MoU Between Governments of Tajikistan and Iran is a Factor in the Development of Bilateral Cooperation

 On June 1, 2019 Tehran hosted a meeting between the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin and the Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran Javad Zarif.

Following the meeting the parties signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the methods and framework of bilateral cooperation in the field of security.

The two sides exchanged views on the expansion of bilateral political, trade, economic and cultural ties, and discussed strengthening the inter-parliamentary cooperation, especially the revitalization of the Tajik– Iranian inter-parliamentary friendship groups.

The parties noted that through the guidance of the top leadership of the two countries, existing problems will be eliminated and bilateral ties will be expanded.

Historical, cultural ties and both state’s interests necessitate the establishment and development of bilateral relations at a high level. In this context, with the spread of manifestations of terrorism, extremism, threats and challenges of the modern world, the foreign ministers of the two countries considered the importance of a collective struggle against these threats.

The importance of signing the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Methods and Framework of Bilateral Cooperation in the Field of Security,” which contributes to the expansion of collaboration between the security agencies of the two countries was likewise noted.

In accordance with the signed Memorandum, the parties further undertake to cooperate in ensuring security and combating crime in the direction of preventing seizure of power, threats against the foundations of the constitutional system, combating terrorism, extremism and their financing, suppressing illicit trafficking, weapons and explosives, fighting illegal migration, human trafficking, prevention and combating crime using information technologies, cybercrime, preventing laundering of proceeds of crime, financing of terrorism and extremism, and non-interfere in each other’s internal affairs.

The Memorandum states that the parties “prevent the activities of parties and organizations that are recognized as terrorist or extremist and refrain from providing any kind of their support and commitment.”

In this context, the Iranian side stressed that it will prevent on its territory the activities of members and supporters of terrorist and extremist groups and parties, including the Islamic Renaissance Party.

The parties also undertook to develop cooperation in the exchange of information in the aforementioned areas, to provide each other with scientific and educational materials, to take measures to conduct joint activities, to prevent illegal education of citizens in the territory of both states, to provide material and technical assistance and to use each other’s experience.

The parties stressed that the media of both sides will further continue to serve for the benefit of the national ideas and aspirations of the two countries and will contribute to the greater promotion and expansion of friendly relations.

At the invitation of President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran His Excellency Hassan Rouhani will attend the fifth meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, which will be held on June 15, 2019 in Dushanbe with the participation of heads of state of the region.

As part of the conference, the heads of two states will discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.