DUSHANBE, March 30, 2016, Asia-Plus — Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who currently serves as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with regard to 2016 German chairmanship of the OSCE, began a three-day tour of Central Asia’s nations today.
A according to a statement released by the German Foreign Ministry, during the regional tour Steinmeier will visit Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Ahead of the tour, Steinmeier described Central Asia as a “region of strategic importance” with its “vast business opportunities” as well as “considerable risks to [global] stability.”
He also said that the region is a place where “the interests of the major regional powers Russia, China, and Iran meet.”
The statement said the fight against terrorism, regional cooperation, and economic ties will be high on the agenda in Steinmeier”s meetings in the region.
As it had been reported earlier, Mr. Steinmeier will arrive in Dushanbe on April 1 on a short visit.
On the same day, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs will hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). He has served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2013.
Germany took over the rotating OSCE Chairmanship on January 1, 2016 and Germany’s top priorities reportedly include rebuilding trust among participating States and maintaining efforts for achieving a political solution to the conflict in and around Ukraine.
