DUSHANBE, June 4, 2014, Asia-Plus – First Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Ms. Ozoda Emomali, presided over the third session of the U.S.-Tajikistan Annual Bilateral Consultations (ABC) that took place in Dushanbe on June 3, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
The U.S. delegation at the session was led by Ms. Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
The sides reportedly discussed a number of issues related to regional security, human dimensions, economic development, and bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States.
Speaking at the session, Ozoda Emomali noted that bilateral cooperation between the countries had reached a high level in recent years. She also expressed hope for further mutually beneficial cooperation.
Tajik deputy foreign minister also pointed out a role of the United States in the international antiterrorist coalition in Afghanistan and providing regional security in Central Asia as a whole.
She also highly appraised activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Tajikistan.
For her part, Ms. Biswal highly appraised the level of bilateral relations between the United States and Tajikistan and expressed gratitude to the Tajik side for active and professional work to promote further expansion of bilateral relations.
In the course of the consultations, the sides arrived at a common opinion about existence of threat emanating from extremist and terrorist organizations active in the region, the Tajik MFA information department noted.
Touching upon the issues of human rights and freedoms, representatives of the U.S. delegation reportedly highly appraised bilateral dialogue being conducted in this area.
Discussing the economic issues, they sides pointed out an active cooperation between Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Representatives of the U.S. Department of State reportedly highly appraised economic reforms being carried out in Tajikistan and bilateral economic cooperation.
At the end of the session, the sides expressed hope for further fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation.
