Almaty, 16 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati today travels on to Dushanbe for talks with Tajikistan's President Emomoli Rakhmonov. Talks are expected to focus on the conflicts in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Velayati is touring Central Asia, and this week has visited Bishkek and Almaty. In Almaty yesterday, Velayati said fighting in Afghanistan threatens security in the entire region.
Iran and Russia, along with the United Nations, also are trying to mediate the Tajikistan conflict.
Representatives from the Tajik government and Islamic opposition held talks in Teheran this week in preparation for a planned summit in Moscow. U.N. special envoy for Tajikistan, German diplomat Gerd Merrem, was also present at the Teheran talks, which aim to set an agenda for the summit between Rakhmonov and opposition leader Said Abdulloh Nuri.
The Russian-led, CIS peace-keeping force on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border yesterday marked the third anniversary of its deployment.
Velayati is touring Central Asia, and this week has visited Bishkek and Almaty. In Almaty yesterday, Velayati said fighting in Afghanistan threatens security in the entire region.
Iran and Russia, along with the United Nations, also are trying to mediate the Tajikistan conflict.
Representatives from the Tajik government and Islamic opposition held talks in Teheran this week in preparation for a planned summit in Moscow. U.N. special envoy for Tajikistan, German diplomat Gerd Merrem, was also present at the Teheran talks, which aim to set an agenda for the summit between Rakhmonov and opposition leader Said Abdulloh Nuri.
The Russian-led, CIS peace-keeping force on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border yesterday marked the third anniversary of its deployment.