DUSHANBE, November 2, 1011, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, who is currently in Istanbul to attend the Conference for Security and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia, yesterday met there with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed a broad range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Germany in various fields.
They, in particular, noted that there was still considerable room for expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries and expressed hope that visits of high-level delegations of Tajikistan and Germany would give a new impulse to further development of relations between them.
Zarifi and Westerwelle also discussed cooperation between their countries within the frameworks of international organizations and conferences on Afghanistan.
Zarifi informed his German counterpart of the process of preparations for the 5th regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) that will take place in Dushanbe in March 2012.
The two also touched upon issues related to the International Afghanistan Conference that will be held in Bonn on December 5, 2011. Zarifi confirmed Tajikistan’s participation in the conference.
Guido Westerwelle noted the importance of Tajikistan’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) and assured Zarifi that Germany would promote Tajikistan’s admission to the WTO, the source said.
Zarifi also met with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul in Istanbul on November 1. He introduced Nizomiddin Zohidov, who had been appointed Tajik President’s Special Representative to Afghanistan, to Afghan minister.
The sides discussed the regional cooperation issues as well as cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan within the frameworks of regional and international organizations.
