Duma Speaker Arrives In Tajikistan

State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev has arrived in Tajikistan for a two-day working visit. The programme of the visit includes a meeting with the chairmen of the two houses of the Tajik parliament, Saidullo Khairulloyev and Makhmadsaid Ubaidulloyev. Seleznev is to meet Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov on Friday afternoon. According to the Tajik presidential press-service, the sides will discuss regional security issues, the developments in the post-conflict Afghanistan and the provision of the Afghan people with humanitarian aid. Upon arrival in Dushanbe, Seleznev told the press that "Russia is interested in establishing peace in Afghanistan as soon as possible." Russia is not interested in a continuation of bombings in Afghanistan, nor would it like US and NATO bases be deployed there for a long time, the State Duma Speaker stressed. On Saturday, January 12, Russian parliamentary delegates will go by helicopters to the outposts of the Moskovsky frontier detachment. Later tomorrow the State Duma Speaker plans to visit the outposts of Russia's 201st Motor-Rifle Division stationed in Tajikistan. The Speaker intends to visit the division's headquarters and a motor-rifle regiment of the this unit.