DUSHANBE, July 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Mr. Robert Blake, today morning met here with Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi.

According to the MFA information department, Zarifi and Blake discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States.  They also considered international and regional issues being of mutual interest.

The two, in particular, pointed out friendly and constructive nature of the Tajik-United States bilateral cooperation and pointed to the necessity of expanding bilateral relations between the two countries.

The U.S. diplomat underscored an important role Tajikistan played in promoting establishment of peace and stability in neighboring Afghanistan.  According to him, the sides expressed support for implementation of regional projects, including regional electricity transmission project that would supply summer surplus power from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA 1000).

Blake conveyed Zarifi the Secretary of State’s invitation to visit Washington and Tajik minister accepted the invitation with deep gratitude, the MFA information department said.