DUSHANBE, November 1, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Chairman of Tajikistan’s National Commission for UNESCO Karomatullo Olimov and Tajikistan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Rustamjon Soliyev held talks with the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in Paris at the end of last week.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) was the focus of the meeting.

The sides, in particular, considered the process of implementation the culture, education and science development projects in Tajikistan, the source said.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations.  Its stated purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and the human rights along with fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter.  UNESCO has 195 Member States and eight Associate Members.

UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information.  Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy, technical, and teacher-training programs; international science programs; the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press; regional and cultural history projects; the promotion of cultural diversity; international cooperation agreements to secure the world cultural and natural heritage (World Heritage Sites) and to preserve human rights, and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide. It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group.