DUSHANBE, April 18, Asia-Plus - Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja is arriving in Tajikistan for a working visit tomorrow evening, according to information from Tajik MFA.   

The MFA source says that during his stay in Dushanbe Mr. Erkki Tuomioja   will attend a joint meeting of the both chambers of Tajik parliament set for April 20.  On the same day, the Finnish Foreign Minister will hold talks with President Emomali Rahmonov and Speaker of the Majlisi Mamoyandagon ( Tajikistan ’s lower chamber of parliament) Saydullo Khairulloyev.   

The talks are supposed to focus on state and prospects of cooperation between Tajikistan the European Union countries.  

We will recall that Finland will assume chairmanship in the European Union in the second half of 2006.   

On Tuesday April 18, the Finnish Foreign Minister is arriving in Tbilisi ( Georgia ) to discuss with Georgian leadership bilateral cooperation between the two countries.  On April 19, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja will leave the Georgian capital for Afghanistan , where he will meet with his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah and Afghan President Hamid Karzai issues related to providing international aid to this country, the present situation in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation.