Online meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan with the OSCE Secretary General

On May 7, 2021 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Sirojiddin Muhriddin held an online meeting with the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ms. Helga Schmid. During the meeting a wide range of issues related to cooperation within the OSCE was considered. Issues related to the situation in the border area of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were at the center of their discussion.

Mr. Muhriddin informed his counterpart about the recent incidents on the state border with Kyrgyzstan and the results of negotiations between the two countries at all levels to stabilize the situation on the border, including the ceasefire agreement and the willingness of the parties to resolve the situation through negotiations using political and diplomatic means.

Ms. Schmid welcomed the agreement reached on a ceasefire and the signing of a Protocol on the settlement of the armed conflict on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border and called for adherence to OSCE commitments through continued efforts and negotiations to further de-escalate the situation. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office also offered Organization’s assistance to facilitate a peaceful solution of the situation.

Besides, the interlocutors underscored the importance of jointly addressing the modern challenges, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, climate change, border security, the fight against terrorism and extremism, drug and weapons trafficking. They also discussed issues of human rights, gender equality and increasing the role of women in the political and economic life of society.

The sides considered the situation in Afghanistan and stressed the importance of Tajikistan's contribution and the role of regional projects in the process of establishing peace and economic recovery in this country. In this regard, the role of the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe in re-training on border management issues in the OSCE region was emphasized.

Mr. Muhriddin noted that Tajikistan considers the OSCE as an important platform for constructive dialogue and is interested in expanding relations with the Organization.

The parties expressed their readiness to use ample opportunities to intensify cooperation in all three dimensions of the OSCE comprehensive security approach – the military-political, the economic-environmental and the human.