DUSHANBE, February 28, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Dushanbe will host the next meeting of Central Asian Red Crescent Societies Leadership Forum from March 1 through March 3, 2011.

New strategies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement, humanitarian diplomacy, emergency preparedness and response, and also migration will be the main topics of the discussions in the Forum.  The event is organized by the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan with support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

According to Zafar Muhabbatov, Secretary General of Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society, the leaderships of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Red Crescent Societies, as well as Russian Federation Red Cross Society as a guest will participate in the Forum.

Mr. Bekele Geleta, IFRC Secretary General will be an honored guest of the Forum.  Tajikistan governmental structures representatives, as well as the representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross will also participate in the Forum.

During his visit IFRC Secretary General will also meet with President Emomali Rahmon, the Chairman of Tajik Parliament, the leadership of Central Asian Red Crescent Societies, and the ambassadors of Central Asian countries to Tajikistan.

The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST) is one of the oldest humanitarian organizations in the country and is providing assistance to people in need since 1927.  Currently, RCST implements more than 20 projects in the fields of health, disaster management and organizational development with the financial support of IFRC, ICRC and European countries RCs.