KHUJAND, February 4, Asia-Plus  -- Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, will visit Khujand, Sughd province on February 5. 

According to the OSCE field office in Khujand, during his stay in the province, Ambassador Pryakhin is scheduled to senior representatives from local authorities to discuss ways of further cooperation and get acquainted with the SOCE-supported projects in northern Tajikistan.    

“The OSCE Center head will also take part in the events dedicated to mark the 8th anniversary of the establishment of the OSCE field office in Khujand,” the source said.  

The OSCE first established a presence in Tajikistan in early 1994 when it opened the Mission to Tajikistan.  In October 2002, it was renamed the Centre in Dushanbe and its tasks were broadened.  The Centre has steadily grown to include 15 international and 87 local staff members as of June 2007.

The Centre, which is based in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, has five field offices in Gharm, Khujand, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa and Shahritus.  OSCE activities in the country fall into one or more of the following areas: politico-military dimension of security; human dimension of security; and economic and environmental dimension of security.