Tajiks Vow To Finish Dam Project With Or Without Russia
October 27, 2006 -- Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmonov today hinted that his government might complete a giant hydropower plant without Russia's assistance.
Addressing a regional energy forum in Dushanbe, Rakhmonov said the Tajik government will begin the final phase of construction of the Rogun dam, which Russia's RusAl aluminum giant agreed to complete two years ago.
Rakhmonov estimated the cost of the project at $2 billion.
The Rogun project has stalled amid a dispute between the Tajik government and RusAl on the height of the dam, which the Russian company wants to generate electricity for an aluminum plant it plans to purchase.
Russia's Interfax news agency today quotes Sharifkhon Samiev, the chairman of Tajikistan's Barki Tochik national electricity company, as blaming RusAl for not paying due attention to the Rogun project, thus forcing the government to rely "on its own forces."
(Asia-Plus, Interfax)
Music On Film, Film On Music
CENTRAL EUROPE MEETS CENTRAL ASIA: A Prague-based festival featuring nearly 100 films about music from around the world placed a spotlight on the musical culture of Central Asia -- still one of the world's best-kept secrets. Films gave a glimpse into the lives of musicians in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was on hand for a live musical performance.
WATCH
View a short RFE/RL video presentation of the event (about 90 seconds). RealVideo