DUSHANBE, July 13, 2009  -- On Saturday evening (July 11), visiting Latvian President Valdis Zatlers met here with Chairman of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev.

Shavkat Saidov, an aide to the upper house speaker, said the two had discussed issues related to expansion of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.

During the meeting, it was noted that Tajik and Latvian parliaments currently cooperated mainly within frameworks of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Parliament.

Ubaidulloyev expressed hope that Latvian leader’s visit would promote resumption of direct contacts between the parliaments of the two countries, the aide said.

Yesterday, President Zatlers visited the northern Sughd province and today morning, he went to the Tursunzoda district to get acquainted with work of Tajik aluminum smelter (Tajik Aluminum Company or Talco).