DUSHANBE, December 9, Asia-Plus -- On Friday December 8, Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov received the European Union’s (UN) Special Representative for Central Asia Pierre Morel. 

The two discussed a broad range of issues related to state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.

After the meeting with Rahmonov, Morel told journalists that it is was very important for him to visit all countries in the region, including Tajikistan, before the end of this year because Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European will start next year, and one of priorities of Germany’s UN Presidency is expansion of cooperation with Central Asia. 

According to the EU’s special envoy, the European Union is currently projecting a new long-term strategy on Central Asia.  “The presence of Europe in the region should be more efficient,” said Morel, “That is why it is necessary to better coordinate our actions here.” 

On his meeting with the Tajik president, Pierre Morel noted that Rahmonov had been interested in the EU’s plans.  “It means that our cooperation will expand in future as well,” the EU’s representative said, noting that they also discussed issues related to cooperation of Tajikistan with neighboring countries, as well as political situation in the region as a whole and in Afghanistan in particular.  

Morel stressed that the European Union is interested in the strengthening of protection of Tajik-Afghan the border and the fight against drug trafficking.  According to him, these issues figured in his discussions with Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zaripov, Drug Control Director Rustam Nazarov and Commander of Tajik Border Troops Sheralishoh Mirzoyev.