DUSHANBE, June 5, 2013, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday June 4, British Ambassador to Tajikistan Robin Ord-Smith and Chief of Mission of the Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tajikistan Tajma Kurt signed here an agreement for an integrated cooperation program along the Tajik Afghan border.
Press release issued by the British embassy in Dushanbe says the project, worth 1.8 million USD and designed to run until March 2015 follows a request from the Tajik and Afghan governments to help enhance the capacity of the their border services to improve cross-border cooperation, improve local livelihoods and to tackle the trafficking of people, drugs and movement of extremist groups.
This project reportedly continues the British Government’s long running collaboration with the IOM and its commitment to providing the means by which security concerns in Central Asia, particularly along the Afghan border, can be effectively met.
The British Ambassador said, “I am delighted that the British Government is able to help support this very important area of capacity building for Tajikistan and Afghanistan. By enhancing the capabilities of Border Services in this way we hope to contribute to the governments’ desire to effectively tackle the illegal movement of narcotics, migrants and potential extremists and contribute to stability across the region.”
Tajma Kurt, Chief of Mission of IOM in Tajikistan noted, “On behalf of the International Organization for Migration, I would like to thank the UK Government for the support to this particular program whose main aim is to enhance the cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan in preventing and mitigating violence and criminality in the border areas.”
Specifically, the program aims to build the trust and improve the capacity of Tajik and Afghan border management services, civil society, and border communities to reduce the drivers of conflicts in the region.
The International Organization for Migration has been a cooperating partner with the Government of Tajikistan since 1993, focusing its efforts on building the state’s capacity in the areas of border control and management, enhancing the capacity of the state agencies in managing migration processes and combating trafficking in human beings, and improving the well-being of migrants and their families.
This program is reportedly a continuation of the long standing cooperation between the UK Government and IOM in improving livelihoods of people in Central and South Asia.
