DUSHANBE, April 15, Asia-Plus — On Monday April 14, visiting Minister of State at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, Mr. Gernot Erler held talks with President Emomali Rahmon to discuss state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Germany and Tajikistan.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Erler noted that during the meeting, they had pointed out good development of bilateral contracts between Germany and Tajikistan.
On further development of the European Union Strategy for Central Asia, the German official reminded that it was initiated by Germany last year and four specific directions had been identified.
The first of them is the project for creation of conditions for development of rule-of-law society, and Germany and France assumed management of this project.
“During the talks with the president, I reported on the second direction – enhancement of education sector,” said Mr. Erler. “We would like to develop exchange of students and researchers. This project is run by the European Commission.”
The minister of state noted that the third direction concerning the creation of regional regime of water and energy cooperation is of significant importance. Germany and Italy will be actively engaged in this subject, according to him. He reminded that international conference formally titled “Water Unites – New Prospects for Cooperation and Security” was held in Berlin and representatives from Tajikistan attended it. “We also discussed a progress of implementation of the water-and-energy projects,” he said.
The fourth directions concerns cooperation with the Central Asian states in strengthening border control and combating drug trafficking. “We have coordinated with the European Union and relevant agencies of the United Nations the proposal on holding international conference on this subject in Dushanbe in October this year, and it was supported by the Tajik head of state,” Mr. Erler said.
According to him, they also discussed the Afghan problems. They talked about the necessity of supporting efforts to reduce drug plant cultivation there.
Asked about specific projects, in which German private capital could participate, Mr. Erler said that German businessmen accompanying him on the visit are working directly with Tajik relevant ministries on this subject. He outlined sectors like energy, construction of small hydropower plants and infrastructure as priorities.
Today, Mr. Erler is scheduled to visit the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) and meet with heads of political parties and representatives from Tajik civic society.
We will recall that Mr. Gernot Erler, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, and Ms. Hedi Wegener, Chair of the German-Central Asian Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag, arrived in Tajikistan yesterday for a two-day visit.
