DUSHANBE, May 7, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi yesterday met with visiting Energy Charter Secretary General, Ambassador Andre Mernier, the MFA information department reports.

In the course of the talks, the two exchanged views on all directions of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Energy Charter.

Tajik minister noted that Tajikistan attached significance to activity of the Energy Charter and implementation of the Energy Charter Treaty because they laid legal foundation of cooperation in the filed of energy in the Eurasian region as well as underlined the importance of implementation of the hydroelectricity projects in Tajikistan.

For his part, Mr. Mernier noted that the Energy Charter considered hydropower potential of Tajikistan as one of key factors to provide energy security in the Central Asian region.  He pointed to the necessity of cooperation between the countries of the region in issues related to use of Tajikistan’s hydropower potential and expressed readiness to provide assistance in that.  He also pointed out a significance of political stability for development of the energy sector in the region.

The Energy Charter head also stressed the importance of establishment of cooperation between the countries of the region in implementing large hydroelectricity projects and expressed interest in visiting some of them after his visit to Tajikistan.