(Listen to the complete interview (three minutes):
RFE/RL: What does Tajikistan and improvements in Tajikistan mean for you?
Soros: I have a foundation in Tajikistan to promote open society -- the Open Society Foundation of Tajikistan, which has been very active in helping economic and political development in Tajikistan. And I'm a strong supporter of that foundation. I think that they can play a very positive role in Tajikistan and I'll be happy to discuss what we can do to make these national development goals attainable.
RFE/RL: What can you tell us about what is going on now? Is it good? Is it positive?
Soros: I think that to have this plan is positive and I think that to make the transition from a piece of paper to reality is the challenge. But it could be a good start. Just having a plan is already a step forward and I think a lot can be done. One of the issues I will urge is greater cooperation between government and civil society because development really involves the entire society and not just the government.
RFE/RL: When Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov was here [at the United Nations on 16 September], you had a meeing with him.
Soros: Yes.
RFE/RL: What questions did you discuss with him?
Soros: Well, we had a very frank discussion because, you know, he has been told by [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin that the Soros foundations are working to bring about color revolutions. And I tried to explain to him that this is a mistaken interpretation, that we are not at all in favor of revolutions. Because revolutions are a sign of failure. It means there is a lack of good institutions and the population is fed up. Having a revolution does not make up for that democratic deficit. Making up for it takes a long time and it requires constructive work and not revolutions. And I think that I managed to convince him that it is a false interpretation that we have any intention to have a revolution, either in Tajikistan or any other country.
Soros's Remarks To The UN
Listen to Soros's complete presentation (six minutes).