DUSHANBE, October 3, Asia-Plus - Richard Boucher, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, is expected to arrive in Tajikistan in the first half of October for talks, according to reliable source.   

During his stay in Tajikistan Richard Boucher is scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmonov, Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov and other high-ranking Tajik state officials.     

Richard Boucher visited Tajikistan in May this year.  His talks with President Rahmonov focused on bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States, regional security, the U.S. assistance to Tajikistan for expanding its economic opportunities, the power projects in Tajikistan, as well as other issues being of mutual interest.  In May, Mr. Boucher also had discussion with representatives of the political parties and civil society about their organizations and their aspirations, and also about some of the difficulties that they feel exist within the present system.