DUSHANBE, April 9, Asia-Plus — President Emomali Rahmon today received a delegation of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) led by its head Ronald Frank Leman.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Tajik head of state, Mr. Leman said that they had discussed issues requiring joint solution as well projects that could be funded by the ISTC. He added that a session of the ISTC board of managers will be held in Dushanbe today.
According to him, the visiting ISTC delegation members include representatives from the Russian Federation, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Union. “Partners from Canada intend to continue funding projects aimed at development of science and technologies in Tajikistan, the United States and the European Union plan to finance a number of projects jointly,” the ISTC head said.
He noted that the ISTC has to date funded 48 projects, which are being actively implemented in Tajikistan.
Russia’s representative pointed to the necessity of continuing implementing environmental protection projects, which are interesting both for Tajikistan and Russia and other partners from other countries.
Reminding that the European Union and Tajikistan signed a cooperation agreement in 2004, representatives from the European Union underlined the importance of cooperation in the fields of science, education, ecology, security and migration.
Japan’s representative highly appraised the results of last year’s visit of President Rahmon to Japan and noted that a Japanese-Tajik parliamentary association of friendship was established at the end of last month and confirmed readiness of his country to continue providing support to Tajikistan.
Speaking to reporters, the US representative underlined the importance of cooperation on the health environmental protection issues.
The Canadian representative outlined scientific-technical cooperation as foundation of further relations.
The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) was established by international agreement in November 1992 as a nonproliferation program.
The ISTC coordinates the efforts of numerous governments, international organizations, and private sector industries, providing weapons scientists from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States new opportunities in international partnership. Through its political, legal, and financial frameworks, the ISTC contributes to Fundamental Research, International Programs and Innovation and Commercialization, by linking the demands of international markets with the exceptional pool of scientific talent available in Russian and CIS institutes.
