DUSHANBE, March 2, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Chairman Shukurjon Zuhurov yesterday met here with Mr. Bekele Geleta, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Secretary General.

Mr. Zuhurov appreciated IFRC’s support for Tajikistan’s people during the civil confrontation in the country and its assistance with mitigating effects of natural and anthropogenic disasters.

Tajik parliament speaker asked the IFRC secretary general to help strengthen capacities of Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society (RCS) as well as provide assistance with removing a land mine threat on the territory of

Mr. Geleta, for his part, expressed gratitude to Zuhurov for cordial welcome and noted that IFRC would expand constructive cooperation with Tajik RCS in the future as well.

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

We will recall that the IFRC secretary general arrived in Dushanbe to attend the Central Asian Red Crescent Societies Leadership Forum that opened here today.  New strategies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement, humanitarian diplomacy, emergency preparedness and response, and also migration are among the major topics of the discussions in the Forum that opened on March 1 and will conclude on March 3.  The event is organized by Tajikistan’s RCS with support from IFRC and  ICRC.

During his visit, Mr. Geleta is also scheduled to meet with the leadership of Central Asian Red Crescent Societies, and the ambassadors of Central Asian countries to Tajikistan.