DUSHANBE, May 5, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Visiting UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura yesterday met here with Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi.

In the course of the talks, Zarifi pointed out good level of cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and appreciated the Organization’s support for reconstruction and preservation of historical and cultural relics in Tajikistan, the MFA information department said.  The minister also expressed hope that ancient settlement Sarazm and the National Park of Tajikistan that were nominated in February this year would be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

For his part, Mr. Matsuura noted that more than 17 projects in the fields of education, science and culture have been implemented in Tajikistan.  One of the recent significant events is successful completion the UNESCO/Japan Trust Fund project, Preservation of the Buddhist Monastery of Ajina Teppa, the UNESCO head said.

He also noted that UNESCO planned to hold a symposium titled “Lake Sarez: Present Safety Situation and Rational Use of Water” in Dushanbe in September 2009.