PRESIDENT E. RAHMON RECEIVES SWISS AND ROMANIAN AMBASSADORS

            Dushanbe, April 22. (NIAT "Khovar"). — On April 21, President Emomali Rahmon received the credentials of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Tajikistan Stephan Nillen.              During the conversation that took place after the ceremony, Head of state Emomali Rahmon and Stephan Nillen discussed the prospects of Tajik-Swiss relations.             On noting with satisfaction "the high level of relations between the two countries", President Emomali Rahmon praised the worthy contribution of the Swiss Development and Cooperation Office to their broadening.              For his turn, Stephan Nillen said, "Since 1992, Switzerland and Tajikistan have been maintaining good strategic relations, and we are interested in their strengthening and deepening".              The assistance of the Swiss Government to the implementation of programs and projects in the spheres of education, healthcare, culture, science and technology, as well as holding important regional and international events was also praised. Satisfaction was expressed with the activities of the non-governmental organization CARITAS and Swiss Mine Clearance Fund.On calling Switzerland "one of Tajikistan's leading trade partners in Europe", Head of state Emomali Rahmon stressed that "there are still many opportunities for further raising the volume of commodity exchange between the two countries".              Stephan Nillen reminded of the preparation of an agreement concerning the protection of investments and avoiding double taxation, and told that Switzerland was ready to broaden its cooperation with commercial and entrepreneurial circles of Tajikistan in basic branches of economy, including joint manufacturing of industrial produce.              During the talk, among hopeful directions of the two countries' economic cooperation the participation of Swiss businessmen in the implementation of Tajikistan's investment projects in energy, transport, communications, use of natural resources, agricultural produce processing and tourism was listed.               Later in the day Head of state Emomali Rahmon received the credentials of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Tajikistan Emil Rapcea.               "Tajikistan is interested in restoring and further developing its relations with East European countries, including Romania", President Emomali Rahmon told the Romanian diplomat during the conversation that followed the ceremony.              Emil Rapcea, for his turn, said: "Tajikistan is Romania's good friend and reliable partner in the Central Asian region". He went on to stress; "In our country, Tajikistan is known as a connecting link between Europe and Central and South Asia".According to Emil Rapcea, the leadership and people of Romania are well informed of President Emomali Rahmon's efforts aimed at strengthening security and stability, as well creating a favorable atmosphere for regional cooperation in Central Asia, so they praise the role of Tajikistan in that region.              A fruitful talk took place concerning the possibilities of developing Tajik-Romanian bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Among the hopeful fields of cooperation, that are of mutual interest, energy, manufacturing of furniture, agriculture, processing of fruit, vegetables, leathers and wool, extraction and processing of minerals were listed.              Emil Rapcea informed that in near future the Romanian Minister of Trade will visit Tajikistan, accompanied by a big group of this country's entrepreneurs, with the aim of establishing and developing Tajik-Romanian trade and economic cooperation.              It was stressed in this connection that at the present stage, the main task of the two countries' relevant structures consists of creating a contract-and-legal base for this cooperation.