DUSHANBE, April 26, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- In his annual address to the parliament, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon noted on April 26 that Tajikistan pursues “an open-door policy.”

He noted that Tajikistan pursued the agreed principles of open-door policy for broad and constructive cooperation with all states and entities of international relations.

“In our foreign policy, we proceed from the principles of protection of our national interests and national sovereignty,” Tajik leader stressed.

“Today, there are many unsolved problems in our country but we are not afraid of them; we will solve them without fail but we will not exchange our sovereignty for anything.”

He also noted that that unification of all political forces of the country for protection of national interests and independent statehood was one of priorities of the government.

“We are proud of a rich history of the Tajik people, but we are concerned over attempts to pervert the facts,” said the president.  “Some people have stated lately that Navrouz celebrations allegedly contradict the canons of Islam.  I remind these persons that Navrouz is part of our culture and history and it has nothing to do with any religion.”

Rahmon also noted that only 30,000 citizens of Tajikistan had performed the Hajj during Soviet times, while over the years of independence, the number of Tajiks performing the Hajj has reached more than 200,000.