DUSHANBE, March 16, Asia-Plus -- Visiting Members of the German Bundestag yesterday handed over computers and other office equipment to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament). 

German MPs also familiarized themselves with Tajik parliament’s library.  Besides, a seminar formally titled “Activity and Principle of work of Bundestag” was conducted in the building of the Majlisi Namoyandagon on March 15.  

After the seminar, Tajik and German parliamentarians discussed issues related to cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. 

The first deputy Majlisi Namoyandagon speaker, Abdulmajid Dostiyev, briefed German colleagues on activity of Tajik parliament and history of parliamentarism in Tajikistan.  Dostiyev hailed the present level of inter-parliamentary ties between Tajikistan and Germany and noted that the Tajikistan is striving for acquiring positive experience from the European democracy.  

Asked about problems that had faced Tajikistan before, the first deputy Tajik speaker said that the Central Asian region for many decades had been a zone of geopolitical interests of different powers, “which had not left the country in peace.”  

“However, over the past fifteen years of independence we have managed to yield quite considerable results,” said Dostiyev, “To provide further development we now have to do a lot to change consciousness of members of society.”  “On the other hand, we should strive for Western countries’ stopping considering Tajikistan as backward country and raw material.”  

Ms. Hedi Wegener, heading the Bundestag delegation, noted that the upcoming meeting of foreign ministers of Central Asia’s states and European countries set for March 28 can serve for this.    

Dostiyev also underlined importance of respect for any religion.  He noted that there ought not to attribute the activities of extremist forces to any religion.     

The meeting also discussed prospects of cooperation between the two countries in humanitarian sphere, including education.  

According to the Majlisi Namoyandagon, visiting Bundestag delegation consists of members of the Bundestag group for friendship with Central Asia’s states.  The main purpose of the visit is for German MPs to provide technical assistance to the Majlisi Namoyandagon as part of the program for improvement of inter-parliamentary ties, according to the source.