DUSHANBE, November 29, 2013, Asia-Plus – In a statement delivered at a public forum entitled “Eurasian Economic Integration: Achievements and Challenges” in Kazan (Russia), Tajikistan’s Islamic Revival Party (IRP) leader Muhiddin Kabiri stressed on November 28 that politicization of purely economic projects by some nations is the main obstacle in the way of integration process in the region.

According to IRP’s headquarters in Dushanbe, Kabiri drew attention of those present to a role of political parties in promotion of the integration process.   

“He further stressed that all political parties of Tajikistan, irrespective of their political platforms and positions, are supporters of integration of the countries of the region,” said the source.  “On the situation that may emerge in the region after withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2014, IRP leader noted that threats of political and religious extremism, trafficking in drugs and weapons that have always existed in the region may become more acute.”

We will recall that two Tajik experts – IRP leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also member of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), and Professor Ibrohim Usmonov, representative of NGO “Dialogue of Civilizations” in Tajikistan – are participating in a two public forum on the Eurasian economic integration issues that kicked off in Kazan, Russia on November 28.

Organized by the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia) and Russia’s Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) on an initiative of Eurasian Dialogue under Russian Parliament’s Eurasian Club, the forum is an important platform for discussing issues related to formation of a single economic space – Eurasian common market.

The forum participants include representatives of Russian and foreign public associations, as well as representatives of parliaments and political parties from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan and they are reportedly discussing issues of strengthening of relations between nations at international level, development of common infrastructure within the Eurasian economic union, implementation of political, economic, social, and cultural projects within the Eurasian area, development of entrepreneurship, expansion of foreign economic ties of the Customs Union, development of the market of intellectual property, and strengthening of integration ties within the post-Soviet area.