DUSHANBE, July 4, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon will receive visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Robert Blake on Monday, July 6, according to presidential press service.

Tajik President and the Assistant Secretary are expected to discuss state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States.

Robert Blake was appointed as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs in April this year, replacing Richard Boucher.

Monday afternoon, President Rahmon is scheduled to meet here with Mrs. Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility (GEF).  The two will discuss issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and GEF.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a global partnership among 178 countries, international institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. It provides grants for projects related to six focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.  The GEF is also the designated financial mechanism for a number of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) or conventions; as such the GEF assists countries in meeting their obligations under the conventions that they have signed and ratified. These conventions and MEAs provide guidance to the two governing bodies of the GEF: the GEF Council and the GEF Assembly.

According to the MFA information department, both delegations are expected to arrive in Dushanbe on July 5.