DUSHANBE, June 8, 2016, Asia-Plus — U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe today conducted a conference on Civil-Military Cooperation and Refugee Security in Dushanbe with the support of subject-matter experts coordinated by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, which is based in Germany.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the conference was cosponsored by Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations & Civil Defense and was also attended by participants representing the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and several intergovernmental and non-governmental agencies that operate in Tajikistan.
This event reportedly brought together specialists on civil-military relations, humanitarian aid, emergency response, military logistics, migration policy, law enforcement and public safety to conduct active examination and discussions on international practice and policy for responding to refugee crises.
Briefings throughout the conference aimed at facilitating discussions on the current status of refugees and migrants in Tajikistan, as well as how best practices can adequately address both national security and adequate protections for displaced people. The agenda included presentations by experts from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and other relevant organizations. Such a diverse group of attendees offered a chance to examine the issues under discussion from the perspectives of security institutions, refugee support agencies, and Afghan refugees living in Tajikistan.
This conference was part of the United States Central Command’s annual military-to-military contact plan with Tajikistan and was aimed at furthering U.S. support for Tajikistan’s capacity to appropriately address regional security concerns. The United States Central Command conducts regular engagement with Tajikistan’s security services through similar training, exchanges, and seminars. U.S. Embassy Dushanbe remains committed to supporting the security of Tajikistan’s borders and ability to deal with potential humanitarian challenges.
