DUSHANBE, April 20, 2009, Asia-Plus — The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Secretary General David Hobbs, heading the NATO PA delegation, is arriving in Tajikistan today for a two-day visit, according to the MFA information department.
The purpose of the visit is for the NATO PA secretary general to hold talks with high ranking Tajik state officials to discuss inter-parliamentary cooperation and the present situation in Afghanistan.
During his stay in Dushanbe, Mr. Hobbs is scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon, Speakers of both Chambers of Tajik Parliament — Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev and Saydullo Khairulloyev, Foreign Minister Hamrokon Zarifi, and some other officials.
The sides are expected to consider issues related to state and prospects of expansion of bilateral cooperation, economic and water-and-energy resource problems, supremacy of law, human rights situation, cooperation in providing regional security, strengthening border, fighting terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking, etc.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance as well as 16 associate members. The Assembly provides a critical forum for international parliamentary dialogue on an array of security, political and economic matters. Its principal objective is to foster mutual understanding among Alliance parliamentarians of the key security challenges facing the transatlantic partnership. Assembly discussions and debates make an important contribution to the development of the consensus that must underpin Alliance policies.
Membership of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is congruent with membership of NATO. Thus, the parliaments of the 26 NATO member nations are all full members of the Assembly.
Sixteen countries have been granted associate member status. Associate members are able to participate in almost all Committee and Sub-Committee activities, all Rose-Roth seminars, and Plenary Sessions. At Plenary Sessions, associate members can present resolutions and amendments to resolutions. They can also serve as Special Associate Rapporteurs on Committees to present their perspectives in NATO-PA reports. They are not, however, eligible to vote on reports, resolutions or Assembly leadership, nor do they contribute to the Assembly’s budget.
