DUSHANBE, April 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The new Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Yuri Belov, presented copy of his credentials to Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi on April 30, according to the MFA information department.

In the course of the talks, Tajik minister highly appraised activity of the previous Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Ramazan Abdulatipov, who had promoted strengthening and further development of relations between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation.

Zarifi also outlined energy, trade and economic as well as cultural and humanitarian spheres as priorities of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, Zarifi and Belov also exchanged views on a number of problems existing in relations between Tajikistan and Russia and recommendations to solve those problems.  They, in particular, considered completion of construction of the Sangtuda-1 hydroelectric power plant (HPS) and acceleration of solution of issues related to exploration and development of oil and gas deposits in Tajikistan as well as further participation of the Russian Federation in energy projects in Tajikistan.