On 1 October, the EU called for the presidential elections in Tajikistan on 6 November to be “inclusive and transparent”, “including the pre-electoral phase”, and for long term political stability in the country, said the EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council. The EU, represented by Lithuania's Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius and Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi also discussed political and administrative reforms, the rule of law, human rights, and economic and trade relations.
The EU and Tajikistan also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their relations in a number of domains, updating progress since their last Cooperation Council in February 2012. “We want to keep the momentum in the relations and to continue the cooperation”, said Linkevicius.
Welcoming the “active” engagement in the EU regional initiatives for Central Asia, the Cooperation Council reiterated the importance of fully implementing the EU strategy for Central Asia, be this at national or regional level. The EU and Tajikistan discussed the flagship initiatives of the strategy, including the rule of law, education and the environment.
Linkevicius and Zarifi stressed the importance for Tajikistan of further integration into the world economy. The EU said it is ready to provide support for implementing WTO regulations (Tajikistan has recently joined the WTO). The ministers discussed the “potential for increasing EU-Tajikistan bilateral trade” and especially the need to make progress in economic reform and to improve the business and investment climate.
Regional and international issues were also on the Cooperation Council agenda - including the situation in Afghanistan. The European side stressed Tajikistan's role in regional cooperation - particularly in the areas of border management, customs, trade facilitation and the fight against narcotics.
The Cooperation Council also called on the partners of Central Asia to find a sustainable settlement on the issues of energy, water management and the environment.
Linkevicius recalled that the EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting will be held on 20 November. (CG/transl.fl)