DUSHANBE, January 16, Asia-Plus  -- State and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) were major topic of a meeting of Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi with Mr. Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, that was held on Tueday, according to Tajik MFA.   

In the course of the talks the two exchanged views on cooperation for this year, and socioeconomic development and environmental protection issues were outlined as priories.   

Tajik minister noted that Dushanbe would host an international conference on reduction of risk of water-related disasters in June and called on the OSCE Center to take part in conference’s work.   

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 Centre in Dushanbe and its tasks were broadened. The Centre has steadily grown to include 15 international and 87 local staff members as of June 2007.

The Centre, which is based in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, has five field offices in Gharm, Khujand, Kulob, Qurghon 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.