The United States has been collaborating with Tajikistan during more than twenty-seven years and over this period, the United States has provided more than 1.86 billion U.S dollars’ worth of assistance within the frameworks of projects supporting development of private sector, agriculture, health care, education, democratic institutions and security in Tajikistan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Tajikistan, John Mark Pommersheim, said in his exclusive interview with Asia-Plus.
Mr. Pommersheim noted that the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided assistance to Tajikistan in the field of security, border management, addressing terrorist threats and supporting the country’s sovereignty. In recent year, the Embassy has provided more than 20 million US dollars’ worth of high-quality equipment for training and providing security.
The Embassy has provided construction equipment, heavy construction machinery, and tactical vehicles valued at 8 million U.S. dollars and ground sensor radar equipment to Tajik for border security, Ambassador Pommersheim said. Besides, security assistance equipment worth $3.8 million has been provided to Tajik border troops.
According to him, the Government of the United States has provided more than 90 million U.S. dollars to provide security of borders of the region and organized more than 200 training events and trained more than 200 border officers.
Asked about collaboration between the United States and Tajikistan in combating drug trafficking, Mr. Pommersheim noted that the United States is cooperating not only with the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan but also with border troops. “We have programs, conduct trainings on combating drug trafficking.” U.S. diplomat said.
“Of course, there is a lot can be done in order to expand our cooperation in this area, because drug transit is a very serious problem for Tajikistan. We will improve efficiency of our work,” Ambassador Pommersheim.
U.S. diplomat noted that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is cooperating with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in supporting development of communities in some areas along Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan through developing trade and small business; agriculture, tourism, health care, education and other social services. Besides, USAID provide support in construction of the Sebzor hydropower plant in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
“We are interested in expanding economic cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan. It is one of the priority directions for me. I recently visited one of companies, which is financed by the United States – this company is Coca Cola,” Mr. Pommersheim said.
“There are also other companies with U.S. capital operating in Tajikistan. Thus, one of them is engaged in production of antimony and another one produces potato chips.”
U.S. diplomat noted that transparent laws and respect to intellectual property are of significant importance for U.S. investors and “we work with the Government of Tajikistan on improving these issues.”
On the issue of blockage of website in Tajikistan, Mr. Pommersheim, in particular, noted that the United States together with other diplomatic missions and international organizations has expressed concern about the blockage of news sites in Tajikistan. “We continue calling on the Government of Tajikistan to provide freedom of media in accordance with international obligations of the country on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
“We consider that continuous prosperity, security and stability of Tajikistan require full adherence of the government to protection of freedom of speech, freedom of media and protection of the right of journalists to report news without fear of censorship or repression. Civil society and journalists must continue raising this issue with the Government both in public and in private,” U.S. diplomat said.
The United States will continue supporting initiatives of civil society in Tajikistan and in the whole world through providing grants to promote access to information and freedom of expression, Mr. Pommersheim said.
