DUSHANBE, March 20, 2009, Asia-Plus – Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi heading a high-ranking delegation today departed for Mazar-i Sharif, the capital of Afghanistan’s Balkh Province, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
A group of Tajik researchers, writers and journalists are accompanying the minister on his trip to Afghanistan.
Hamrokhon Zarifi will join his Afghan and Iranian counterpartss at a tripartite meeting that is being held in Mazar-i Sharif under agreements reached during a tripartite summit meeting of the presidents of Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan that was held in Tehran on March 10 on sidelines of the 10th summit meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
As it had been reported earlier, the three presidents agreed on March 10 that the national coordinating council at the level of foreign ministers would hold its first meeting in Tajikistan as soon as possible and follow up the agreements reached at the Tehran summit. The three foreign ministers also got committed to follow up Tehran tripartite agreements in the Afghan city of Mazar-i Sharif in the late March.
According to Iran’s news agency, IRNA, trilateral meeting, inauguration of an urban civil project, opening of Ferdavsi Library, press conference and an inspection visit to a cultural relic are among joint programs of the Tajik, Afghan and Iranian foreign ministers on Friday.
During his stay in Mazar-i Sharif, Zarifi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his Afghan and Iranian counterparts as well as Balkh governor Ata Mohammad Nour, the MFA information department said.
