DUSHANBE , February 24, Asia-Plus - Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov highly assessed professionalism of Tajikistan ’s Armed Forces.

He remarked this yesterday addressing a ceremonial meeting on occasion of the 13 ^th anniversary of Tajik National Army.  

The president highly assessed activity of the engineering department of the Defense Ministry in clearing minefields in the republic, noting that during 1997-2002 demining teams defused and destroyed more than 3,000 landmines and explosives.     

President Rahmonov addressing the meeting noted that to date, 450 officers – graduates of Tajikistan ’s Military Instituted have served in the army.  He also highly appraised the role of Russia in developing the young Tajik army, including in training the officer’s corps of the national armed forces.  According to Rahmonov, at present 570 officers having graduated of the military institutes of higher education of Russia serve in the system of the Defense Ministry of the country. Besides, 389 Tajik military cadets are studying and dozens of officers are undergoing practical training in specialized military institutes of Russia , China and India .    

Units of the Tajik army more than once participated in joint exercises with units of the Russian 201st Motor-Rifle Division on training grounds of Tajikistan , as well as within the framework of regional CST and SCO organizations, Rahmonov said.

On Rahmonov’s personal invitation, a group of officers of the Russian 201st Division headed by Colonel Aleksei Zavizyon attended the meeting as honorary guests.  The Tajik president presented valuable gifts to 10 Russian officers, stressing that “today is a common holiday for Russian and Tajik servicemen.”

            Head of state also noted that increasing number of crimes committed by the military evoked concern.  “Over the past five years, more than 2,000 crimes have been committed by servicemen of the Defense Ministry alone,” said Rahmonov, “Last year, 22 officers faced charges of corruption.”