DUSHANBE, March 28, 2011, Asia-Plus -- On Monday March 28, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi departed for Switzerland, according to the Tajik MFA information department.

The purpose of the visit is for Zarifi to attend political consultations between the foreign ministries of Tajikistan and Switzerland.

In Bern, Zarifi will hold talks with Ms. Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey, the President of the Swiss Confederation also Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Doris Leuthard, Head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), and Mr. Johann Schneider-Ammann, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA).  

In Geneva, Tajik minister will meet with Mr. Sergey Orjonikidze, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr. Jan Kubis, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), and representatives from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

On March 29, Hamrokhon Zarifi is expected to deliver a statement at the 64th session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

From Switzerland, Tajik minister will fly to Austria, where political consultations between the foreign ministries of Tajikistan and Austria will be conducted.

On March 31, Zarifi will deliver a statement at a session of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the source added.