DUSHANBE, September 6, Asia-Plus -- A broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Bulgaria were discussed yesterday afternoon at a meeting of President Emomali Rahmon with visiting Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin 

After a meeting with President Rahmon, Bulgarian minister said that they had reached an agreement to expand political contacts. 

“President Rahmon has invited our President Georgi Parvanov to pay visit to Dushanbe and today, during a meeting with my Tajik counterpart, I invited him to visit Bulgaria in order to jointly prepare President Parvanov’s visit to Tajikistan as well as lay legal foundation of bilateral relations between our countries,” Kalfin said.  

Speaking to journalists, the minister also pointed to the necessity of resuming work of the intergovernmental commission for technical and economic cooperation.  The first meeting of the commission is expected to be held next month, according to him.  

Kalfin outlined the fight against drug trafficking, exchange of experience in protection of border, processing of farm produce, and hydropower as priorities of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.   “We could also consider issues of attracting our investments here,” the minister said. 

He also noted that Bulgaria will appoint its ambassador to Tajikistan next year and then will open its embassy in Dushanbe.  

“We would also want to take an active part in implementation of the new strategy of the European Union in Central Asia,” Kalfin said.  

He noted that at present the sides are elaborating a document on avoiding dual taxation and protection of investments that will become the first step to expand trade cooperation.