DUSHANBE, January 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — According to the MFA information department, President Emomali Rahmon pays an official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union institutions on February 9-11.
Tajik leader visits Belgium by invitation of Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy. Under the visit schedule, President Rahmon will hold talks with His Majesty King Albert II, Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy and a number of other high-ranking Belgian state officials. Rahmon’s official visit to Belgium is expected to result in signing of a number of documents that will give an impulse to development of political, economic and humanitarian relations between Tajikistan and Belgium, the MFA information department said.
During his stay in Brussels, Emomali Rahmon will meet with Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. State and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union in different spheres will be a major topic of the talks. A special attention will be paid to problems of providing regional security.
Tajik leader will also hold talks with High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the European Council Mr. Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the European Parliament”s Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mr. Jacek Saryusz-Wolski.
President Rahmon is expected to deliver a statement at the European Parliament on state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union countries.
Besides, Tajik president is scheduled to hold meeting with European Investment Bank (EIB) President, Mr. Philippe Maystadt. The two will discuss issues related to establishing fruitful cooperation. The meeting is expected to end wit signing of an agreement on cooperation between Tajikistan and the EIB.
President Rahmon will also hold talks with the Energy Charter Secretary General André Mernier. Issues related to the global financial crisis and its effect on energy security as well as ways to raise efficiency of cooperation in the energy sphere will figure in Rahmon’s meeting with Mernier.
The Tajik head of state will also meet with representatives of political and scientific circles and diplomats at Egmont Institute (Royal institute for International Relations). The president will deliver a statement on the current political and socioeconomic situation in Tajikistan as well as regional security problems.
Emomali Rahmon will also attend a ceremony of an official opening of a new building of the Tajik Embassy in Brussels and make speech at the business forum with participation of Belgium entrepreneurs that are interested in investing in Tajikistan’s economic, the MFA information department said.
