DUSHANBE, July 19, 2012, Asia-Plus — On Wednesday July 18, Tajik Defense Minister, Colonel-General Sherali Khairulloyev, met here with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Tajikistan, says state and prospects of military and military-technical cooperation between Tajikistan and France were a major topic of the meeting.
The sides reportedly also considered issues related to further deployment of the French Air Force contingent at the Dushanbe airport, training of personnel of Tajik national army as well as exchange of experience and information on combating terrorism and extremism.
Khairulloyev and Le Drian also exchanged views on a broad range of issues being of mutual interest, including providing security in Central Asia after withdrawal of ISAF forces from Afghanistan in 2014, the source said.
Khairulloyev expressed gratitude to his French counterpart for assistance provided by France to Tajikistan in the framework of military cooperation.
Le Drian, for his part, appreciated Tajikistan’s support for the fight against international terrorism.
Some media sources reports that French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian traveled to Uzbekistan on July 16, where he held consultations with senior officials including President Islam Karimov. Le Drian reportedly discussed the impending withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. NATO forces plan to move troops and equipment through Uzbekistan as they return to Europe and the United States.
Radio Liberty reports former French President Nicolas Sarkozy had expressed concerns about the Uzbek route, saying the Uzbek government was demanding too high a price to transit its territory.
Le Drian and Karimov reportedly also discussed security issues in Central Asia after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, which is planned to be completed by the end of 2014.
