland is
duty-bound to purchase Rogun stocks at least for 5,000 somoni (685 US
dollars). Their mass sale will be launched on January 6.
"This will help to collect around 700 mln dollars to put into
operation the first of the three stages of the giant plant and to remove
the dire shortage of power," the president emphasised.
Analysing party activities, Rakhmon noted that its role and influence
"reflect its present social status, based on the confidence of people".
-0-bur/kud