2015—2020. Роман Арзянцев

giving some other impression about these localities and their atmosphere, very positive and harmonic. Regarding flowers which are growing in Tajikistan abundantly, that is true, really! Many fields near mountain areas are covered with flowers of various colours; and in some villages situated in southern Tajikistan so many exotic trees and flowers are growing that view of these villages is very beautiful. Well, what does a village house in southern Tajikistan area look like? Well, just try to imagine in your mind some facts, since it is not large, maybe also one can tell about these houses that they are not so beautifully built, but there is a carpet on each veranda on the floor near the doors, and, of course, there are many flowers growing around in these villages of the Tajikistan Republic. Well, now you know that my heart was with Tajikistan, I just want only to feel and save in memory every day what this Republic can give me, and life there. And, for example, if probably you want to see how much money may have a middle level person in some southern areas of Tajikistan, so maybe just tray to think about income of some Tajik citizen in these districts, and maybe it will be just over 350 Tajikistan somoni a month, in a national Tajikistan currency. So, of course, it is not so high, but you know, knowing the cost of the most important products in this Republic, I can’t say how the same is in other countries, such as Republics of Caucasian Region and other countries; well, probably Tajikistan is the third of the poorest countries in Asia after Afghanistan and Nepal.

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      Well, as you can see a picture on the other side of this calendar paper; and on that picture you can see the – Moon, but only a half Moon. This, of course, is a very important symbol in all Islamic countries, and as a result of the Religion of Islam. It is depicted on many flags of Central Asian Republics, and especially on national flags of two republics, such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, maybe, because these countries are stronger in sense of the Religion of Islam, as, of course, Tajikistan, too, but, as you know, there are no symbols on the national flag of this country – as Islamic Moon Symbol. It is so great to see this national symbol in the most important places and, in all holy places for Muslim people. I think that moon specifically shines on the night sky in some time, of course, in holy time, such as the Holy Month of Ramadan. And, I think, maybe traditions in that time are very interesting and symbolic for all Muslims. As Ramadan Month traditions require, strong believers must not eat any food during daytime, and they are allowed to eat some food only when night starts, maybe some bread, etc.…

      What exactly does Islamic moon mean for you? For me it is a symbol of a great and very strong religion.

      The national Islamic symbol – moon, is seen on national flags of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

      13 MAY 2015, WEDNESDAY

      About what, how often I need to write, yes, I know that the beginning of each page for each day started with the same words, but maybe tomorrow, for the first time, there will be another beginning of the next page, but today, I think, that I need to write about other two administrative provinces or Velayats of Tajikistan. And, of course, this will be not about Gorno – Badakshan Autonomous District or about Sughd Region. But maybe it will be very good if you start to inquire about these two Velayats of the Tajikistan Republic which are situated in the western part of this Republic, near to Uzbekistan border; and they are Khatlon and Region of Republican Subordination. Well, probably, it is worth to say something about Khatlon Region which is situated in the south-west part of the Tajikistan Republic near Uzbekistan and Afghanistan borders. Area of this region amounts to about 25 000 km², and there is one else region in this area situated in the north part of the Tajikistan Republic, and it is Sughd Region about which I wrote yesterday. According to information of about 2008, population of this Province or Region (Khatlon Region) is about 2.5 million residents. Well, the administrative capital of this region, or, to tell the truth, the biggest city is Qurghonteppa, a city situated in the south part of region and the Tajikistan Republic, and it is very closely near to Afghanistan border. So, the population of that city, or how it is referred to in Tajikistan – Qurghonteppa, is about 100 000 residents (according to information of 2014). Well, but probably it has to be said that the major part of population of Khatlon Region are involved in agriculture, this means, of course, that this region has no important manufactures or industry, and the major part of working population is busy and working only in agriculture. So, maybe, it’s also not so safe and stable as it may be, for example, in other two administrative divisions of Tajikistan, as in Sughd Region or in the Region of Republican Subordination where, of course, there are more stability and higher level in economy sectors. So, for example, it’s necessary to write also about the most important administrative division of the Tajikistan Republic in official level where the capital of Tajikistan – Dushanbe is situated, i.e. the Region of Republican Subordination which is located in the western-central part of the country. The area of this region amounts to 28 600 km², and population of this province is 1.5 million residents. So, of course, the major part of inhabitants is living in the Tajik capital… but for what this region is famous? So, maybe it’s necessary mention some cultivated fruit growing especially in the warm summer season, such as peaches, apples, apricots, cherries and other fruit which are widely cultivated in Tajikistan. Of course, one need to know about the biggest city in this region, and this is true in entire Tajikistan Republic – Dushanbe city. The capital area is about 125 km², and the population is about 780 000 residents (as in 2004). So, it may be necessary to tell that if it is a capital then, of course it’s necessary to know that it must have an airport, and, of course, Dushanbe city has it. So, there are two main Tajikistan Air companies in Dushanbe International Airport, called Somon Air and Tajik Air. Somon Air Company, one of two biggest air companies in the Tajikistan Republic, often provides many air flights to other cities in several places of Asian continent, such as Turkey, Central Asia Republics and also in Europe. But the most interesting thing is to know that Somon Air Company has only three modern Boeings in its aircraft park, as in 2014. So, other biggest air company or operator in Tajikistan, Tajik Air, has maybe connections with other countries, such as Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, India, China and several Central Asia Republics. Well, probably, Dushanbe International Airport had experienced some changes recently, and perhaps it’s necessary to say something about the new terminal which was opened on the 3^rd of September, 2014, about a half year ago, maybe a bit longer time ago than a half year. So, what can be said about this; maybe that, according to information, the new terminal of Dushanbe airport can serve about 1.5 million passengers a year. It is very difficult to say, is a big part of passengers going to the Tajikistan Republic or leaving this country using Dushanbe International Airport, but I think that maybe a number of flights to and from this Republic is not so small, maybe also this Dushanbe International Airport is keeping up with other three airports in Tajikistan, i.e. in Khorugh, Khujand and Qurghonteppa.

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      Now, today I need to say something about what I wrote you yesterday, and mostly it was about administrative divisions of the Tajikistan Republic. So, the country includes four parts or administrative divisions, and in Tajikistan they are known as – Velayats. So, the first and the largest part of the Tajikistan Republic is the Gorno – Badakshan Autonomous Province or district which occupies about a half of Tajikistan territory; and this administrative division has an autonomous status. Now, maybe, let us turn to other three parts of the Tajikistan Republic located very closely to each other and situated in the western part of this Central Asia Republic. There is, of course, another not so big area which in official level in Tajikistan country is recognized and referred to officially as Sughd region; it is situated on the north of the country and have borders with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Republics. The area of this region is not large, if I remember right, it’s only about 25 000 km², but population of Sughd Region, I can’t say that it is very numerous, because only about 2 million people are living in this area.

      Maybe the biggest populated city in this region is Khujand city with population of about 125 000 inhabitants, and it is, of course, not a big number for a country whose population is about 8.5 million of people.

      Probably,