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Senate (Eerste Kamer) Dutch Parliament
Source published: 7 May 25

Senator Farah Karimi visits Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Senator Farah Karimi (GroenLinks-PvdA) visited Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan from April 24 to 30, 2025. She did this in her role as Special Envoy for Central Asia of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The first part of the trip consisted of a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan. The focus here was on strengthening regional cooperation, promoting climate resilience, and promoting clean energy. During the three-day visit to the Tajik capital Dushanbe, Karimi joined a delegation of 15 parliamentarians from 14 different OSCE countries. The main goal of this part of the trip was to get acquainted with various OSCE projects. The senator will present her findings from her working visit during the Annual Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Porto at the end of June.


Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan, Karimi was accompanied by Senator Ainur Argynbekova, Vice Chair of the Kazakh OSCE PA delegation. In the capital Bishkek, she met with, among others, Parliament Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, with whom she discussed the treaty that Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan signed in March 2025. That treaty ended a long-standing border conflict. Karimi: ‘This agreement is a beautiful example of peaceful conflict resolution. It offers hope, especially at a time when there are so many wars and violent conflicts. This will undoubtedly have a positive effect, not only on trade and economic opportunities but also on the daily lives of people in the region.’

Resilience

Karimi also spoke in Bishkek with Meder Mashiev, Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, the Ombudsman, and representatives of various civil society organizations. The delegation was briefed by Ambassador Alexey Rogov on initiatives aimed at strengthening regional security and promoting an open and resilient society. The delegation also spoke with Eduard Kubatov, Chair of the Federation for Mountaineering and Sport Climbing, and with teachers and students from the OSCE Academy. Karimi gave a lecture at this academy on the role of civil society in ensuring human rights.


Tajikistan

The three-day visit to the Tajik capital Dushanbe was led by OSCE PA President Pia Kauma. The delegation discussed the work of the OSCE with representatives of the government, parliament, international community, and civil society. The OSCE program office, active in Tajikistan for thirty years, began its activities in 1994 during the five-year civil war. At that time, the focus was on facilitating dialogue, promoting human rights, and assisting the country in developing democratic institutions. Today, the office focuses on arms control, counter-terrorism, border management, and human trafficking. Gender equality, particularly through advising and knowledge exchange, is also an important topic for the office.

Security

The delegation visited two important OSCE projects in Tajikistan: the Border Management Staff College (BMSC) and the Regional Hazards Explosive Training Centre (REHTC). The BMSC trains officers in security across the entire OSCE region, while the REHTC is involved in identifying and removing explosives. The delegation also spoke with Shermuhammad Shohiyon, Deputy Chair of the Parliament, and Sirodjiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Delegation leader Pia Kauma was received by Tajik President Emomali Rahman. Kauma and Rahman discussed cooperation with the OSCE and the regional security agenda. In discussions with civil society organizations, human rights were an important topic. Twenty percent of prisoners suspected of extremism are held without a fair trial, which raises concerns for the delegation. The three-day visit concluded at the border post Nizhniy Pyanj. There, the delegation could observe the work of the troops at the border with Afghanistan and see how the OSCE is strengthening Tajikistans border capacity.

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Source last updated: 7 May 25
Published on Openrijk: 7 May 25
Source: Eerste Kamer
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Senate (Eerste Kamer) Dutch Parliament | Senator Farah Karimi visits Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan