DUSHANBE, October 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  - On Monday October 19, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met here with Mr. Thierry Mariani, Special Envoy of France for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia.

According to the MFA information department, the two discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and France, providing regional security, water-and-energy problems, and the present situation in Afghanistan.  They also discussed a number of international issues being of mutual interest.

The sides underlined the necessity of political stabilization and economic rehabilitation of Afghanistan, especially through implementation of regional projects aimed at construction of highways, railways, hydropower plants, power transmission lines, etc.

In this connection, Mr. Mariani noted that Tajikistan played a key role in providing support for reconstructing Afghanistan’s economy and providing stability in Afghanistan.