DUSHANBE, September 27, 2008, Asia-Plus — On sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly that was held in New York on September 16-26, President Rahmon held a number of talks.
On September 26, President Rahmon held talks with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Cooperation between Tajikistan and the UN agencies was the focus of their talks, according to presidential press service.
During the meeting, Rahmon expressed gratitude to the UN secretary general for the aid provided by the United Nations to Tajikistan during the past difficult winter. The Tajik leader also noted that Tajikistan is ready to place a joint center for Central Asian economic affairs of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the UN Economic Commission for Europe in its territory.
Rahmon and Ban also discussed the progress of implementation of investments projects, in particular construction of small and medium-sized hydropower plants, in Tajikistan as well as the latest developments in Afghanistan.
Yesterday, President Rahmon also held talks with Dr David Robson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada’s Tethys Petroleum Limited (Tethys). During the meeting the Tethys CEO noted that they will start producing natural gas at the Komsomol deposit by the end of this year. Natural gas from this deposit will be supplied to residential customers in Dushanbe, the press service said. Dr. Robson spoke for speeding up development of natural-gas deposits in Kulob and Baljuvon. The two also considered issues related to participation of Tethys in implementation of other investment projects in Tajikistan.
On September 26, President Rahmon also met with his Latvian counterpart, President Valdis Zatlers. The sides spoke for expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Latvia in different fields. They, in particular, outlined hydropower, chemical industry, tourism, and telecommunications as areas of which could drive the bilateral trade between the two countries.
On Friday, the Tajik head of state also met with a group of the US entrepreneurs and Tajiks living in the United States.
Toady afternoon, Rahmon will leave New York for Moscow and tomorrow afternoon, he will return to Dushanbe, according to presidential press service.
