DUSHANBE, April 3, Asia-Plus — The United States is interested in development of many-sided relations with Tajikistan, Ms. Pamela Spratlen, Acting deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, remake data meeting with reporters in Dushanbe on April 2.
According to her, the aim of her visit to Tajikistan is to discuss relations between the two countries. “I already held talks with Presidential State Advisers Matlubkhon Davlatov and Erkin Rahmatulloyev as well Deputy Foreign Minister Erkin Qosimov,” said Ms. Spratlen. “Today, I will also have meeting with Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Nadyrov.”
Meetings with representatives from civic society, entrepreneurs and youth were also of significant importance, she said, adding that the Government of the United States implements a number of exchange programs that provide an important opportunity for citizens of the two countries to better know each other.
“Our talks focused on issues related to democratic development, civic society building, economic development (especially after extremely sever winter), as well as security problems,” the Deputy Assistant Secretary said.
Reminding that the diplomatic relations between the United States and Tajikistan were established in 1992, Ms. Spratlen stressed that her country supports sovereignty of Tajikistan and other Central Asia’s states. A special attention will be paid to economic and financial issues, in particular inaccurate financial information provided by Tajik authorities to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and correction of this situation.
Asked about a place of Afghanistan in relations between the United States and Tajikistan, the Deputy Assistant Secretary stressed that it is in interest of all to build safe and stable society in Afghanistan. The United States is engaged both in economic and military cooperation here in order to help the Afghan Government establish stability in the country; and all countries of the region, including Tajikistan, play their role in that, she noted. Ms. Spratlen reminded that the United States has its air base in Kyrgyzstan and the US citizens recently get permission to visit military facility in Termez, which is controlled by German forces, en route. “And Tajikistan provides support through offering its air space for flights,” Ms. Spratlen said.
Commenting on the situation that emerged in relations between Tajikistan and the IMF, she said Tajikistan should try to solve the problem.
Asked about relations of the United States with Uzbekistan, Ms. Spratlen said the United States is interested in developing constructing relations with all countries of the region, including Uzbekistan.
Asked whether they ought not to propose to the Government of Tajikistan not to build five-star hotels but to be engaged in rehabilitating water supply systems, Ms Spratlen said that any government should take measures to meet its people needs.
She also added that they are concerned that the Government of Tajikistan somewhat lost confidence of the international community. “I think it should restore the confidence and affirm that it is able to meet its commitments.”
Ms. Pamela Spratlen currently serves as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central Asia and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), the State Department’s newest regional bureau. In this position she develops and coordinates U.S. policy on the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and promotes public diplomacy policy and programs for the SCA region. She also oversees the State Department’s efforts to expand cooperation between the United States and South and Central Asia through regional integration.
