Rahmon called the United Kingdom “an important partner in Western Europe”

The British Foreign Secretary David Cameron began his Central Asian tour on April 22 with a visit to Tajikistan.

The Independent previously reported that “during his visit to Central Asia, Cameron intends to expand British cooperation with the region amid concerns that sanctions against Russia can be circumvented through neighboring countries,” the publication writes.

Cameron held meetings with the Foreign Minister and the President of Tajikistan. Details of the negotiations are not disclosed. According to the president’s press service, Emomali Rahmon, during the meeting with the British Foreign Secretary, called the United Kingdom “an important partner in Western Europe.”

“Our country pays great attention to the development and strengthening of multifaceted relations with the Kingdom,” noted Rahmon.

“David Cameron, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the noticeable expansion of multifaceted relations between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom and their good prospects,” the press service of the head of state reports.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the relations between the two countries in political, economic, trade, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. In particular, issues of establishing cooperation between the countries in addressing water-climate problems, labor migration, opening air routes between the countries, attracting investments, and ensuring security and stability in the region were discussed.

The United Kingdom is one of the countries that imposed strict sanctions against Moscow following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Western countries have repeatedly warned Central Asian countries, which are allies of Moscow, not to assist Russia in circumventing the restrictive measures.

The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on several companies from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan for supplying goods to Russia in violation of restrictions.