CROATIAN PRESIDENT VISITS TAJIKISTAN

                Dushanbe, May 25. (NIAT "Khovar"). — On May 24, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan met in the Palace of Nations in Dushanbe with the Croatian President Stjepan Mesić, who had arrived in Tajikistan on an official visit in the afternoon of May 23.                 During their tête-à-tête conversation, the two heads of state discussed issues of establishing and developing Tajik-Croatian multi-faceted cooperation. Then, bilateral talks were held with the participation of official delegation of the parties.                  "Tajikistan considers Croatia one of its important partners in Europe, so we will undertake all measures to use every opportunity of cooperation, particularly in the fields of economics, commerce and fighting the threats and challenges of the modern world for the sake of ensuring security, stability and progress", declared President Emomali Rahmon during the talks.                   The parties expressed satisfaction with the dialogue between the highest-ranking leaders of the two countries and stressed the necessity to form legal grounds for their economic cooperation, as well as to establish relevant bilateral structures, including inter-governmental commission for economic, technical, scientific and cultural cooperation. Among promising fields of economic cooperation hydropower energy sector, agriculture, light, chemical and mining industries, as well as construction of residential houses and infrastructure of tourism were mentioned.                   It was also deemed important to conduct constant political consultations concerning bilateral interaction within the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and international financial and economic institutions.                   After the talks ended, three documents on cooperation were signed in the presence and with the participation of the Tajik and Croatian Presidents Emomali Rahmon and Stjepan Mesić, including:                    Joint Declaration of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and the President of the Republic of Croatia Stjepan Mesić on developing the relations of friendship and cooperation;                     Protocol on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Croatia;                     Memorandum of understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan, and the Chamber of Commerce of Croatia.