Tajiks love Russia more than Iran
Despite the common historical and cultural heritage of Tajiks and Iranians, Tajiks love Russia more than Iran. IRNA reports that according to the recent poll conducted and published by Weekly View, shows that ‘33 percent of those questioned consider Iran as one of Tajikistan’s main strategic partners.’
The English of IRNA is a bit difficult to understand but if we look at the numbers it shows that first among the favorite countries for Tajiks goes Russia and second Iran.
The poll, published by Weekly View, shows 37.3 percent of those polled view Russia as Tajikistan’s strategic partner.
The poll also shows that 11.5 percent of the people viewed the US, 9.7 percent China, 6.2 percent the European Union and 2.3 percent the Commonwealth of Independent States as Tajikistan’s strategic partner.
on May 8th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Hi Vadim, How are you?
It seems you are glad due to this result!
What’s your own opinion about this question?
Hamed
on May 11th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I’m no surprised that Russia tops the list (even, if it is/was in part responisble for the outbreak of the TJ civil war in the ’90s): common Soviet-colonial legacy plus substantial labor migration to/remittances from Russia.
As for Iran, 33% compared to Russia’s 37% is not a bad result at all. IMO title should be: Tajiks love Iran nearly as much as Russia.
Not also how the West and China cut little/limited wood.
on May 12th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hello Hamed,
I’m fine thanks. What about you?
How did you define that I’m glad to hear this news?
Actually, I’m glad that Iran is getting more popular in Tajikistan but the question is - do Tajiks/Tajikistan get popular in Iran? Not only among the population but also in the government. I don’t think so. That’s the main problem. I’m sure that most of the population of Iran doesn’t even know that somewhere in Central Asia exists a country, named Tajikistan, which is also considered as a persian country, and the population of that country loves Iran and wants to have closer relations with it.
In current situation Tajiks look like “poor relatives”.
That’s my perception. Please, correct me if I’m mistaken.
I think that Tajiks love Iran unjustifiably too much. Iran has not contributed to the development of Tajikistan as much as it is expected. Even Turkey contributed more, which has no common history with Tajikistan. Iran started to make some investment to Tajikistan when it was itself blocked from almost all sides with the help of US. It really disappoints me when I realise this.
I know that Iran does NOT have to be responsible for the development of Tajikistan but I think the relations between our countries deserve to be better and in most of the case this depends on Iran. For example, we could have no visa barriers. That would lead to more travels and more business (not only huge energy and communication projects) but also joint SMEs. That would be great!
I feel really sorry that our countries are so close and so far at the same time.
on May 16th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
A more accurate title for the topic could have been as follows:
‘Tajiks Need Russian Labour Market More Than Any Other.’
With racist abuse rife in Russia the present title sounds a bit unrealistic.
on May 16th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Hi Vadim,
Given Russian and American efforts to block any closer ties from taking shape between Iran and Tajikistan I reckon your assessment of Iran’s engagement in Tajikistan’s ecomony is unjustifiably too harsh. There are some other ties that go beyond our extremely materialistic approach. Therefore, being Central Asian Iranians themselves, no wonder Tajiks still love Iran.
Cheers
on May 16th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
And Iranian population’s unawareness about Tajikistan is slightly exaggerated. I can assure you that more Iranians within and outside Iran are getting acquiainted with Tajikistan.