DUSHANBE, May 26, 2016, Asia-Plus – Outgoing Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, Mr. Peter Mikula, yesterday met here with Tajik First Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Nizomiddin Zohidi, at the end of his tenure to Tajikistan.

At the same time, the new Director of Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, Mrs. Walburga Rooss, was introduced to Tajik deputy foreign minister, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

During the meeting, the sides reportedly discussed state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Switzerland.  They also exchanged views on a number of other issues being of mutual interest.  

Zohidi expressed gratitude to Mr. Mikula for his contribution to strengthening of relations between Tajikistan and Switzerland and wished success to Walburga Rooss in her position as Director of Swiss Cooperation Office.

On the same day, Mr. Peter Mikula and Mrs. Walburga Rooss also met with Tajik Finance Minister Abdusalom Qurboniyon.

The Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO) was established on the basis of the bilateral Agreement on Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid signed by the Governments of Switzerland and Tajikistan on October 19, 1999.

The Office has a diplomatic status and is headed by a Swiss diplomatic representative, assigned by the Government of Switzerland to maintain cooperation issues and supervise the Swiss Program in Tajikistan.  Since 2001, the Office includes the Swiss Consular Agency, which is an outpost of the Embassy of Switzerland to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Cooperation between Tajikistan and Switzerland is based on the common constituency Group in the World Bank, where Tajikistan belongs to the ''Swiss Group''.