DUSHANBE, June 22, 2013, Asia-Plus — On Friday June 21, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met here with Ms. Patricia Flor, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for Central Asia.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union, regional cooperation and the current situation in Afghanistan.
In the course of the talks, Zarifi and Flor also exchanged views on the forthcoming events, including a high-level international conference on water cooperation that is expected to take place in Dushanbe in August this year.
Tajik minister and the EU envoy for Central Asia also discussed the results of the inaugural round of the High Level Security Dialogue between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) that took place in Brussels on June 13, 2013.
Ms. Flor reportedly appreciated Tajikistan’s readiness to host the next round the EU-Central Asia High-Level Security Dialogue.
The High Level Security Dialogue reflects a shared interest that the EU and Central Asian countries have in strengthening dialogue and cooperation on security issues. It continues the tradition of earlier security-focused exchanges such as the EU-Central Asia Security Forum held in 2008 and in 2009 and the annual EU – Central Asia Ministerial Meetings. It also builds on the intensified levels of cooperation developed through the EU – Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership adopted by the European Council in 2007 and the substantial EU cooperation programs in the region.
