DUSHANBE, August 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  - Ambassador Ivar Vikki has been appointed Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, according to the OSCE office in Tajikistan.

Ambassador Vikki, who had previously served as Head of the OSCE Center in Almaty, is expected to arrive in Dushanbe next week.

Since 2007, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan had been headed by Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin. 

The OSCE first established a presence in Tajikistan in early 1994 when it opened the Mission to Tajikistan.  In October 2002, it was renamed the Center in Dushanbe and its tasks were broadened.  In June 2008, it became the Office in Tajikistan, following Decision 852 by the OSCE Permanent Council.

The Office, which is based in Dushanbe, has five field offices in Gharm, Khujand, Kulob, Qughon Teppa and Shahritus.

OSCE activities in the country fall into one or more of the following areas: politico-military dimension of security; human dimension of security; and economic and environmental dimension of security.