DUSHANBE, March 6, Asia-Plus — Visiting US Ambassador to the OSCE Julie Finley raised the issue of Tajikistan’s law on public associations at a March 5 meeting in Dushanbe with Tracey Ann Jacobson, Ambassador of the United States to Tajikistan, Vladimir Sotirov, Head the United Nations Tajikistan Office of Peace-Building (UNTOP), Klaus Rasmussen, Acting Head of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, and Karomatullo Olimov, State Adviser of the Tajik President for Social Development and Public Relations.
Representatives from civic society, political parties and media also attended the meeting that focused on issues related to freedom of speech, human rights, corruption and gender problems in Tajikistan.
During the meeting, US Ambassador to the OSCE brought the recently adopted Tajik law on public associations to attention of those present. According to her, this law violates rights of members of civic society, banning public associations, except political parties, to nominate their representatives to parliament.
Finley arrived in Dushanbe Monday morning for a three-day working visit.
Today, US Ambassador to the OSCE left Dushanbe for the northern province of Sughd, where she is expected to familiarize herself with work of the OSCE field office in Khujand. During her stay in Khujand, Finley will also hold meetings with representatives from local authorities and civic society in northern Tajikistan.
Tomorrow, Julie Finley is scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zaripov and State Adviser for the Tajik President for International Matters Erkin Rahmatulloyev.
According to the Tajik MFA, the main purpose of the visit is for US Ambassador to the OSCE to discuss issues related to cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
