DUSHANBE, July 15, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Visiting European Union (EU) Special Representative for Central Asia, Mr. Pierre Morel, met with Tajik Foreign Minister, Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, in Dushanbe yesterday. 

According to Davlat Nazriyev, the head of the MFA information department, in the course of the talks Morel and Zarifi discussed the state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between the European Union and Tajikistan as well as issues related to socioeconomic and hydropower development both in the country and the Central Asian region as a whole.  

European Union’s strategy for Central Asia was among major topics of the discussions.  The EU envoy briefed the Tajik minister on initiatives of the European Union, including the holding of the anti-drug conference in Dushanbe in October this year, which will be staged the European Commission, the OSCE and the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) under support of France and Germany, the MFA spokesman said.  

The two also discussed the upcoming European Union – Central Asia forum that will be held in Paris from September 18-19, according to Nazriyev.