DUSHANBE, November 23, 2014, Asia-Plus – On Saturday November 22, Tajik President received Swiss President and Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, who is also Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The Tajik president’s official website reports the sides discussed issues related to cooperation of Tajikistan with the OSCE and the Swiss Confederation.
Rahmon reportedly highly appraised activities of the OSCE in Tajikistan and expressed satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Switzerland.
Rahmon and Burkhalter also discussed strengthening of control of Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan, problems of prevention of threats of terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking in Central Asia.
They also exchanged views on expansion of regional cooperation in Central Asia and development of democracy and civil society in Tajikistan, the source said.
Tajik leader reportedly appreciated Switzerland’s support for expansion of Tajikistan’s cooperation with the World Bank (WB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Didier Burkhalter (born April 17, 1960) is a Swiss politician. He is the President of the Swiss Confederation for the year 2014.
According to the OSCE, OSCE CiO and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter visited the five Central Asian republics – Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan – from November 19 to November 22, 2014 to discuss with his counterparts the work and activities of the OSCE presences in the region, their importance in all three dimensions, and will underline the crucial role of all countries in contributing to the security of the OSCE region. He also exchanged views on the current security challenges as well as the upcoming Ministerial Council, which is taking place in Basel, Switzerland from December 4-5.
He reportedly started his visit on November 19 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, then travel to Astana in Kazakhstan on November 20, followed by Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, on November 21 and had meetings in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on November 22, before visiting Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and flying off from the region the same day.
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.
