DUSHANBE, November 2, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Mr. Mr. Hans Altherr, President of the Council of States of Switzerland, has arrived in Tajikistan for a two-day, a source at Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament told Asia-Plus in an interview.

Today, Mr. Mr. Hans Altherr is scheduled to hold talks with his Tajik counterpart Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi.

Tomorrow, he will meet with Islamic Revival Party (IRP) leader Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also deputy of the Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon), and visit Tajik Medical University.

On Saturday, Mr. Mr. Hans Altherr is also expected to hold talks with Minister of Health Nusratullo Salimov, attend an official opening of the Center for Studying Medical Practical Skills and visit the Ismaili Center Dushanbe.

The Council of States is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, and is considered the Assembly''s upper house. There are 46 Councilors.

Twenty of the country''s cantons send two Councilors each.  Some cantons, namely Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerhoden, send one Councilor each.  The latter six have traditionally been considered “half cantons,” because of historical reasons, but in practice operate as full cantons.