DUSHANBE, April 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A book by Uzbek President Islam Karimov entitled “the Global Financial and Economic Crisis: Ways and Measures to Overcome It in Uzbekistan” in the Tajik language was presented here by the Uzbek Embassy in Dushanbe jointly with the Center for Strategic Studies under the Tajik President on April 3.

The Dushanbe publishing house, Devashtich, has published the book by Uzbek president in the Tajik language.

Speaking a the presentation ceremony, the Tajik think tank head Suhrob Sharipov noted that the book was topical today as the whole world was seeking ways to mitigate effects of the ongoing global financial crisis.

“Not everything has been running smoothly in relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in recent years, but I hope we have already come out of recession and presentation of the book by Uzbek president in Dushanbe is evidence of that,” he said.

For his part, the Uzbek Ambassador to Tajikistan Shokasym Shoislamov noted that the global financial crisis had affected Uzbekistan as well.  “However, the crisis ha snot taken us unawares as our government has created a “safety cushion.”  Many have criticized Uzbek authorities for interference in economy and banks’ affairs but the current situation has proved correctness of our actions,” the ambassador said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Director of the Institute for Economic Studies at Tajik Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Professor Nouriddin Qayumov, noted that over the past several years, the Uzbek government has directed some 50 percent of investments at modernization of technological production and “these measures have mitigated effects of the crisis in Uzbekistan.”

According to him, state regulation of economy, to which Uzbekistan has adhered since gaining independence, is one of the main measures to counter the ongoing crisis.  “Tajikistan should also draw a conclusion and listen less to advices from the other side of the ocean,” Qayumov said.