More about the European Week in Tajikistan

European Week in Tajikistan starts on October 16

The European Week started in Dushanbe today.

According to the Delegation of the European Commission to Tajikistan, the European Week aims to bring the EU and Tajikistan closer together. It will present the different European cultures and traditions to the Tajik public, but will also explore cultural bridges between peoples.  It also wishes to raise awareness on the role of the EU in Tajikistan.

This year's theme is Creativity and Innovation, which has also been marked across the EU.  This is reflected in the program.

The opening event is a music concert held at the Mayakovsky Theatre on October 16 at 18:00. It brings together well-known Tajik bands (SAMO, Mizrob and Avesto) with three talented musicians from Finland (Olli Varis, Janne Lappalainen and Taneli Bruun) and one from Great Britain (Lu Edmonds).  The musical performance will be accompanied by live drawings by the Iranian graphic designer Roshanak Ostad – an experience of cultural exchange not to miss!

At the Opera-Ballet Theatre on 17 October at 18:00, audiences will be able to experience a real journey into European classical music, conducted by the Italian director Gerardo Colella. The concert will feature famous classical pieces but also lesser known contemporary music.

From October 18-22 October, nine recent award-winning European films with a creative touch will be screened at the Youth Cinema (Roudaki) at 15:00 and 18:00 (except 21/10 only at 18:00).

On October 21, Tajik students are invited to learn about the opportunities for study in Europe – grants and education programs in the EU. From 14:30 onwards at the Youth Cinema.

From 16:00, a roundtable will be held on the role and activities of the EU in Tajikistan, presented by representatives of the European Commission and EU Embassies present in Dushanbe – a unique occasion for Tajik students and wider public to learn more about the EU.

Entrance is open and free to all events (free tickets to the concerts are available at the door).

The new EU Strategy for Central Asia aims to strengthen ties between the European Union and its Central Asian partners. It has doubled European Commission assistance to the region to €750 million for 2007-2013. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance (€66 million for 2007-2010) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants. It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management. Projects aimed at enhancing living standards continue. Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, migration, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest). The total value of EC assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €500 million.

Author: Amrita Kargizova from Asia plus