DUSHANBE, October 10, 2012, Asia-Plus — Political consultations between the Foreign Ministry of Tajikistan and Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs took place here on October 8, the Tajik MFA information department reported.
Co-chaired by Mr. Mahmoudjon Solehov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan and Ms. Heidemiarie Gurer, Head of Department, Eastern Europe, Western Balkan, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, the meeting reportedly discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Austria.
The sides, in particular, discussed preparations for an official visit of Austrian President Heinz Fischer to Tajikistan scheduled for the next year.
They also discussed legal foundation of cooperation between the two countries, key aspects of the European Union’s Strategy for Central Asia, attraction of Austrian investments for construction of small and medium-sized hydropower plants in Tajikistan.
The meeting participants also considered a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest and connected with the withdrawal of ISAF troops from Afghanistan in 2014, regional security and the implementation of regional infrastructure development projects forces.
On the current situation in Afghanistan, the sides noted that international community must take more efforts to ensure the establishment of lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as the creation of favorable conditions for socioeconomic development of this country.
They stressed that establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan is an important factor for stability in the Central Asian region, the source said.
