DUSHANBE , May 8, Asia-Plus - On Saturday May 6, President Rahmonov met with a group of Tajik veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and labor from various regions of the country.   

According to information from presidential press service, more than 20 veterans attended that meeting.   Addressing the veterans Rahmonov congratulated them on a Victory Day.  He noted that that war had been a hard ordeal for peoples of 40 countries of the world and it had killed 50 million people. 

Rahmonov noted that 54 representatives from Tajikistan had been given a title of the Hero of the Soviet Union and 15 others had become full holders of the Glory Order. 

In total, 250,000 people from Tajikistan participated in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945; of them, more than 90,000 servicemen died in that war.  

Telling the meeting Rahmonov noted that modern challenges and threats had become terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational crime and international community should combine efforts to address these challenges and threats.  “ Tajikistan is against any manifestations of racism and ideas of chauvinism,” President Rahmonov stressed.

Head of state noted that the country’s leadership was doing all in its power for improving living standards of the war veterans living in the republic.  According to him, not less than 6,000 veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 11941-1945 are currently living in Tajikistan .  Beginning on May 1, presidential pension of 100 Somonis (more than US$30.00) a month is added to the pension of the veterans and invalids of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.  

At the conclusion of the meeting President Rahmonov handed to the veterans extraordinary grant of 300 Somonis each.  

On occasion of the 61 st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 a demonstration-requiem will be held in the Victory Park in Dushanbe on May 9.  A military parade also will be held on this occasion in the Victory Park tomorrow.  President Rahmonov, heads of both Chambers of Tajik Parliament, and Defense Minister will attend the parade involving some 1,000 servicemen of Tajikistan ’s Armed Forces.