On October 10, 2012 a reception was held by the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Kingdom of Belgium to mark the 21st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan in Brussels, the centre of the European Union, in one of the reception rooms of the Husa President Park Hotel.
Around 300 people attended the reception, including members of the European Parliament, high-ranking representatives of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, NATO, the Energy Charter, the Government of the Kingdom
of Belgium, numerous heads of the diplomatic corps accredited in Brussels, the heads, academics and lecturers of various universities and institutes of higher education of the country of residence, the La Cambre National High School (Academy) of Visual Arts, various cultural and artistic associations, representatives of the mass media, in particular the Euronews TV channel, as well as members of the Tajik diaspora living in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France.
At the beginning of the event, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union and NATO Rustamjon Soliev highlighted the achievements of Tajikistan in different areas in its 21 years of independence. Ambassador Soliev indicated that, despite the complex, but relatively short period of time since the establishment of statehood, Tajikistan, as an independent country, has managed to develop significantly by implementing successful socio-economic and political reforms, by creating and strengthening democratic institutions, parliamentary democracy and its market economy, by establishing a relationship of mutually beneficial cooperation with the international community, as well as by ensuring a favourable climate for investment. The Ambassador drew the attention of those present to the efforts of the Head of State Emomali Rahmon and the Government of Tajikistan in achieving national strategic objectives – ensuring energy independence and food security, and overcoming the country’s communications isolation. In his speech, Rustamjon Soliev emphasised the wholehearted support and assistance provided to Tajikistan by the European Union, and expressed hope for a further expansion and deepening of the multifaceted, mutually advantageous cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.
In their speeches, the President of the European news and consulting company Big Media Group, Thieu Cuypers, the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Patricia Flor, the NATO Assistant Secretary General Hüseyin Dirioz, ambassadors, professors of the Brussels Academy of Arts and heads of Belgian institutes of higher education commended Tajikistan’s achievements in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, and in establishing peace and national concord in the country since independence. Speakers praised Tajik culture, arts and crafts, noting that the culture of the Tajik people is one of the cradles of world civilisation.
After that, the President of Big Media Group, Thieu Cuypers, presented a special issue of “The European Times” magazine, dedicated to the economic, hydropower, investment, tourism and cultural potential of Tajikistan.
During the reception, the well-known Tajik pianists Hikmat Bilolov and Abdughafor Safarov, resident in the Netherlands, performed a number of Tajik national and European melodies.
