DUSHANBE, June 23, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of Tajikistan’s parliament ratified an agreement between the defense ministries of the CIS states on radiation, chemical and biological safety control at a June 23 meeting, presided over by its speaker, Saydullo Khairulloyev.

Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon today also ratified a government-to-government agreement between Tajikistan and Latvia on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital as well as a loan agreement between the Government of Tajikistan and China’s Exim (export/import) Bank on additional funds for completion of construction of the power transmission lines South-North and Lolazor-Khatlon.

As it had been reported earlier, the Chinese side will provide some 61 million U.S. dollars before the end of this year for the completion of construction of these power grids.

The lower house also endorsed bills requiring amendments to the laws on education and the National Guard and approved the draft law on the community self-government bodies.

The Majlisi Namoyandagon also determined territories of the free economic zones (FEZ) Sughd and Panj.