DUSHANBE, February 22, 2013, Asia-Plus — The mid-year review of Tajikistan-U.S. Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABC) took place in Dushanbe on February 21, the Tajik MFA information department reports.
Tajik delegation was led by Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and the U.S. delegation for the review was led by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, Jr.
The Tajik delegation members included representatives from relevant government agencies and the U.S. delegation members included U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan and other officials.
The sides reportedly discussed a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States, providing favorable investment climate in Tajikistan, the human rights situation, freedom of mass media, religion, border security, fight against drug trafficking.
Development of road and border infrastructures in Tajikistan, implementation of railroad projects as well as water and environmental issues were also among major topics of the meeting.
Besides, the meeting participants considered aspects of cultural and educational cooperation between the two countries.
They, in particular, noted that development of long-term, stable and friendly relations between Tajikistan and the United States met interests of both nations and would promote development and strengthening of peace in the region.
Summing up the end of the meeting, Tajik foreign minister expressed satisfaction with the discussions results and noted that that format of bilateral dialogue allowed stating positions on and view of the state of bilateral relations, assessing progress and working out ways of further expansion of cooperation, the source said.
We will recall that the Obama Administration launched high-level Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABCs) with Central Asia’s states on counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, democratic reforms, the rule of law, human rights, trade, investment, health, and education in December 2009.
Silk Roads Newsline reports that in a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington last summer, Blake provided detailed description of the annual bilateral consultations conducted by the U.S. with each of the five Central Asian countries.
“These consultations are face-to-face, structured dialogues based on a jointly developed agenda. We hold candid discussions on the full spectrum of issues including human rights, religious freedom, science and technology collaboration, economic development, defense cooperation, and other subjects that either side would like to discuss,” he said at the time. “The ABC process has given seats at the table to virtually the entire United States Government, including the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Commerce, and of course the U.S. Trade Representative, to mention just a few of the most active participants. Each discussion results in a concrete work plan that outlines practical steps to advance U.S. and partner policy goals,” Blake said.
Tajikistan and the United States launched the Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABC) process in Washington, DC, in February 2010, giving both governments the opportunity to discuss on a regular basis issues of mutual concern at a high level. The second meeting of the ABCs Annual took place in Dushanbe on April 11-12, 2011 and the third Annual Bilateral Consultations were held in Washington in May 2012.
