DUSHANBE, April 17, Asia-Plus -- President Emomali Rahmon received visiting Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas on April 17.

 Vaitiekunas told journalists after a meeting with President Rahmon that they had discussed issues related to expansion of Tajik-Lithuanian cooperation.  

Lithuanian FM noted that Tajikistan is strategically important country for Lithuania.  “Tajikistan, as an important country for regional security and fight against terrorism, has become the front-line against drug trafficking,” the minister said.  

Vaitiekunas noted that he and his Tajik counterprt, Hamrokhon Zaripov, signed a cooperation protocol. 

Dwelling on the legal foundation of relations between Lithuania and Tajikistan, Lithuanian FM noted that the two countries had concluded agreements on invstments and avoding dual taxation.  

“We brought with us a number of small projects that could be implemented jointly,” the minister said, noting that a delegation headed by him includes 17 entrepreneurs representing different branches of Lithuanian economy.   

 According to him, he and Emomali Rahmon also discussed the possibility of transit shipments of goods from Baltic region to Central Asia, including Tajikistan and back.  

“The European Union shows strong political will and initiative for cooperation in the region and Lithuania intends to actively participate in this strategy,” Vaitiekunas said.

The minister said that they had also discussed issues related to reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy.  He added that Lithuania heads the mission on reconstruction of the Gor province in Afghanistan.    

Asked about concrete projects for cooperation between Lithuania and Tajikistan, the minister said that they, in particular, discussed the possibility of use of the Klaipeda port in Lithuania for exporting Tajik goods to Europe.  He noted that Tajikistan and Lithuania could also cooperate in processing of farm produce.  

Lithuanian Foreign Minister arrived in Tajikistan for an official three-day visit on April 16.