DUSHANBE, March 27, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- On Tuesday March 27, President Emomali Rahmon received the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, who arrived in Dushanbe to attend a regional conference on Afghanistan.

According to president’s official website, the two considered a number of issues related to cooperation between Tajikistan and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  Rahmon and Zannier reportedly expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation.

The sides emphasized a positive role of OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe in providing regional security in Central Asia.

The OSCE Secretary General is appointed by the Ministerial Council for a term of three years and derives his/her authority from the collective decisions of the participating States.  He/she acts as the representative of the Chairman-in-Office, and as OSCE Chief Administrative Officer.

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 Center in Dushanbe and its tasks were broadened. In June 2008, it became the Office in Tajikistan, following Decision 852 by the OSCE Permanent Council.

The Office, with headquarters in Dushanbe, has five field offices in Gharm, Khujand, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa and Shahritous.  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.