SPEECH BY HON'BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS OF TAJIKISTAN

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 8th September, 2009

H.E. President Emomali Rahmon

Excellencies,

Dear people of Tajikistan and fellow citizens of India.

I am delighted to be here today in beautiful Tajikistan. It is a matter of great pride and satisfaction to be celebrating the 18th Independence Day of Tajikistan with you all.

I bring to you all greetings and best wishes from the Government and more than one billion people of India. I also wish to extend to you the greetings for the holy month of Ramadan.

The close historical and cultural links between Tajikistan and India are well known to you. Since my arrival here two days ago, I have been struck by the extent of similarity between our two countries and its people. It feels like a homecoming.

I will describe my feelings in a couplet from a famous Indian poet:

All the houses look the same, the people too,
In an unknown city nothing appears unfamiliar

India and Tajikistan have shared the same political and cultural space in the past. These old links were frozen in time due to our respective histories. However, now both the Governments are working ceaselessly to re-establish these multifaceted links. We are happy that our bilateral relations are in an excellent state and we share mutual respect, trust, love and confidence.

At the same time by working together both our nations can be successful, just as yesterday when an Indian and Tajik joint mountaineering team scaled the Gulab Kangri Peak. I congratulate the team. I am all the more happy that this feat was achieved on the eve of Tajikistan's Independence Day.

I also wish to state that the book, " Tajikistan in the Mirror of History" (Tajik Itihas Ke Darpan Mein) written by President Rahmon, which has recently been translated will help in the understanding between our nations. I thank him for the efforts he has made.

Tajikistan is an old civilization, but a young nation. The process of nation building offers opportunities and challenges. I congratulate the people of Tajikistan for all their achievements in the last 18 years. Nation building involves joint effort of Governments and each child, woman and man, all of whom have to make a contribution.

The Tajik people have already shown their maturity and sagacity. You are an example of bringing to an end differences in society through peaceful negotiations and dialogue. I congratulate the people of Tajikistan, H.E. President Rahmon and the Government. Continuing peace is a pre-requisite for moving forward on the road to prosperity.

India wishes to see Tajikistan as a prosperous, progressive and peaceful country. We live in each others' extended neighbourhood. We rejoice in your success.

As I leave Tajikistan today, it will be the warmth of the friendship I have received from all of you that I will always cherish. I conclude with a verse written by the famous Tajik poet Rudaki:

"Hez shodi nest andar in zahon
Behtar az didori rui duston"

Translated as:

"Nothing is more joyful in the world than meeting with friends"

Long live India-Tajikistan friendship!

Salamat Boshed