DUSAHNBE, July 31, Asia-Plus – French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie paid her short visit to Tajikistan in late July to discuss military and technical cooperation with President Emomali Rahmonov and the country’s top military leadership.
Ms. Alliot-Marie arrived in
Dushanbe
on July 29. On the same day, she departed for
Kabul
, where she met with French military personnel deployed there.
Ms Michele Alliot-Marie held talks with President Emomali Rahmonov on July 31, on her return to
Dushanbe
from
Kabul
.
According to information from presidential press service, the sides discussed further expansion of cooperation between
Tajikistan
and
France
in fighting terrorism, extremism and organized crime, as well as issues related to military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries. In the course of the talks the two also discussed issues related to the latest developments in the
Middle East
, as well as problems in
Afghanistan
,
Iran
,
Iraq
and the
Persian Gulf
.
Following her meeting with President Rahmonov, Ms. Alliot-Marie told journalists that
France
shared
Tajikistan
’s call for the immediate end to the current fighting in the zone of Israeli-Lebanese conflict position. She noted that the fighting in
Lebanon
should be stopped as soon as possible and the problems should be resolved through a political way. According to her, international community should take measures in order that the conflicting sides would sign a general agreements to protect
Lebanon
’s population against the fighting.
On the current situation in
Afghanistan
, the French defense minister noted that the situation there had improved. However, separate operations by militants of the Taliban movement evoke concern, according to her. She noted
France
appreciated
Tajikistan
’s for deployment of French military contingent at the
Dushanbe
airport to support operation by the antiterrorist collation in
Afghanistan
. “Our cooperation is on the high level and it expresses itself in training Tajik military personnel in the French language and providing assistance in carrying out demining operations in
Tajikistan
,” Ms. Alliot-Marie said.
A group of French entrepreneurs accompanied the French defense minister on her short visit to
Tajikistan
. During the meeting Rahmonov and Alliot-Marie also discussed a bilateral cooperation between
Tajikistan
and
France
in the areas such as energy, agrarian sector, food industry and tourism.
During her stay in Dushanbe Michele Alliot-Marie also met with command of the French Air Force contingent stationed at the
Dushanbe
airport since 2001. Today afternoon, the French returned to
France
.
We will recall that at present two transport planes and six Mirage-2000 jetfighter of French Air Force as well as 400 military personnel are stationed at the airport in
Dushanbe
to support operation by the antiterrorist coalition in
Afghanistan
. The additional military contingent of
France
will stay in
Tajikistan
till November this year.
