DUSHANBE, October 3, 2012, Asia-Plus — Friday (November 2) afternoon, President Emomali Rahmon received Mr. Hans Altherr, the President of the Council of States of Switzerland (Upper House of the Swiss Parliament).
According to Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Switzerland. The sides also exchanged views on regional issues.
Due to grants awarded by the Swiss Government, 30 projects targeting sectors like health, energy, water supply and ensuring supremacy of law are being implemented in Tajikistan.
Altherr’s meeting with his Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament), reportedly focused on expansion of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
On November 2, Mr. Hans Altherr also met with Islamic revival Party (IRP) leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also member of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament. Kabiri reportedly briefed him on activities of the Islamic Revival Party.
According to press release issued by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, the Deputy Secretary General of the Swiss Parliament and Secretary of the Council of States Mr. Philippe Schwab, Ambassador of Switzerland to Tajikistan Mr. Stephan Nellen, and Director of Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan Mr. Peter Mikula are accompanying Mr. Altherr on his visit to Tajikistan.
The purpose of the visit is to discuss and strengthen the relations between the Parliaments of the two countries. Other topics include cooperation with Switzerland within the common constituency of the Bretton Woods Institutions, and bilateral relations in frames of technical and financial cooperation.
The program of the visit includes also attending the official opening of the Clinical Skills Laboratory of the Tajik State Medical University named after Avicenna, and the Ismaili Center – a must-see for both residents and guests of Dushanbe, the press release said.
Mr. Mr. Hans Altherr, President of the Council of States of Switzerland, arrived in Tajikistan on November 2 for a two-day.
The Council of States is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly”s upper house. There are 46 Councilors.
Twenty of the country”s cantons send two Councilors each. Some cantons, namely Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerhoden, send one Councilor each. The latter six have traditionally been considered “half cantons,” because of historical reasons, but in practice operate as full cantons.
