Luxembourg, 11/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Tajikistan signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Luxembourg on Monday, and an interim agreement which will allow the trade plank to be applied immediately, pending ratification. During the signature ceremony, which was also attended by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Tajikistan, T.N.Nazarov, the Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, welcomed the "highly cooperative attitude" of this country in the fight against terrorism and drugs trafficking, and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan. "The partnership and cooperation agreement will widen our dialogue and boost relations between the EU and Tajikistan to the same level as those we enjoy with other countries of the Community of Independent Countries", said Mr Patten. This will be the first international agreement that the EU of 25 has signed with a third country; it includes "modern clauses", such as those obliging beneficiary countries to take specific commitments in terms of the fight against terrorism and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Between 1992 and 2002, the EU provided Tajikistan with aid of 350 million EUR, notably in the form of gifts, making it the top beneficiary of European aid per head of population, noted Mr Patten. This aid will continue, but will only have any effect if Tajikistan commits itself to continuing political, institutional, social and economic reforms, said Mr Patten. "The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which we have signed today will help us to discuss all these questions", he said.