Dushanbe, July 24, Asia-Plus - President Rahmonov took part at the CIS informal summit in Moscow on Saturday. 

Presidents of CIS countries discussed the reform of the Commonwealth.  After the meeting, part of an informal CIS summit attended by eight of the countries'' leaders, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined proposals he had put forward for a new program to reform structures of the CIS.  According to Russian media, the Kazakh leader told journalists he had proposed five areas in which to develop CIS cooperation: immigration policy, transport, education, means of countering modern-day threats, and humanitarian problems.  After discussions with the other seven leaders, new proposals were also put forward, namely a unified approach to international issues, and a shared defense policy.

According to presidential press service, President Emomali Rahmonov telling the CIS informal summit in Moscow noted, “It is too early to decommission the CIS.” He noted that the CIS, as regional structure had made a great contribution to development of the former Soviet republic.  The CIS states should continue work within this structure and other regional organizations in order to be not behind international community, according to the Tajik leader.  The Tajik president also pointed to the necessity of work on reforming the organization, according to presidential press service.  President Rahmonov proposed to expand cooperation between the CIS states in the filed of security and stability, transportation, telecommunications, energy, migration, and creation of a single scientific-educational and cultural-humanitarian space.   

On Saturday afternoon, President Rahmonov held bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the CIS informal summit in Moscow .

The two discussed issues related to bilateral relationships between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation .  According to presidential press service, Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia ’s intention to participate in the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power station in Tajikistan , which of strategic importance both for Tajikistan and South Asia .  Political, economic, migration, military-technical as well as interaction between the two countries in addressing modern challenges and threats were also in the center of discussion.  

Trade between Tajikistan and Russia grew 30% in 2005, and 60% in the first four months of 2006. 

On the sidelines of the CIS informal summit in Moscow President Rahmonov held bilateral talks with some other CIS presidents as well.