Vladimir Jarikhin, Vice Director of the Institute for CIS Countries specially for Trend .
The Tajik President just felt nervous when he canceled a visit to Moscow, scheduled for Feb. 1. This is normal on the background of the global economic crisis.
The fact is that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Tashkent touched upon the issue that interests Russia and Azerbaijan less.
We are more concerned with hydrocarbons, while they have their problems there and the principal problem is not hydrocarbons, but water. The problem is old, when the Central Asian republics became independent, it turned out that the two countries are rich in water resources - Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and two poor - Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The problem appears there in this regard. The problem arises because of the Kazakh and Uzbek hydrocarbons in abundance, while there are no hydrocarbons in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
There is a problem of energy here, which Tajikistan decides on the basis of what they are rich, i.e. water resources, and build a hydroelectric power station. Its peculiarity is that this station is built on rivers, which are starting their way from Tajikistan and ends in Uzbekistan. The flow and flow regulation problem is vital for Uzbekistan.
At the same time, Tajikistan President is right saying that it is in winter when the problem of electricity in his country arises. Tajikistan has sharply reacted on Medvedev's statement that Russia will consult with all parties while constructing the hydroelectric power station and problems of flow. The problem is not in flow, rather in crisis. Those problems that came to our country soon, as they are actively engaged in the global economy, Central Asian States to go slower, but they still occur.
The term for construction and possibilities of the Rogun hydroelectric power station with the help of Russia is linked not only with the problem of water balance. The completion of the Rogun hydroelectric power station and construction of the highest Russia tower in the centre of Moscow were also delayed. The crisis is underway. Tajikistan does not understand the sharpness of the global crisis as it is not involved into the world economy. Rakhmon became irritable a little, but he will visit Moscow.
Here we should compromise. Tajikistan is unable to produce power energy. However, the country has enough water resources and therefore it wants to construct hydroelectric power station that will restrict water flows in Uzbekistan. At the same time, Uzbekistan is the largest gas supplier. Why they do not agree to exchange water to gas. Another issue to consider is that to produce normal economic interactions between the countries.
No serious results we should expect from Turkmen President's visit to EU on Feb. 10. Europe itself has closed many projects due to the crisis, so no financing or investment is possible to make into construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power station.
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