DUSAHNBE, September 5, Asia-Plus — The United States hopes the upcoming presidential election in Tajikistan set for November 6 will draw nearer to international standards, Ms. Tracey Ann Jacobson, new U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, told journalists yesterday following her meeting with President Rahmonov.
“We hope the upcoming presidential election will draw nearer to international standards and it will be a sign of observance of and respect for democratic principles,” U.S. diplomat noted.
According to her, the United States will monitor preparations for the upcoming presidential election and observance of freedom of media.
Ms. Jacobson noted that her talks with President Rahmonov focused on bilateral cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan in the fields of economy, education, healthcare, joint fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. “The United States has already made shift from humanitarian to developmental focus in providing assistance to Tajikistan,” Tracey Ann Jacobson stressed.
According to her, the being built Tajik-Afghan bridge across the Panj River could be termed as an example of that. This bridge will consolidate permanent overland links between Tajikistan and Afghanistan as well as improve trade within the region, the U.S. Ambassador noted.
She also expressed hope that participation of the U.S. investments in development of Tajikistan’s economy would increase in future. “Tajikistan has a good potential to generate and realize electric power on markets in South Asia, especially as the situation in Afghanistan is becoming more and more stable,” Ms. Jacobson said.
