DUSHANBE, January 23, 2014, Asia-Plus -- On Wednesday January 22, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received the OSCE parliamentary delegation comprising parliamentarians from Sweden and Denmark.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the sides discussed issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

They also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, problems of strengthening control along the Tajik-Afghan border, combating drug trafficking, removing artificial obstacles in the way of regional cooperation, developing democratic institutions in Tajikistan, and carrying out mine-clearing operations in the country.

The OSCE’s engagement in Tajikistan began in February 1994.  The Mission’s initial mandate was to facilitate dialogue between regional and political forces; promote respect for human rights; foster and monitor Tajikistan’s adherence to OSCE norms and principles; and help the country develop its legal and democratic institutions and processes.  In step with the country’s development over the years, the participating States twice enlarged and strengthened the OSCE’s mandate in Tajikistan.  In 2002, a new broadened mandate established the Center in Dushanbe and included economic and environmental security issues.  Six years later, the States adopted an even more robust mandate, introducing the complex area of border management into the OSCE’s tasks and changing the name of the Center to Office in Tajikistan.

The Office in Tajikistan works on all three OSCE security dimensions: the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human aspect.