DUSHANBE, November 29, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Monday November 28, Foreign minister Hamrokhon Zarifi met with Mr. Peter Mikula, Country Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, Tajik minister expressed satisfaction with the current state of relations between Tajikistan and Switzerland and appreciated the Swiss Cooperation Office’s active role in implementation of the assistance and development programs in Tajikistan.

Mr. Mikula, for his part, reportedly informed Zarifi of development of a new Cooperation Strategy for Central Asia (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan) for the period of 2012-2015.

This strategy will focus on implementation of programs aimed at providing safety drinking water supply, enhancement of health and private sectors, ensuring supremacy of law as well as improving management of water resources at the regional level.  Besides, a number of energy programs will be offered as well, the source said.

Taking into account the fact that a large number of labor migrants from Tajikistan are currently working in the CIS nations, Zarifi sought support of the Swiss Cooperation Office for organization of language courses.  According to him, the Swiss Cooperation Office jointly with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education and Migration Service might develop the language and education programs for Tajik youth.