DUSHANBE, October 22, 2014, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday October 21, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojididn Aslov met in Brussels with Ms. Helga Schmidt, Deputy Secretary-General for the European External Action Service (EAS).
According to the Tajik MFA information department, the two exchanged views on bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.
They also touched upon a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest.
The sides reportedly also discussed preparations for next round of the High Level Security Dialogue between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
Dushanbe will host the next round the EU-Central Asia High-Level Security Dialogue that will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the EU, Central Asian countries and Afghanistan.
The inaugural round of the EU-Central Asia High-Level Security Dialogue took place in Brussels on June 13, 2013.
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.
