DUSHANBE, March 7, 2014, Asia-Plus — On Friday March 7, Shukurjon Zuhurov, Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), received Ambassador Markus Mueller, Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.
Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says the sides discussed issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Zuhurov reportedly appreciated the OSCE’s support for reestablishing peace and accord in Tajikistan, returning Tajik refugees from Afghanistan, strengthening the Tajik-Afghan border management, developing civil society, and tackling the environmental protection issues.
“Zuhurov noted that Tajikistan highly appraises the OSCE’s contribution to development of democracy, freedom of speech and protection of human rights in the region, including Tajikistan,” Sultonov said.
According to him, Ambassador Mueller stressed that the OSCE would continue cooperation with Tajikistan in the future as well.
The OSCE’s engagement in Tajikistan began in February 1994. The Mission’s initial mandate was to facilitate dialogue between regional and political forces; promote respect for human rights; foster and monitor Tajikistan’s adherence to OSCE norms and principles; and help the country develop its legal and democratic institutions and processes. In 2002, a new broadened mandate established the Center in Dushanbe and included economic and environmental security issues. Six years later, the States adopted an even more robust mandate, introducing the complex area of border management into the OSCE’s tasks and changing the name of the Center to Office in Tajikistan.
