Opening the meeting, Viacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
noted that relations between Russia and Tajikistan are developing. “Over the past seven months trade has grown significantly, the rate of 34.9% speaks for itself,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
He also stressed that Russia appreciates what Tajikistan is doing for the development of the Russian language and its teaching in schools. “Considering that in Tajikistan according to the Constitution the Russian language is the language of inter-ethnic communication, for us, this is an important factor in the development of relations, its foundation. This allows us to effectively implement, in particular, educational programs,” added the Chairman of the State Duma. He noted that a large number of students from Tajikistan are studying in Russia, and now five schools, where the Russian language will be studied, are being built in Tajikistan.
“Therefore, issues related to legislative support for the development of our relations are extremely important, and we are ready to discuss them,” concluded Viacheslav Volodin.
In turn, the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (upper house of parliament) of Tajikistan said: “We note that after you head the State Duma, the hall [of the plenary sessions] is always full.”
“If we, parliamentarians, are not an example for others, if we do not feel a moral responsibility, then we have no right to agitate others. And you are right that the rostrum of the State Duma is not for populism but for work, responsibility, and discussion,” he added.
Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev also said that the situation in the world today depends largely on Russia’s stability: “The stability of Russia, the achievements of Russia are the foundation of a stable peace. (…) We really value relations with the Russian Federation. Thank you for the fact that Russia is always at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and extremism.”
The Chairman of the upper chamber of the parliament of Tajikistan asked the Russian parliamentarians to consider the possibility of helping to build another school, where the Russian language will be studied, in Tajikistan.
Viacheslav Volodin also informed Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev about the progress of work on the draft Russian budget for 2019–2021. The Chairman of the State Duma stressed that this year the budget is in surplus. “If we talk about the four previous years, the situation was much more complicated but all social guarantees were always fulfilled,” he said.
“The fact that this is a surplus budget will go down in history because today it is difficult to find countries with a surplus budget in the world. All other countries, including us, are thinking about how to fill the deficit,” said the Chairman of the Majlisi Milli of the Majlisi Oli.
The next meeting of Viacheslav Volodin and Mahmadsaid Ubaydulloyev is planned within the framework of the PA CSTO.
“The PA CSTO is an opportunity to discuss problematic topics that concern our countries,” said Viacheslav Volodin. He said that this time the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSTO will consider a number of model bills, including a single list of organizations recognized as terrorist by the CSTO.
