DUSHANBE - Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, will arrive in Tajikistan on his first official visit on June 8.While in Dushanbe, Dr. Abdullah is scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda and some other high-ranking Tajik state officials.

“The talks will focus on expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan in the fields of energy, transportation and transit of commodities,” said a source in the Tajik government.  “They will also discuss issues related to security cooperation between the two countries.”

Dr. Abdullah will also participate  in the high-level international conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 that will take place in Dushanbe from June 9-11.

The Chief Executive Officer of Afghanistan is position within the Government of Afghanistan. The extra-constitutional post was created in September 2014 following the disputes that arose after the 2014 Afghan presidential election when both Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory in that election. As part of a national unity agreement, it was agreed that Ashraf Ghani would assume the presidency and a new post of Chief Executive Officer would be created for Abdullah Abdullah.

The Chief Executive Officer chairs a weekly meeting of a Ministers' Council which can make policy recommendations to the President.  The Chief Executive Officer can also recommend ministers for the Cabinet of Afghanistan, a body chaired by the President.

The national unity agreement calls for a meeting of the Loya Jirga within two years to consider the need for the re-creation of a post of Prime Minister within the Afghan Government. (Asia-Plus)