Tajikistan capable of handling situation - minister.

18/10 Tass 89

DUSHANBE, October 18 (Itar-Tass) - Tajikistan's Foreign Minister
Khamrakhon Zarifi said the republic has all the means and opportunities to
restore order in the eastern region of the country on its own, and does
not need the assistance of third countries.
Zarifi, who made the statement at a news conference on Monday,
acknowledged however that the situation had aggravated in the region some
time ago, but "not to the extent where it can threaten the country's
national security."
According to the foreign minister, "one or two terrorist groups are
operating in the mountains, but the government has enough forces there to
keep the situation under control."
Speaking about the foreign mercenaries from Pakistan, Russia, and
Afghanistan who fight on the side of Tajik militants, Zarifi underlined
that "terrorists have neither homeland nor nationality, nor religion, so
we have no claims against these states."
He denied the statements by some law-enforcement bodies'
representatives that "secret services of third countries were involved in
the events in the east of the republic."
"I don't think that instability in Tajikistan would be advantageous to
any country, because the fire started in one state can easily spread to
the neighbours' territory," the minister stressed.
-0-myz/usn


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