President Emomali Rahmon Signing the Treaty
After three years of negotiation and compromise, Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, has finally signed into a friendship treaty with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. In “Tajikistan Signs Onto the Central Asian Friendship Treaty”, Catherine Putz examines the negotiations and process behind entering into an international treaty, and the factors that made Tajikistan decide to sign this particular treaty. Putz summarizes the process of the formation of the treaty that was initially between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, going over some of the terms of the accords. Officially titled the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation for the Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century, the document lays out articles with a focus of respect between the nations, mandatory meetings should one country face attack, and a refrain from violence between the signed parties. Although the treaty has been enacted by the aforementioned countries for three years now, the main reason Tajikistan was hesitant to immediately enter the treaty has continued to be the tense relationship between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union and the formation of the countries, the 33 year border dispute between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has violently raged. Surprisingly, in December 2024 the presidents of both countries met, agreeing on a finalized border. Due to these meetings, Dushanbe has agreed to sign and enter into the Central Asian Friendship Treaty. The highlights of the treaty are the document’s hints towards collective defence and the non-violence agreement. Hopefully, the shocking news that President Emomali Rahmon has decided to participate in the agreement will promote further peace in Central Asia.