DUSHANBE, December 2, 2015, Asia-Plus – Tajik President Emomali Rahmon yesterday met in Brussels with Ms. Federica Mogherini, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, Rahmon and Mogherini discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.
Rahmon noted that Tajikistan supported long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with the European Union.
The two sides pointed to the necessity of an efficient activity of the EU mechanisms, including the European Council, the EU Inter-Parliamentary Committee, and EU-Tajikistan Human rights Dialogue.
They reportedly expressed satisfaction with an efficient activity of the EU-Central Asia High Level Security Dialogue.
Tajik president and the EU high representative for foreign affairs also exchanged views on cooperation within energy sector.
They also discussed a number of international and regional issues being of mutual interest, including the current situation in Afghanistan.
During a meeting with Donald Tusk, Rahmon noted that Tajikistan was interested in expansion of cooperation with European Union and considered the European Union and important and reliable partner on international arena.
The two sides discussed problems of improving the socioeconomic situation in Afghanistan and providing peace and stability in that country. They, in particular, pointed to the necessity of implementation of regional projects aimed at expansion of transportation cooperation and construction of hydropower plants and industrial enterprises in Tajikistan.
The sides also exchanged views on ways to provide peace and stability in the region.
Rahmon’s meeting with Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker reportedly focused on economic, social, humanitarian and security cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.
They pointed to the necessity of development of mechanisms of implementation of the Border Management in Central Asia Programme (BOMCA) and the Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP), funded by the European Union.
A special attention was reportedly paid to mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union on implementation of hydropower and transportation improvement projects, construction of power transmission lines and implementation of the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000).
Rahmon and Juncker also discussed cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism.
