DUSHANBE (Asia-Plus) – The European Union signed yesterday in Dushanbe an agreement on providing €16 mln to support the development and reforms of agriculture in Tajikistan.

The document was inked by Matloubkhon Davlatov (مطلوب خان دولتف), First Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan and Ms. Catherine Ashton, the EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also Vie-President of the European Commission.

The EU foreign-policy chief told reporters after her talks with President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi that they had discussed a broad range of issues, including the current situation in Afghanistan and providing support to that country after 2014. Ms. Ashton noted that the European Union would maintain presence in Afghanistan after 2014 as well.

The European Union is aware of energy problems facing Tajikistan and offers to seek alternative energy sources, the EU foreign-policy chief noted.

She also touched upon the situation in the sector of civil society organizations of Tajikistan with regard to closure of some human rights groups in the country. “The role of young lawyers and activists of public associations such as Amparo and International Alert is inestimable and of significant importance for Tajikistan,” Ms. Ashton said.

Today, the EU foreign-policy chief will also meet with local activists in Dushanbe to discuss the human rights situation in Tajikistan.

Ms. Ashton will conclude the visit in Astana where she will meet Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov. In Astana she will also deliver a speech on relations between the EU and Central Asia.