DUSHANBE, March 19, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Saturday March 19, President Emomali Rahmon held a traditional meeting with representatives of the intelligentsia on occasion of the Navrouz.

The meeting that was held at the Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Sadriddin Ayni in Dushanbe brought together members of government, local authorities, known Tajik researchers and cultural figures as well representatives of the intelligentsia from all regions of the country.

Addressing the meeting, President Rahmon called on the country’s intelligentsia to use all their opportunities to raise educational level of the population and promote improving living conditions in the country.

According to him, the necessary awareness rate and high level of education and self-consciousness are among the key factors contributing to national unity and solidarity.  “Under conditions of sustainable national unity, our people will be able to create democratic, secular and rule-of-law society and make its contribution to development of human civilization,” Tajik leader stressed.

He noted that findings of surveys by international organizations showed that “favorable conditions for development of pluralism, functioning of media outlets with different political views and legal foundation for activity of political parties have been created in Tajikistan.”

“Numerous difficulties and problems have been arising during a transition from one system another.  The political leadership realizes well that Tajikistan is just at the beginning of the path towards a really democratic state and artificial acceleration of this process would be unreasonable,” noted the head of state.  “Society itself must impartially assess its opportunities and develop on the basis of national unity, peace and stability.”

He added that socioeconomic policy conducted by the government was aimed at ensuring sustainable national unity in the country.

We will recall that the previous meeting of President Rahmon with representatives of Tajik intelligentsia took place on the eve of the Navrouz holiday in 2009.