DUSHANBE, April 1, Asia-Plus — Issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were discussed here yesterday at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with visiting UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Guterres noted Tajikistan is a unique example of the UNHCR cooperation with individual country.
He appreciated the Tajik government and people’s kindness and openness in the policy on refugees and protection of their rights.
Reminding that UNHCR established its first office in Dushanbe during the complex for Tajikistan period, when there were many Tajik refugees, the UNCHR chief expressed satisfaction that peace and stability today reign in the country and there no Tajik refugees any more.
According to him, his talks with President Rahmon focused on ways how to build cooperation on providing support and assistance to refugees who had found asylum in Tajikistan. “At present, Afghan refugees live in Tajikistan and one of the important projects we discussed is how to integrate those Afghan refugees who arrived here many years ago into this society,” Mr. Guterres said.
He added that they had also discussed issues related to contribution the UNHCR could make into resolution of the issue of granting asylum in Tajikistan.
On problems resulted in Tajikistan from the extreme winter weather, the UNCHR chief noted that those food stocks that had been intended for refugees will be handed over to the UN Representative Office for distributing to people.
