DUSHANBE, March 1, 2011, Asia-Plus – Cooperation between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Government of Tajikistan in preventing disasters and mitigating their effects was the focus of a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with the IFRC Secretary General Bekele Geleta that took here today.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Geleta noted that IFRC attached significance to cooperation with Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society (RCS) and considered its activity more efficient among similar organizations operating in the region.
“RCS successfully collaborates with government bodies of your country and I welcome work of Tajik parliament which was among first in the Central Asian region to adopt a separate law on Tajikistan’s RCS,” the IFRC Secretary General stressed.
Asked about activities of IFRC in Tajikistan, Mr. Geleta noted that IFRC collaborate with Tajikistan mainly in responding to natural and anthropogenic disasters, mitigating their effects as well as improving prison conditions in the country.
We will recall that the IFRC secretary general arrived in Dushanbe to attend the Central Asian Red Crescent Societies Leadership Forum that opened here today. New strategies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement, humanitarian diplomacy, emergency preparedness and response, and also migration are among the major topics of the discussions in the Forum.
The event is organized by the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan with support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
During his visit, Mr. Geleta is also scheduled to meet with Tajik parliament speaker, the leadership of Central Asian Red Crescent Societies, and the ambassadors of Central Asian countries to Tajikistan.
