Seleznyov: Tajikistan Should Be One Of Russia's Closest Allies

Upon arriving in Tajikistan for an official visit, State Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov announced that the country should become "one of Russia's closest allies in all areas," even though the two nations do not share a common border. On Friday he met his Tajik counterpart Saidullo Khairulloyev. According to Seleznyov, the two speakers "very thoroughly" discussed co-operation in the energy and natural resources sphere. In the near future, Seleznyov reported, two or three inter-governmental working groups would be set up to study these issues. The State Duma speaker stressed the need to increase investment co-operation and to create joint enterprises. He said that both Russia and Tajikistan were interested in this.