DUSHANBE, June 21, 2011, Asia-Plus – On June 14, US Ambassador to Tajikistan Ken Gross congratulated 16 members of Tajikistan”s Ministry of the Interior and State Committee on National Security on completing a Fraudulent Document Recognition course provided by the U.S. Embassy.
Ambassador Gross remarked in his speech that the United States values it excellent relationship with the Government of Tajikistan and looks forward to continued cooperation and shared success.
Tajik law enforcement officers learned skills that will allow them to recognize the characteristics of altered, counterfeit, or other fraudulent travel documents, and recognize suspicious behavior or inconsistencies in information presented by a traveler.
Ambassador Gross said that fraudulent document recognition was an essential part of border control management and a core element of the Tajik government’s counterterrorism and counternarcotics effort. Ambassador Gross said, “Tajikistan’s front-line border, security, and police officers must have the skills necessary to interdict terrorists and criminals attempting to enter Tajikistan but also ease entry for legitimate travelers.”
The Fraudulent Document Recognition course is the second Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) course of 2011 sponsored by the U.S. Embassy”s Regional Security Office. Since 2002, over 400 Government of Tajikistan officials have participated in ATA-sponsored training activities at an estimated cost of over $6 million. Training programs take place in the United States and in Tajikistan.
The Office of Antiterrorism Assistance Program was established in 1983 and is part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in the U.S. Department of State. It is an essential U.S. Government mechanism for the provision of training, equipment, and technology to partner governments actively engaged in the War on Terrorism.
This ATA course is one of the many assistance projects the U.S. Embassy implements in Tajikistan on behalf of the American people. Since 1993, the American people have provided more than $984 million in assistance programs that support the economic growth, democratic institutions, health care, education and security systems of Tajikistan.
