Presenting the Order for Service to the Fatherland, III degree, to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon

The President of Russia signed Executive Order awarding Emomali Rahmon with the Order for Service to the Fatherland, III degree, for the great personal contribution to promoting relations of strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries, as well as for ensuring regional stability and security.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friend,

Today you are being presented with a high Russian Federation state decoration: the Order for Service to the Fatherland, III degree. It is an acknowledgement of your great personal contribution to promoting friendship, strategic partnership and alliance between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.

It is no exaggeration to say that the most significant achievements in bilateral relations - in politics, the economy, science, education and culture - are the direct result of your active position, interest, involvement and support of all these areas and projects.

Over the many years of our joint work, you and I have developed truly friendly, productive, trusting relations that help us find mutually beneficial solutions, jointly promote multifaceted cooperation between Russia and Tajikistan, and consistently build them on the principles of equality, mutual respect and consideration for each other's interests.

I believe that you will continue to pay the necessary attention to the development of friendly ties between our countries and peoples. And I want to assure you, Mr President, that you can count on the same approach from the Russian side.

Once again, congratulations on this decoration. I wish you good health, further success in your state activities and all the best to you and the people of Tajikistan.

(The award ceremony.)

President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon Rahmon EmomaliPresident of Tajikistan: Mr President,

Thank you for your decision to present me with the Order for Service to the Fatherland. I see this decoration as high appreciation of my modest contribution to strengthening bilateral relations. Above all, I consider it the merit of the entire people of Tajikistan in the steady development of relations of strategic partnership and alliance with fraternal Russia. We are committed to further close cooperation in comprehensively promoting the entire range of interaction between the two countries.

Thank you once again, Mr President, for your high assessment of and attention to my activities. Thank you.

Vladimir Putin: Congratulations.