RUSSIA-TAJIKISTAN: PRESIDENTS HAVE PHONE TALK

MOSCOW, March 15, 2004. (RIA Novosti) -- Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan had a telephone conference, on the latter's initiative, this afternoon, reports the Kremlin press service.

Mr. Rakhmonov congratulated his Russian counterpart on a landslide victory in yesterday's presidential election. "As your victory shows, entire Russia is supporting presidential policies," he said.

The Presidents discussed bilateral partnership prospects, and preparations for three summits, due next summer - of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Eurasian Economic Community, or EURASEC, and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation brings together China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan; the EURASEC - Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan; and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.