DUSHANBE, September 18, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met with the European Union (EU) Special Representative to Central Asia Pierre More in Paris on September 17.
According to the Tajik MFA, discussing issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union, the sides pointed to the necessity of intensifying bilateral relations.
On the first EU-Central Asia Forum on security issues that opened in Paris today, the European envoy for Central Asia noted that the forum is expected to result in adoption of a joint statement that will reflect the forum participants’ positions on the security issues, in particular fight against illicit drug trafficking, extremism, terrorism, as well as aspects of energy security and environmental protection.
For his part, the Tajik minister underlined an importance of wide participation of high-ranking representatives of the European Union and international organizations in an international conference on the border strengthening and drug trafficking fight issues that will be held in Dushanbe from September 21-22.
In the course of the talks, the two also discussed the latest developments in the region and Afghan problems as well as other aspects being of mutual interest.
The same day, Zarifi held talks with his ministerial counterparts from France (Bernard Kouchner), Turkmenistan (Rashid Meredov) and Greece (Dora Bakoyannis).
Zarifi with Kouchner discussed a broad range of issues related to practical interaction at the present stage. The also discuss regional security issues, including fight against drug trafficking, management of border as well as the latest developments in Afghanistan and the region as a hole.
Zarifi called on his French counterpart to intensify the process of ratification of an agreement on partnership and cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union that was signed in Luxemburg in 2004 at France’s parliament, the MFA press service said.
Major topic of Zarifi’s meeting with Meredov was development of events in the region as well as the necessity of coordination of joint actions on aspects being of mutual interest.
The two, in particular, considered issues related to the draft resolution on safety of transit of energy resources and its role in providing stable economic development and international cooperation. The draft resolution was prepared by the Turkmen government, and the Turkmen noted that adoption of the resolution will have positive impact on a system of international trade and economic ties and promote further expansion of relations between the countries and the regions.
Zarifi and Greek Foreign Minister, Ms Dora Bakoyannis, pointed to the necessity of expansion of bilateral cooperation between the countries and pointed to the necessity of speeding up signing of an agreement on cooperation in the technical and economic sphere and a memorandum of cooperation in the field of alternate and renewable energy resources.
The Greek minister expressed hope that she will have an opportunity to visit Tajikistan in 2009 as Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the MFA press said.
