DUSHANBE, October 9, Asia-Plus – Expanded cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union were at the center of discussions between Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov and a delegation from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) led by Michael Scheffer, the head of the political department of the German MFA, in Dushanbe October 6.
The presidential press service said the sides focused on cooperation in the fields of energy, mining and training of personnel for Tajikistan and study of foreign languages in Tajikistan. The Tajik prime minister sought increased economic cooperation with European companies. Oqilov outlined sectors such as hydropower and mining as areas of which could drive cooperation, according to the source. During the meeting the parties also considered regional security and joint action in fighting drug trafficking, terrorism and other threats emanating from Afghanistan.
Scheffer noted that in the first half of 2007 Germany will hold the European Union Council Chairmanship. The visit of the German delegation was primarily a fact-finding mission as the European Union reviews its relations with the Central Asian states.
