DUSHANBE, May 28, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Baroness Vivien Stern, member of the British Parliament’s House of Lords, yesterday visited the Islamic Revival Party (IRP)’s office in Dushanbe, where she met with the first deputy chairman of the IRP, Saidumar Husaini, who is also member of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament.

A source at IRP’s office in Dushanbe says the sides discussed a number of issues related to providing security in the country and the region, Tajik parliament’s activities, relations between the Tajik authorities and the IRP, and increasing pressure on the IR members.

On the same day, the deputy head of the Islamic Revival Party, Mahmadali Hayit, met with Ms. Annette Bore, representative of Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

They reportedly discussed issues concerning the withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan, prospects of cooperation of Western countries with Tajikistan, problems of countering religious and secular radicalism, and preparations for the 2015 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan.