He described the opening of a Russian military base in Tajikistan as "a most important decision, urgent for the two friendly and allied states."
"It matches the basic interests of our people, helps strengthen peace and stability in the Central Asia, and the security of the entire Commonwealth of Independent States," the Russian President said.
Legally, the treaty on the status and terms of deployment of the Russian military base in Tajikistan has been finalized, Mr. Putin said.
"The Russian military presence here has been internationally institutionalized," he went on.
According to the Russian President, the military base includes well-trained units.
"The 201st Division is very well known across Russia," he said, recalling that the 201st Russian Motorized Rifle Division deployed in Tajikistan since the Cold War greatly stabilized the nation as a civil war broke out in Tajikistan in the mid-1990s.
The president described the division as a "truly combat unit."
"It has repeatedly been at the forward edge, acting as a major military and political instrument in providing stability and security in the region, stopping drug trafficking and organized crime," he said. Mr. Putin added he was sure the division would perform as well in the future.
"Russia trusts in you as we are raising the Russian colors today; Russia counts on your adherence to warriors' duty, on your decency, courage, and professionalism on the battlefield," Mr. Putin told the military.
The Russian presidentwas brought to the base by the same car as Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmonov.
On his part, the President of Tajikistan said the Russian military presence was a major factor of peace and stability in Tajikistan.
Mr. Rakhmonov described the opening of the Russian base as "a milestone in the history of relations between Russia and Tajikistan."
"This is not just about changing names, this is a qualitatively new [level of] cooperation," he argued.
After the presidents' speeches, the Russian colors were raised, to the Russian national anthem, at the headquarters of the 201st Division that will make the core of the military base.
The U.S. said it saw the opening of a Russian permanent military base in Tajikistan as a positive event.
U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Richard Hogland told reporters on Sunday that Russia's opening a military base in Tajikistan was good and normal. He said that could help in the global war on terror.
