DUSHANBE
, July 11, Asia-Plus – U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld arrived in
Dushanbe
Monday evening for cooperation and security talks with senior Tajik officials.
Yesterday evening, Donald Rumsfeld met with President Emomali Rahmonov. Countering the flow of drugs from
Afghanistan
, protection of the Tajik-Afghan border as well as issues related to post-war reconstruction of
Afghanistan
’s economy figured prominently in Rumsfeld’s discussion with Emomali Rahmonov.
In the course of the talks President Rahmonov appreciated the
United States
’ support for the fight against modern threats and challenges, extremism, terrorism, drug threat emanating from
Afghanistan
. “
Tajikistan
is satisfied with the present level of relations with the
United States
and interested in further expansion of them,” said Rahmonov, “We consider relationships with the
United States
as very important for us.”
On
Iran
’s nuclear program, President Rahmonov noted that
Tajikistan
declared for peaceful settlement of that problem.
Mr. Rumsfeld speaking to journalists following his meeting with President Rahmonov noted that cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan in the filed of economics, politics and providing regional security were expanding year out. “We intend to expand our cooperation in future as well,” the U.S. Secretary of Defense stated, noting that
Tajikistan
’s hydropower projects were very attractive.
Asked about the possibility of the United States’ extending its military presence in the region in the connection with the situation in Afghanistan and Iran’s nuclear program, Rumsfeld noted that the United States was not going to strengthen its bases in any country.
On the situation in
Afghanistan
, he stated that destructive forces tried to give the country back to the past. “They are activating, but I think there will be no return to the past,” Rumsfeld said. According to him,
Tajikistan
provided a significant support for carrying international antiterrorist operation in the neighboring
Afghanistan
, and under conditions, when not all countries of the region provided assistance in that.
Rumsfeld also commented on the narcotics problem, saying that it is a very big problem. Increase in production of narcotics in
Afghanistan
has resulted from increase in demand for them in
Russia
and the European countries. “But this problem poses a threat to
Afghanistan
itself as well,” he said, stressing that Afghan government should introduce decisive measures, including the eradication of poppies and alternatives for farmers. Rumsfeld pointed to the necessity of combining efforts of the governments of
Russia
, European countries and
Afghanistan
in tackling the drug trafficking problems.
Tajik Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov commenting on the meeting of President Rahmonov with Donald Rumsfeld noted that in the course of the talks it was noted that the antiterrorist collation forces had neutralized armed groups of the Taliban Movement and al-Qaeda terrorist network. During the meting it was noted that the
United States
had facilitated the holding of presidential elections in
Afghanistan
. “
Tajikistan
expressed readiness to cooperate both the
United States
and other member countries of the coalition in reconstruction of
Afghanistan
’s economy,” Tajik FM noted. “Emomali Rahmonov stressed that
Tajikistan
attaches important significance to the formation of Afghan armed forces and law enforcement agencies and expressed readiness to support formation of an effective Afghan border service,” Talbak Nazarov said. According to him, Rahmonov also expressed gratitude to the
United States
for support in creation of material-technical basis of Tajik border troops.
Today, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is making a stop over in neighboring
Afghanistan
.
