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Tajikistan, OSCE set priorities for cooperation in 2015

DISHANBE, April 02, /ITAR-TASS/. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Tajikistan held the annual forum of their Task Force in Dushanbe on Wednesday, April 2, to set priorities for national and regional cooperation in 2015.

Officials from the OSCE and the Tajik government as well as representatives of civil society reviewed their recent major achievements and explored opportunities to intensify the OSCE’s assistance to Tajikistan to foster comprehensive security in the OSCE’s three dimensions.

The participants particularly focused on areas relating to different aspects of security, such as conflict prevention, the OSCE’s programmes dealing with Violent Extremism and Radicalisation that lead to Terrorism (VERLT), freedom of belief and anti-terrorism.

“Significant work has been done over the last year to implement those tasks defined in the 2012 Task Force meeting,” Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Nizomiddin Zohidov. said “It should be noted that in co-operation with the OSCE Office in Tajikistan there are projects being successfully implemented, which cover all three dimensions of OSCE.”

The Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Markus Mueller said: “For 2015, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan will support the government in addressing the expected changes in the security environment of the country after the drawdown of NATO forces from Afghanistan. Other main focus areas of co-operation are the support of the government policy in resolving border issues, improving the investment climate in the country, political dialogue and regional cooperation.”

Yachar Nafissi, First Secretary of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, said “the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship acknowledges the important role that Tajikistan plays in the work of the Organization, and in the OSCE area as a whole. We welcome the fact that the priorities of Tajikistan and priorities of the 2014 Swiss OSCE Chairmanship go hand in hand.”

The annual forum has met in this format since 2007 to discuss the OSCE's work with Tajikistan in helping the country implement its OSCE commitments.

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