DUSHANBE, January 24, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Strengthening of cooperation between the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) and Tajikistan’s government bodies and non-governmental organizations was the focus of a meeting of Amirsho Miraliyev, First Deputy Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament), with Severin Shappaz, Head of the ICRC Delegation in Tajikistan, which took place here on January 23.

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, says Miraliyev noted that the Majlisi Namoyandagon will provide assistance to the ICRC Delegation in Tajikistan to extend its activity in the country.

Shappaz reportedly noted the ICRC Delegation in Tajikistan plans to implement a number of projects in 2012.  Among them are projects dedicated to provide assistance to prison inmates and persons whose relatives are reported missing as well as to extend the ICRC activities in Kulob, Rasht, Ishkashim and Sughd, Sultonov said.

The ICRC has been supporting the authorities in Tajikistan in promoting International humanitarian law (IHL) and other humanitarian norms and their integration into national legislation, academic curricula and the practices of military and security forces since January 1993.   It also supports a special program, Raising Awareness of Mines and Unexploded Ordnance, launched by Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society in January 2002.