DUSHANBE, March 2, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Talks between Tajik Minister of Defense Sherali Khairulloyev and visiting British Minister of State for the Armed Forces Nick Harvey that took place here Thursday evening resulted in signing of a memorandum on further cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries, Faridoun Mahmadaliyev, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), said.

According to him, the two discussed issued related to expansion of military and technical cooperation between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom and training of personnel for the Tajik national army at the British military schools.

Khairulloyev and Harvey reportedly also exchanged views on providing regional security in Central Asia and achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan, the source said.    

Mr. Harvey has reportedly been the Liberal Democrats Shadow Defence Secretary since 2006.

The Minister of State for the Armed Forces is a middle-ranking ministerial position, subordinate only to the Secretary of State for Defence, at the Ministry of Defence in Her Majesty''s Government.

The role''s responsibilities are: all matters regarding Regular and Reserve Armed Forces; operations including Iraq, Counter-Terrorism, UK Operations, Northern Ireland and the Balkans; bilateral defense relations outside the NATO/Europe area; inquiries, boards of inquiry, inquests; legal issues including detention; arms and export control; regional issues and the devolved administrations; and the agencies DASA and DVA.