DUSHANBE, February 17, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Sayfullo Safarov, a senior expert from Tajik think tank considers that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are probably entering a new stage of relationship.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Sayfullo Safarov, the deputy director of the Center for Strategic Studies, said that during his visit to Brussels, President Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence on February 9 that mutual understanding with neighbors on disputable issues will be reached.

Deterioration of interstate relation between two fraternal peoples is not of benefit to the sides.  “We should be good neighbors,” said Safarov, “If we do not realize this reality, others may use this against us.  Respect for national interests of each other should be a key point of our relationships.  The logic of political development of the region shows that we cannot develop well without each other.”

“Political leaderships of both republics realize this well,” the expert noted, adding that it is also necessary that experts should change their approach to relationships between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.