DUSHANBE, October 21, Asia-Plus  -- A meeting of Tajik and Iranian parliament speakers that took place here yesterday resulted in signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) between the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) and the Majlis-e Shoura-ye Eslami (The Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran).

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says the Majlisi Namoyandagon Chairman Shukurjon Zuhurov and the Majlis-e Shoura-ye Eslami Speaker Ali Larijani expressed satisfaction with the current level of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries and noted that the parliaments could promote further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Iran.

The sides reportedly agreed that Tajik and Iranian parliamentarians would study lawmaking experience of each other.

Dr. Larijani noted that Iran is ready to open branches of two Iranian universities – Islamic Azad University and Payame Noor University – in Dushanbe, the spokesman said.

Islamic Azad University is a private chain of universities in Iran.  Headquartered in Tehran, Iran, the Islamic Azad University was founded in 1982 and currently has an enrollment of 1.5 million students, making it the world''s third largest.  Azad University has over 400 branches across the country and also in other countries. It has branches and universities in U.A.E, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Lebanon and Armenia.

Payame Noor University (PNU) is a state distance education university with the headquarters based in Tehran, 30 provincial centers, 485 local study centers and campuses all around the country and one International Study Center located in the headquarters.  Established in 1988, PNU is a legal body under the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.  PNU took its first intake at 5 study fields at 28 local study centers.  Presently, the university has 3,500 academic members and 1,101,182 national and international students. Its name means "The message of Light" in Persian.

We will recall that Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani heading Iranian parliamentary delegation arrived in Dushanbe for a two-day visit yesterday afternoon.  On arrival in Dushanbe, Dr. Larijani held talks with the Majlisi Namoyandagon Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov.

Today, Mr. Larijani is scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon and Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi.

On Friday, Iranian parliament speaker will also meet with teachers and students at Tajik National University.  He will also visit Tajik State Medical University, where he will familiarize himself with activity of the Iranian Room.  During his stay in Dushanbe, Dr. Larijani will also visit the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Local History Museum named after Kamoliddin Behzod and the Museum of Antiquities.

The main purpose of the visit is for Ali Larijani to discuss state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Tajikistan, the source in the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe noted.

In the meantime, Iran’s Fars News Agency (FNA) reports Ali Larijani plans to visit Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.  During the three day tour of the two Central Asian states, the Iranian speaker is scheduled to meet with high-ranking Tajik and Kyrgyz officials, including the two countries'' parliament speakers, according to FNA.  During the meetings, Larijani and officials of Bishkek and Dushanbe are due to discuss expansion of parliamentary ties, explore new grounds and opportunities to bolster mutual cooperation and exchange views over regional and international issues.  Cooperation in campaign against terrorism and drug trafficking is reportedly among the main topics of talks between the Iranian speaker and the Tajik and Kyrgyz officials.

The Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran (Majlis-e Shoura-ye Eslami) also called The Iranian Parliament or People''s House, is the national legislative body of Iran.  The Parliament currently has 290 representatives, changed from the previous 270 seats since the 18 February 2000 election and will be changed to 310 in 2012 election.