DUSHANBE, April 3, 2014, Asia-Plus – The annual forum of the OSCE–Tajikistan Task Force took place yesterday in Dushanbe, where high-ranking officials from the OSCE and the Tajik government as well as representatives of civil society highlighted their recent major achievements and identified priorities for national and regional co-operation in 2015.

According to the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, The meeting explored opportunities to intensify the OSCE’s assistance to Tajikistan to foster comprehensive security in the OSCE’s three dimensions.  The participants particularly focused on areas relating to different aspects of security, such as conflict prevention, the OSCE’s programs dealing with Violent Extremism and Radicalization that lead to Terrorism (VERLT), freedom of belief and anti-terrorism.

“Significant work has been done over the last year to implement those tasks defined in the 2012 Task Force meeting,” said Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Nizomiddin Zohidov.  “It should be noted that in co-operation with the OSCE Office in Tajikistan there are projects being successfully implemented, which cover all three dimensions of OSCE.”

The Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Markus Mueller said: “For 2015, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan will support the government in addressing the expected changes in the security environment of the country after the drawdown of NATO forces from Afghanistan.  Other main focus areas of co-operation are the support of the government policy in resolving border issues, improving the investment climate in the country, political dialogue and regional cooperation.”

“The Swiss OSCE Chairmanship acknowledges the important role that Tajikistan plays in the work of the Organization, and in the OSCE area as a whole.  We welcome the fact that the priorities of Tajikistan and priorities of the 2014 Swiss OSCE Chairmanship go hand in hand,” said Yachar Nafissi, First Secretary of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship.

Rasa Ostrauskaite, Deputy Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center of the OSCE Secretariat, praised the active participation of representatives from Tajikistan’s government and civil society in the implementation of jointly-agreed OSCE priorities.

The annual forum has met in this format since 2007 to discuss the OSCE''s work with Tajikistan in helping the country implement its OSCE commitments.