Tajik Ambassador Illuminates History and Goals for Future
by Scott Ewart

This past Monday, Rashid Alimov, the Tajikistani ambassador to the United States, spoke to the Oberlin community on Tajikistan’s relationship with Afghanistan and outlined goals for ensuring security and development throughout Central Asia. Alimov, who is also Tajikistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, expressed gratitude for the global community’s involvement in fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. “We knew peace and prosperity would reign in our country only after the Taliban regime ended in Afghanistan,” he said.
Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan to the north, was gripped by civil war between secular and Islamic government advocates for five years after its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Alimov described how terrorism had been used in the conflict and emphasized the recent instability of the Central Asia region. “Sept. 11 opened the eyes of those who pretended to be blind.” he said.
Alimov explained how numurous political conflicts had wrought over 20 years of suffering upon Afghanis, particularly children. This turmoil culminated in the Taliban’s 1996 ascent to power. He described how children were given ammunition cartridges for toys, and cited that weapons outnumber people three to one in the country. “They believed that life meant war, they became children of war, actually they became a lost generation,” Alimov said.
Alimov warned that before Afghanistan could achieve national stability a great number of problems would have to be overcome and stressed that there would be no miracle. “In Afghanistan there is practically nothing,” he said. The process of forming a government has been slow because of factional disputes among Afghanistan’s many warlords. He also described how heroin production continues to be a problem, and although farmers don’t want to grow the plants they lack seeds for other crops.
The tone of the speech was not entirely pessimistic, however. “It is our strong belief that the Afghan people will reach prosperity,” Alimov said, but cautioned that rebuilding the country would require cooperation from nations around the world, especially Pakistan and India. He also described the hopes of the Tajikistani people for Afghanistan. “We want women and girls to feel themselves dignified members of society, and see they have a future. We want the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan to become a border of friendship and free trade,” Alimov said, encouraging the Oberlin community to raise money for the relief effort in Afghanistan.
Alimov also outlined goals for development in Tajikistan, pointing to reduced inflation and growth in the private sector, including 240 joint foreign ventures, as signs for optimism. He explained the need to create a modern day silk road by establishing stable trade connections between Central Asia, Europe and East Asia. This would not only further economic growth, but also encourage cultural exchange and raise world awareness of the Central Asian nations.
While the audience received Alimov warmly, some were disappointed by the broad nature of the talk. Other students questioned how truthfully he spoke about Tajikistani sentiment on American involvement in the region since Sept. 11.
“It was difficult to tell whether he was expressing true gratitude for American involvement in the region, or he was simply telling an American audience what he thought they wanted to hear,” sophomore Kate Merrick said.

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