DUSHANBE, August 9, Asia-Plus — Mr. Richard Boucher, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, is expected to arrive in Tajikistan this week for talks, according to reliable source. It will be the second leg of his tour of Central Asia.
On August 8-9, the top U.S. diplomat was on his two-day visit to Uzbekistan.
During his stay in Tajikistan Richard Boucher is scheduled to hold talks with President Emomali Rahmonov to discuss regional security, post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy, as well as other issues related to bilateral cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan.
During his visit to Tajikistan Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs is also supposed to other high-ranking Tajik state officials and representatives from civil society.
We will recall that Mr. Richard Boucher visited Tajikistan in May this year. Their talks focused on bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States, regional security, the U.S. assistance to Tajikistan for expanding its economic opportunities, the power projects in Tajikistan, as well as other issues being of mutual interest. In May, Mr. Boucher also had discussion with representatives of the political parties and civil society about their organizations and their aspirations, and also about some of the difficulties that they feel exist within the present system.
After Dushanbe the U.S. top official intends to visit Kyrgyzstan.
