DUSHANBE, April 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — On Thursday April 9, Khatlon governor Ghaibullo Afzalov and deputy Khatlon governor Hikoyatmo Hakimova welcomed U.S. Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson to Qurghon Teppa where she and Mayor Izatullo Zoirov cut the ribbon to open the “American Corner” resource center in the SWORDE-Teppa (Sustainable World Development within the Environment) Center, press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe said.
Speaking in Tajik, Ambassador Jacobson urged the guests to “consider this American Corner your community resource for information about the United States, as well as information about programs for study in the United States. Our Corner offers free Internet access, you can watch movies on DVD, listen to music, or just stop by to relax and read a good book.” Mayor Zoirov and Deputy Chairwoman of the province government Hakimova thanked the Ambassador and noted the strong cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan.
American Corners are resource centers located in local libraries or educational institutions and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy.
The American Corner, located at #25 Vahdat Street, will be open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. A full time coordinator will be on site to assist patrons and coordinate special English language activities with local educational institutions. The coordinator will also provide advice about scholarship programs offered by American universities, as well as U.S. Government educational exchange programs.
Besides the Corner in Qurghon-Teppa, American Corners are located in Dushanbe, Khujand, and Kulob. An American Corner will open in Khorog in June. The Tajikistan Corners are among 360 worldwide, including all of the countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Mayor Zoirov welcomed Ambassador Jacobson at the Qurghon-Teppa city gates with flowers and the traditional “bread and salt ceremony.” The Ambassador met separately with Governor Afzalov to discuss oblast initiatives and U.S. government programs. Before departing for Dushanbe, she stopped by a USAID sponsored community education project to improve women”s reproductive health through increased access to and use of modern contraception.
