DUSHANBE, November 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Specialists from energy ministries of member nations of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) have gathered in Tajik capital to discuss the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Industries (MoEI), the meeting that opened here today morning brought together representatives form energy ministries of Bealrus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as countries having observer status in the organization.

Tajik delegation participating at the meeting is led by academician Ulmas Mirsaidov, director of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency within the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan.

The initial concept of the Eurasian Economic Community was first proposed in October 2000, as a successor to the CIS Customs Union, when Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan signed a treaty on broad economic and trade cooperation.  The organization was formally created with the ratification of that treaty in May 2001. The initial five-member group was further expanded in May 2002 when Moldova and Ukraine were granted observer status, and again in April 2003, when Armenia gained observer status.  Uzbekistan that joined the organization in January 2006 suspended its membership last year.