DUSHANBE, November 6, Asia-Plus - Polls have opened in Tajikistan, so the nation''s 3.2 million eligible voters can elect their next president.

Incumbent President Emomali Rahmonov, nominated by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT), came to polling station # 14 to cast vote in the presidential election. 

After the voting, he told journalists, “As always, I voted for peace, national unity, well-being of the people and prosperity of the country,” Rahmonov said.  

Asked about what Tajikistan’s foreign policy will be if he wins the third office, Rahmonov said that it would be better to speak about this after the completion of the election.  “Nevertheless, the foreign policy of Tajikistan is the policy of open doors,” said Rahmonov, “We will cooperate with all countries.” 

He noted that Tajikistan’s cooperation with China is developing very well.  On the cooperation with the Russia Federation, the president noted that Tajikistan and Russia have always been and remain strategic partners and allies.   

Commenting on relationships with Uzbekistan, Rahmonov said, “Neighbors are not chosen.  Politicians come and go, while peoples should live in friendship, peace and accord.”  The fact that Uzbekistan joined the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) removes many problematic issues, according to him.  

Asked about prospects of the CIS, Rahmonov said that “it lives and will live.”  “The reform of the organization is under way,” the president noted.  

Rahmonov also highly appraised a role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), noting that this organization is very promising and developing successfully.  

On the problems of Afghanistan, Rahmonov pointed to the necessity of creation of belt of security round Afghanistan.  “The situation in Afghanistan impacts the peace and stability not only in the region but throughout the world as a whole,” the president said.  

He also highly appraised the present level of Tajikistan with the Islamic Republic of Iran.  

Commenting on the issue of compliance of the presidential election in Tajikistan with the OSCE standards, Rahmonov stressed that no country across the world meets these standards completely.  “It would be wrong to say that the presidential election will completely comply with principles for democratic electoral processes, including commitments agreed to by all OSCE participating States,” said Rahmhmonov, “But people is learning this with each elections” 

Asked about the fact that the three main opposition parties are either boycotting the vote or have refused to field candidates, Rahmonov said that it is “their own business.”  

In his election program, President Rahmonov has pledged to further strengthen peace and national unity and improve the country''s infrastructure.

Under Tajikistan’s law on the presidential election the president is popularly elected for a renewable term of seven years.  Victory is by a simple majority. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority, a run-off is held between the two highest-polling candidates.  The presidential election is declared valid if more than 50% of the electorate cast their votes.