Tajikistan Overview Travel Warning We strongly advise against all travel to Tajikistan and suggest you visit one of the following government websites for the latest risk assessment: British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website: www.fco.gov.uk/travel/countryadvice.asp Tel: +44 (0)20 7238 4503/4 US Department of State Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Website: www.voyage.gc.ca/destinations/menu_e.htm General Information Area: 143,100 sq km (55,251 sq miles). Population: 6,719,567 (2002). Population Density: 47 per sq km. Capital: Dushanbe. Population: 591,900 (2000). GEOGRAPHY: Tajikistan is bordered by Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the north, Afghanistan to the south and China to the east. 93 per cent of the republic is occupied by mountains, most notably by the sparsely populated Pamir Mountains, which include Mount Garmo (formerly Pik Kommunizma; 7495m/24,590ft), the highest point of the former Soviet Union. The mountainous terrain means that in winter it is impossible to reach the east or the north of the country by road without taking a detour through Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In the fertile plains of the southwest, cotton dominates the agriculture. In the north, in the Khudzand (formerly Leninabad) region, cotton and silk are the main crops. Government: Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Head of State: President Imamali S Rahmonov since 1992. Head of Government: Prime Minister Akil Akilov since 1999. Language: Tajik is the official language, an ancient Persian language similar to the languages of Iran and Afghanistan. In the Pamir Mountains, there are at least five different languages, all related to an even more ancient form of Iranian. Russian is widely used (35 per cent of the population speak Russian fluently), and discrimination against Russian speakers is prohibited by law. English is sometimes spoken by those involved in tourism. Religion: Predominantly Sunni Muslim (80 per cent) with a small Shi’ite Muslim minority (five per cent). A large Ishmaeli minority exists in the Pamirs. There is also a smaller and shrinking Russian Orthodox minority and a small Jewish community. Time: GMT + 5. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round, two-pin continental plugs are standard. Communications:   Telephone IDD to Tajikistan is available but services are unreliable. Country code: 992 (followed by 372 for Dushanbe). Outgoing International code: 00. International telephone calls can be made from telephone offices which will usually be found attached to a post office (in Dushanbe, on Prospekt Rudaki). There are now also some new, private telephone offices in Dushanbe. International calls can also be ordered from some hotels such as the Hotel Tajikistan and the Hotel Independence, which go through the operator. Direct-dial calls within the CIS are obtained by dialling 8 and waiting for another dial tone and then dialling the city code. Calls within the city limits are free of charge. Mobile telephone AMPS network is operated by TajikTel (e-mail: roam@tajiktel.td.silk.org). Fax Services are available from the business centre on Prospekt Rudaki and from major hotels (for residents only). Internet ISPs include Telecomm Technology (e-mail: info@tajnet.com; website: www.tajnet.com) and InterCom (website: www.tjinter.com). Both these ISPs offer public Internet access at their offices. The Central Asian Development Agency (website: www.tajik.net) has public e-mail centres in main towns. Access to the Internet can be problematic owing to the underdeveloped telecommunications network. Telegram Telegram services are available from post offices in large towns. Post Mail to Western Europe and the USA can take between two weeks and two months. Stamped envelopes can be bought from post offices. Addresses should be laid out in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and lastly the person’s name. Postal services available include registered mail, restricted delivery, special delivery and Express mail (in Dushanbe only). Both surface and air mail are available for parcels. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat: 0900-1700. Visitors can also use the post offices located within the major hotels. Press The press in Tajikistan is still censored. All the main newspapers are printed in Dushanbe and include Narodnaya Gazeta (Russian), and Sadoi Mardum and Tojikiston Ovozi (Tajik). BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.79 15.58 11.76 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes Yes Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes Note: Passport and Visa regulations for all the CIS states are liable to change at short notice. All travellers are advised to contact the nearest Tajikistan Embassy or Consulate for up-to-date details. Countries where Tajikistan has diplomatic representation currently include Austria, China, Germany, Iran and Turkey. PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months after date of departure required by all. VISAS: Required by all except nationals of CIS member states (Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan). Types of visa and cost: Standard: €35 for seven days; €45 for 15 days; €50 for 30 days; €70 for 90 days. Express visas (processed on same day) cost double the given fee. Validity: Dependent on purpose of trip. Note: An invitation, either official or private, is necessary for visits to Tajikistan. The length of stay should be specified on the invitation, which must be endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tajikistan. A visa can then be issued by the nearest Tajikistan Embassy. Special visas must also be obtained by those wishing to visit the Gorno-Babakhshan region (the Pamir Mountains). Tourists can apply for a letter of invitation from the State National Travel Agency, 14 Pushkin Street, Dushanbe 734 095 (tel/fax: (372) 231 401). Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) One recent passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport. (d) A letter, telex, fax or other confirmation of acceptance of invitation (see above) from The Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (e) Fee. (f) Postal applications must be accompanied by a large, stamped, self-addressed envelope. Note: (a) All visitors are required to register with the authorities within 72 hours of arrival. Hotels will usually arrange this; however, independent travellers will need to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the local OVIR office themselves. (b) An HIV test is required by all foreigners planning to stay longer than 90 days. Foreign tests may be acceptable Working days required: Ten (for Standard visas). Express visas are issued on the same day. Money Currency: Somoni = 100 dirams. The Somoni (S) was introduced in October 2000 replacing the Tajik Rouble. One somoni is equivalent in value to 1000 Tajik Roubles. Notes are in denominations of S100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Dirams, also issued as notes, are in denominations of diram50, 20, 5 and 1. Currency exchange: The preferred hard currency is the US Dollar, although other hard currencies are in theory also acceptable. All bills are normally settled in cash, and tourists must pay in hard currency for accommodation in hotels, although these are normally included in the price of organised tours. Owing to a shortage of change, a supply of small notes should be carried. International banking services are not available. All money should be changed at the official bureaux de change and the receipts should be kept. However, this law is not rigidly enforced. Credit & debit cards: Not accepted. Travellers cheques: Limited acceptance. Currency restrictions: The import of local and foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration on arrival. The export of local currency is prohibited except by Tajikistan residents and the export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. All currency must be declared on arrival and a customs declaration form obtained. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Somoni against the US Dollar and the Euro. Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 €1.00= 2.21 4.18 4.40 3.01 $1.00= 2.40 2.75 2.79 2.79 Note: * Values are given against the Euro rather than Sterling as an accurate exchange rate against Sterling is not available. Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700. Duty Free Reasonable quantities of goods for personal use may be imported into Tajikistan by persons of 18 years of age or older without incurring customs duty; however, a ten per cent import duty is charged on certain items. Note: A detailed customs declaration form must be filled in and retained by all travellers. Public Holidays Dec 6-8 2002 Eid-i-Ramazon (End of Ramadan). Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 12 Eid-i-Kurbon. Mar 8 International Women’s Day. Mar 20-22 Navrus. May 1 International Labour Day. May 9 Victory Day. Sep 9 Independence Day. Nov 6 Constitution Day. Nov 26-28 Eid-i-Ramazon (End of Ramadan). Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid-i-Kurbon. Mar 8 International Women’s Day. Mar 20-22 Navrus. May 1 International Labour Day. May 9 Victory Day. Sep 9 Independence Day. Nov 6 Constitution Day. Nov 14-16 Eid-i-Ramazon (End of Ramadan). Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera 1 No Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A Malaria 3 N/A 1: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Tajikistan. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information. 2: Vaccination against typhoid is advised. 3: Cases of malaria, predominantly in the benign vivax form, have been reported in some central, western and northern areas of Tajikistan and particularly on the southern border (Khatlon area) between June and October. Those wishing to visit the area should bring suitable medication with them. Resistance to chloroquine is suspected. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being a potential health risk. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: There is a diphtheria epidemic in Tajikistan, and medical advice should be sought before travelling. Hepatitis A, B and E occur. Rare occurrences of plague have been reported. Trachoma is common, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever, typhus, leishmaniasis, sand-fly fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, brucellosis, plague and echinococcosis all occur but risks to the traveller are low. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Standards of health care are low. As the domestic health service is plagued by shortages of medicines and drugs, travellers are advised to take antibiotics and any prescription medicines, contact lens solutions and a first-aid kit containing basic medicines and water treatment tablets. There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK. Although fees for health services are low, health insurance is recommended. Travel - International Note: Travellers are advised against all non-essential travel to Tajikistan. The Karategin valley, Kofarnihon and Tavildara areas, mountainous areas bordering Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and districts bordering Afghanistan in particular should be avoided. For further advice contact a local government travel advice department. AIR: The national airline is Tajikistan Airlines. Other airlines serving Tajikistan include Eurasia Airlines and Samara Airlines. The UN operates flights for staff and visitors of humanitarian organisations working in Tajikistan. Approximate flight times: From Dushanbe to Moscow is 4 hours, to Karachi is 2 hours and to Delhi is 1 hour 30 minutes. International airports: Dushanbe Airport (DYU) is 1 mile (2km) south of the city. Bus nos. 3 and 12, and trains 3 and 4, run to the city centre 0600-1800 (travel time – 20 minutes). Taxis are also available 0800-2000 (travel time – 5 minutes). Airport facilities include first aid, left luggage (0800-2359), chemist (0800-1700), post office (0800-1700), restaurants (1200-2200), snack bars (0800-1800), tourist information (0800-1700) and 24-hour nursery. RAIL: Trains are the most reliable way of reaching Dushanbe for those not arriving by air. Passenger railways are, however, restricted at present. Dushanbe is connected to a spur of the Trans-Caspian Railway which winds down to the Afghan border in Uzbekistan before heading north towards Dushanbe. Travellers are advised to sit with their back to the engine, as throwing rocks at the windows of passing trains seems to be a popular pastime among local children. The journey from Tashkent to Dushanbe takes approximately 22 hours; from Moscow it takes approximately four days. Khojand in the north of the country can be reached directly from Samarkand in Uzbekistan. There is also a new train service between Dushanbe and Volgograd in Russia. ROAD: Tajikistan can be approached by road from Uzbekistan, subject to occasional unannounced border closures and snow. Cars with a Tajik registration, however, are not allowed to enter Uzbekistan, unless the vehicle belongs to a government body. It is not advisable to attempt to cross the border from Kyrgyzstan at present. A new road has recently been built into China, but it is not yet open to tourists. The border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan is officially closed. Bus: Services have been severely disrupted by border closures and should not be relied upon. A service normally operates connecting Dushanbe with Tashkent and Samarkand. Travel - Internal AIR: The domestic airline is Tajik Air, offering internal flights to Khorog in Gorno-Badakhshan (one of the most technically demanding regularly scheduled flights in the world), Khojand and less frequently to Kulyab. All flights are subject to the weather and endemic fuel shortages of the region. Flights from Dushanbe to Khorog take 1 hour, to Khojand 1 hour and to Kulyab 30 minutes. Internal services are subject to cancellations, long delays and overloading of passengers. RAIL: Passenger railways are restricted at present. There are only three railway lines in Tajikistan: one leading south from Dushanbe through Kurgan-Tyube and Shaartuz to the Uzbek/Afghan border at Termez; one that leads due south from Dushanbe, through Kurgan-Tyube to Tugul on the Afghan border; and one in the northern region which runs from Samarkand, through Khojand to the Fergana Valley. A branch from Kulyab to Kurgan-Tyube is currently under construction. Note: Travellers are advised to store their valuables in the compartment under the bed/seats, to ensure the door is securely shut from the inside by tying it closed with wire or strong cord, and not to leave the compartment unattended. ROAD: There is a reasonable road network in Tajikistan, though some parts may be seasonally impassable. During the winter (October to March), three of the four main roads from the capital and the southwest of the country (east to Khorog via Khalaikum, northeast to Osh via the Garm valley, and north to Khojand via the Anzob Pass and Ayni) are all closed by snow. The only way of reaching these areas is through Uzbekistan. The road between Osh (in Kyrgyzstan) and Khorog is kept open all year round and traverses one of the most beautiful and unspoilt regions in the world, the Pamir Mountains. Recent political and economic troubles have meant that road maintenance has been widely neglected. Foreigners are, in theory, allowed to go anywhere except border zones – it is worth noting that the road from Dushanbe to Khorog is in a border zone for much of its length – without having to get special permission (other than an endorsement on their visas). Tourists should inform their tour operator of their plans. If travelling independently, it is worth getting as many official-looking documents as possible in order to negotiate the many checkpoints. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: There are services between the major towns when the roads are open. In the south, buses go to Kurgan-Tyrube and Kulyab and as far down as Pyanj and Ayvadaz. Buses to the east reach only around 100km (60 miles), as far as Komsomolabad. Information on timetables and fares can be found at the bus station, or autovokzal. Taxi: These and chauffeur-driven cars for hire can be found in all major towns. Many are unlicensed and travellers are advised to agree a fare in advance. Officially marked taxis are safe, but sharing with strangers should be avoided. As many of the street names have changed since independence, it is also advisable to ascertain both the old and the new street names when asking directions. Car hire: Self-drive car hire is not available. Documentation: It is in theory possible to bring, or buy, one’s own transport: drivers should have an International Driving Permit and have arranged insurance before departure. Accommodation HOTELS: Tajikistan is not well supplied with hotels. Although there are no restrictions on where visitors may stay, hotels other than the main hotels are unused to accommodating foreigners and all but the most insistent visitors may find it difficult to obtain a room in them. The main hotels are clean and friendly, although it is difficult to get a room in the Oktyabrskaya, which houses both the US and Russian embassies. Outside the capital, accommodation is very hard to find. For further information, contact Intourist Tajikistan (see Contact Addresses section). DACHAS: It is possible to stay in the government dachas in Khorog, but standards of comfort, amenities and cleanliness vary. Introduction At present, it is strongly advised for tourists not to travel to Tajikistan due to political unrest and kidnappings. For further information, contact your local embassy or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (website: www.fco.gov.uk). Tajikistan was never well equipped with a comprehensive infrastructure for tourists, and some sites were destroyed in the civil war at the end of 1992. However, there is still much to see. DUSHANBE: Situated only three hours from the border with Afghanistan is the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, lying in the Hissar valley in the southwest of the country. Known primarily for its Monday market (the name Dushanbe is derived from the Tajik word for Monday), it was no more than a village until the Trans-Caspian Railway reached it in 1929. Soviet power had only been established in the region for six years and, somewhat unoriginally, the city was renamed Stalinabad and proclaimed capital of the new Soviet Socialist Republic of Tajikistan. It was from here that Brezhnev launched his invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The main points of interest all lie on, or close to, Prospekt Rudaki which runs from the railway station in the south to the bus station in the north. As well as the principal mosque, this area boasts a synagogue that dates back to the late-19th century, a Russian church and a columned opera house. Other features in the city include the Tajikistan Unified Museum, situated just north of the railway station in Ploshchad Aym, which has stuffed snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep amongst its exhibits. The ethnographic museum is on ulitsa Somoni, not far from the Hotel Tajikistan. THE SOUTHWEST: 16km (10 miles) west of Dushanbe lies the Hissar Port, a site built between the 16th and 19th centuries which contains, among other things, a ruined citadel, two madrassahs (Islamic seminaries), a caravanserai and a mausoleum. Further west still, at Penjikent on the Uzbek border, lie the remains of a Sogdian fort that are only now being excavated. The frescoes in Penjikent are reputed to be extremely fine. South of Penjikent lie the Muragazor Lakes, a system of seven lakes of differing colours that change as the light changes. There are remains of Buddhist temples near Kurgan-Tyube in the south, from which the biggest Buddha in Central Asia was recovered and is now stored, ignominiously carved up into 60 pieces, in Dushanbe. THE PAMIRS: The Pamirs are at the hub of Asia. Often described as the Roof of the World, these mountains form one of the most unexplored regions on earth. High, cold and remote, they have attracted climbers and hunters from the former Soviet Union for years, but only now are they opening up for the rest of the world. The bulk of the Pamir lies in the semi-autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan and visitors should be aware that some elements have been conducting an armed campaign to gain even more autonomy. However, the campaign has been confined to a number of well-defined theatres, most of which are well away from areas likely to interest visitors; the road between Dushanbe and Khorog is the exception. The only town of any significance on the Pamir Highway, which stretches from Dushanbe into Kyrgyzstan, is Khorog. The capital of the eastern Tajik region of Gorno-Badakhshan, Khorog is a small one-street town with a museum containing stuffed animals and a display of photographs of Lenin. The flight into Khorog from the Tajik capital is said to be the most difficult in the world. Lake Sareskoye, in the heart of the Pamirs, was formed in 1911 when the side of a mountain was dislodged by an earthquake and fell into the path of a mountain river. In the north of the Pamirs, Lake Kara-Kul, formed by a meteor ten million years ago, is 3915m (12,844ft) above sea-level and hence too high for any aquatic life. Pik Lenina and Mount Garmo (formerly Pik Kommunizma) are to the northwest and west respectively of Lake Kara-Kul. At well over 7000m (22,966ft), these two peaks tower over Tajikistan and the neighbouring republic of Kyrgyzstan to the north. Helicopter flights are available for those wishing to climb them. Many people are convinced that Yetis are alive and thriving in this remote wilderness. THE SILK ROAD: This ancient trading route was used by silk merchants from the second century AD until its decline in the 14th century, and is open in parts to tourists, stretching from northern China, through bleak and foreboding desert and mountainous terrain, to the ports on either the Caspian Sea or Mediterranean Sea. For further details of the route, see the Silk Road in the China section. The main highlight for travellers along the Silk Road in Tajikistan is its stunning natural scenery set against the Pamir and Fan mountains and incorporating lush valleys and turquoise lakes. Trekking trips are best arranged from Samarkand (Uzbekistan). Travel along the Silk Road can be quite difficult due to the terrain, harsh climate and lack of developed infrastructure. Visitors to the region are advised to travel with an organised tour company or travel agent. Sport & Activities Hiking and trekking: Tour operators offer a number of set itineraries, mostly in the southwest of the country and its immediate surrounding mountains and generally during the summer months. The trips generally start in Moscow and include a 14-day trekking trip around the ancient Sogdian lakes such as Iskander-kul, north of Dushanbe and the Muragazor Lakes, finishing in Samarkand in Uzbekistan; and a trip to the mountain passes of the Kara-Tak, north of Dushanbe, walking 8-10km (5-6 miles) per day, with the baggage being carried by donkeys, and staying in mountain villages. Some operators will organise itineraries to suit individual tastes. Other: The national sport is wrestling, called Gushtin Geri. Bushkashi is a team game in which the two mounted teams attempt to deliver a headless and legless goat’s carcass weighing 30-40kg over the opposition’s goal line. Players are allowed to wrestle the goat from an opponent, but physical assault is frowned upon. There is skiing and hunting in the hills behind Dushanbe. Social Profile Food & Drink: Traditional Tajik meals start with sweet dishes such as halwa and tea and then progress to soups and meat before finishing with plov. Plov is made up of scraps of mutton, shredded yellow turnip and rice, fried in a large wok, and is a staple dish in all the Central Asian republics. The appetising shashlyk (skewered chunks of mutton grilled over charcoal, served with raw sliced onions) and lipioshka (round unleavened bread) are often sold on street corners and served in restaurants: the Vastoychny bar restaurant in Dushanbe (on Prospekt Rudaki near the Hotel Tajikistan) serves particularly good shashlyk. Manty (large noodle sacks of meat), samsa (samosas) and chiburekki (deep-fried dough cakes) are all popular as snacks. Shorpur is a meat and vegetable soup; laghman is similar to shorpur, but comes with noodles. In the summer, Tajikistan is awash with fruit: its grapes and melons were famous throughout the former Soviet Union. The bazaars also sell pomegranates, apricots, plums, figs and persimmons. Little of the food served in hotels indicates its Tajik heritage: borcht is beetroot soup, entrecote are well-done steaks, cutlet are grilled meatballs, and strogan is the local equivalent of beef Stroganoff. Pirmeni, originating in Ukraine, are small boiled noodle sacks of meat and vegetables similar to ravioli, sometimes in a vegetable soup, sometimes not. Tea or chai is the most widespread drink on offer and can be obtained almost anywhere. Beer, wine, vodka, brandy and sparkling wine (shampanski) are intermittently available in many restaurants. If the restaurant is unable to supply it, it is acceptable to bring your own. Kefir, a thick drinking yoghurt, is often served with breakfast. Nightlife: There are no restaurants operating in the evenings except for the one in the Hotel Oktyabrskaya which shuts at 2200. There is a dollar bar in the basement of the Hotel Tajikistan which is open some evenings. The Ayni opera and ballet theatre on Prospekt Rudaki is still operating, albeit with a reduced programme of matinees. The streets of Dushanbe are deserted after 2000. Shopping: Shortages are the norm in Tajikistan; there is a bazaar and street market behind the Hotel Tajikistan where it is possible to buy food and sometimes handicrafts. Shokhmansur (also known as Zilyoni) Bazaar near Ploshchad Ayni also sells food. There is a souvenir shop on the corner of Prospekt Rudaki and ulitsa Ismail Somoni, under an art gallery which exhibits and sells the work of local artists. Shopping hours: Food shops open Mon-Sat 0900-1700. Special Events: There is a carnival at Navruz (the beginning of the Persian New Year), when a special dish called Sumalak is prepared from germinating wheat. Social Conventions: Lipioshka (bread) should never be laid upside down, and it is normal to remove shoes, but not socks, when entering someone’s house. Shorts are rarely seen in Tajikistan and, worn by females, are likely to provoke unwelcome attention from the local male population. Business Profile Economy: Tajikistan is the poorest of the five former Soviet Central Asian republics, with an estimated four fifths of the population living below the poverty line. Basic services and infrastructure are poor to non-existent. Although less than ten per cent of the country’s land can be cultivated, Tajikistan has a sizeable agricultural sector accounting for one quarter of GDP and employing half the workforce. Large quantities of cotton are produced under ecologically ruinous schemes established during the Soviet era. Grain, fruit and vegetables are also grown. Nonetheless, the country was badly hit by a regional drought, which in the autumn of 2001 forced the Government to appeal for international food aid. Tajikistan’s economic prospects lie with exploitation of its mineral resources, which include gold, aluminium, iron, lead, tin and mercury ores. There are coal deposits as well as small amounts of natural gas, which together with hydroelectric schemes meet the bulk of the country’s energy needs. There is little heavy industry other than mineral processing (mainly aluminium); light industry is concentrated in food processing and textiles. The Tajik economy suffered severely from the dislocations caused by the break-up of the Soviet Union followed by two outbreaks of civil war. The 1997 peace accord between the warring factions allowed the Government to concentrate on reform of the economy. Recovery has been slow but is now showing some results: the hyper-inflation which blighted the economy during the civil war has now been cut to 11 per cent. Annual GDP growth in 2002 was a healthy seven per cent. The Government’s economic reform programme, which is now being implemented, comprises a typical recipe of privatisation, deregulation and fiscal reform. Tajikistan secured membership of the IMF and World Bank in 1993; it also belongs to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as a ‘Country of Operation’. It has received substantial aid from Middle eastern donors, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Islamic Development Bank. Some initial consideration was given to a currency union with Russia, but in May 1995 Tajikistan opted to introduce its own currency, the Tajik Rouble, which was in turn replaced by the Somoni in October 2000. In April 1998, Tajikistan was admitted to the Customs Union of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose federation of former Soviet republics, whose members continue to dominate Tajik trade. Further afield, The Netherlands and the UK are important trading partners. In July 2001, Tajikistan acquired observer status at the World Trade Organisation. Business: Tajikistan is looking for foreign investment in a number of sectors, particularly in aluminium processing, which needs extensive modernisation. Foreign businesses are not barred from any economic sphere: although land, livestock and mineral resources are owned by the Government, it is possible to lease them. Foreign concerns are allowed to participate in the privatisation programme. Foreign investments in certain priority areas, which are as yet undefined, are eligible for tax holidays – including import and export duties – although, in effect, each foreign investor negotiates his or her own terms and many are better than the standard laid down in law. All foreign investors must be registered with the Ministry of External Economic Affairs. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ulitsa Mazayeva 21, 734012 Dushanbe (tel: (372) 279 519; fax: (372) 279 775). Information can also be obtained from the US Department of Commerce, Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States, USA Trade Center, Stop R-Binis, Ronald Reagan Building, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230, USA (tel: (202) 482 4655; fax: (202) 482 2293; e-mail: bisnis@ita.doc.gov; website: www.bisnis.doc.gov). Climate In Dushanbe, temperatures vary between a minimum -13°C (8°F) in December/January to a maximum 33°C (91°F) in July/August. Humidity is generally low. In the mountains, it can reach -45°C (-49°F) when the wind chill factor is taken into consideration, and rise to 20°C (68°F) in summer. In the Pamir Mountains, the climate is semi-arid to polar. Required clothing: Warm clothing should be taken by anyone intending to visit the mountains. Those intending to visit the southwest in summer should bring light, loose clothing. History and Government History: The Tajiks come from an ancient stock – the inhabitants of the Pamir Mountains claim to be the only pure descendants of the Aryan tribes who invaded India over 4000 years ago, and that the Saxon tribes of Western Europe also originated there. Tajikistan’s inaccessibility has protected it from most invaders, although Alexander the Great founded a city on the site of modern-day Khojand, calling it Alexandria Eskate (Alexandria the Furthest). However, the mountains effectively spared it from the Mongols, although it was under their aegis. After the dissolution of the Mongol Empire, Tajikistan came under the rule of the emirs of Samarkand, followed by Bukhara and finally Kokhand. They were eventually ceded to the Russian sphere of influence in the dying days of the ‘Great Game’ of political intrigue between the Russian Empire and the British in India, at the end of the last century. The Bolsheviks were not made welcome and the Basmachi movement continued to resist them until the early 1930s. Enver Pasha (d. 1924) and Ibraghim Beg (d. 1931) both came to their end in Tajikistan. During the fighting, some 200,000 Tajiks fled to Afghanistan. Tajikistan’s distance and remoteness again saved it during the Soviet era, when it escaped more lightly than other republics did. Russian immigration was encouraged and many inhabitants of the Garm valley and the Pamirs were forcibly moved to the southwest in the 1950s, to help with the cotton-growing and replacing those who had escaped into Afghanistan. From 1983 until 1991 – the closing stages of Soviet rule – the Tajik republic was run by Kakhar Makhkamov. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the establishment of Tajikistan as a sovereign state, the former leader of the Tajik Communist Party, Rakhman Nabiyev, returned to power in November 1991, after eight years out of office. The main opposition to the Nabiyev government came from the inhabitants of the Garm and Pamir regions, who felt excluded from national politics. In 1992, the Garmis united under the flag of the opposition Islamic Revival Party and the Pamiris under that of the Democratic Party – the two soon formed a strategic alliance, now known as the United Tajik Opposition (UTO). With neither side willing to compromise, the stage was thus set for a civil war, which has been under way ever since. The Tajik war has had some of the characteristics of the recent civil wars in the Balkans and has certainly matched them for savagery and loss of life. The conflict has been watched with great concern by Tajikistan’s neighbours. All are aware that the strife there could easily erupt in their own provinces, as the three main political forces in the region – Islam, communism and liberal democracy – contend for influence. In 1994, a Russian peacekeeping force was brought in at the request of the beleaguered regime. Moscow also brokered negotiations between the government and the UTO. By 1997, the government and opposition gradually put together a workable deal, under which the Islamists accepted a 30 per cent share of administrative responsibilities and integrated some of its units into the army. The government would, for its part, legalise the main Islamic political parties that were previously banned. The deal has more or less held since then. The presidential election of November 1999 was a one-sided affair, with the government candidate, Imomali Rakhmonov, attracting 97 per cent of the vote against a nominal opponent. Assembly elections in March 2000 returned the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan to the position of Syria’s largest party. Events in Central Asia, especially in the former Soviet republics, had barely registered in the West following the demise of the Soviet Union. That changed after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Keen to prosecute its war against the al-Qaeda ‘network’ and the Taleban regime in Afghanistan, Washington started to canvas neighbouring countries for facilities and military bases. Tajikistan, which shares a 1000-mile border with Afghanistan, was a prime candidate and much of the subsequent fighting in northern Afghanistan relied on US supplies and personnel moved in from Tajikistan. There were also valuable ethnic links between the Tajiks and parts of the Northern Alliance (see Afghanistan) which ultimately took care of the bulk of the fighting on the ground. The Americans made little secret of the fact that they intended to stay, despite the reservations of the other two main regional powers, China and Russia. For their part, the Tajiks were mainly concerned with the economic potential of the arrangement. The economy is in poor shape and many regions of the country have suffered food shortages following years of drought and economic dislocation caused by the civil war. Government: Under the new constitution agreed between the government and the UTO (see History above), Tajikistan has an executive president who appoints a prime minister to lead a Council of Ministers. The legislature is the bicameral Majlisi Oli, which comprises the 63-member Assembly of Representatives elected by popular vote and the 33-member National Assembly, with 25 members elected by majlis deputies and eight presidential appointees. Both houses serve a five-year term Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.