DUSHANBE, October 7, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Monday October 7, visiting head of Russia’s lower house (State Duma) of parliament, Sergey Naryshkin, met here with Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper house of parliament).

In the course of the talks, Naryshkin reportedly called the ratification by Tajik parliament of the agreement on the status and terms of presence of Russian military base in Tajikistan “a significant event.”  According to him, the ratification of that agreement is one of conditions to provide regional security.

“Threats of terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking still remain intact here, and therefore, Russia and Tajikistan should provide regional security through joint efforts,” Naryshkin said, noting that those threats may became more intense after withdrawal of international coalition forces from Afghanistan in 2014.

We will recall that Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament on October 1 ratified the agreement allowing some 7,000 Russian troops to stay in Tajikistan until 2042.  The document now goes for approval to the upper house (Majlisi Milli) of the parliament.

President Emomali Rahmon, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, signed the agreement in Dushanbe in October 2012.  The accord prolongs a deal signed in 1993, which was due to expire in 2014.

Russia''s government has been highlighting the need for the base to remain in Tajikistan as foreign forces in Afghanistan start their drawdown next year.