ID :
207407
Thu, 09/15/2011 - 17:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207407
The shortlink copeid
EU invests about 11 million dollars in BOMNAF project .
DUSHANBE, September 15 (Itar-Tass) - The European Union has invested
10.5 million dollars in strengthening the border between northern
Afghanistan, southern Tajikistan and southern Uzbekistan within the
framework of the Border Management Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF) project,
the project's manager William Lawrence told reporters on Thursday after
the first day of an international conference in Dushanbe. The project will
last for 2.5 years.
He said taking part in the conference were representatives of border
and customs services of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the UN, the
OSCE and ambassadors from a number of countries.
Lawrence said the project was designed to define forms of
cooperation, exchanges of intelligence information, confidence-building
measures and economic development on either side of the border. The
conference will work out recommendations for the governments of
Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The project also envisages special training of 350 Afghan
borderguards, including instruction in foreign languages and the skill of
processing and generalizing information.
As for the situation in Afghanistan, UN envoy to Tajikistan Alexander
Zuyev called it "complicated enough, but more stable in comparison with
that in central and southern provinces."
This is not a reason for complacency yet, he added.
He recalled the unprecedented armed attack of Taliban fighters on the
UN office in Mazar-i-Sharif (Balh province bordering Uzbekistan) in April.
Tajikistan has the longest border with Afghanistan, which totals 1,300
kilometers. Tajik borderguards have averted twelve armed intrusions by
Afghan drug smugglers into Tajik territory since January 1. Ten militants
were killed in the clashes and a great amount of arms and drugs was seized.
All in all, Tajik security forces during the same period of time have
confiscated about two tonnes of drugs, and in cooperation with Afghan
counterparts destroyed several heroin laboratories in border provinces of
northern Afghanistan.
10.5 million dollars in strengthening the border between northern
Afghanistan, southern Tajikistan and southern Uzbekistan within the
framework of the Border Management Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF) project,
the project's manager William Lawrence told reporters on Thursday after
the first day of an international conference in Dushanbe. The project will
last for 2.5 years.
He said taking part in the conference were representatives of border
and customs services of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the UN, the
OSCE and ambassadors from a number of countries.
Lawrence said the project was designed to define forms of
cooperation, exchanges of intelligence information, confidence-building
measures and economic development on either side of the border. The
conference will work out recommendations for the governments of
Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The project also envisages special training of 350 Afghan
borderguards, including instruction in foreign languages and the skill of
processing and generalizing information.
As for the situation in Afghanistan, UN envoy to Tajikistan Alexander
Zuyev called it "complicated enough, but more stable in comparison with
that in central and southern provinces."
This is not a reason for complacency yet, he added.
He recalled the unprecedented armed attack of Taliban fighters on the
UN office in Mazar-i-Sharif (Balh province bordering Uzbekistan) in April.
Tajikistan has the longest border with Afghanistan, which totals 1,300
kilometers. Tajik borderguards have averted twelve armed intrusions by
Afghan drug smugglers into Tajik territory since January 1. Ten militants
were killed in the clashes and a great amount of arms and drugs was seized.
All in all, Tajik security forces during the same period of time have
confiscated about two tonnes of drugs, and in cooperation with Afghan
counterparts destroyed several heroin laboratories in border provinces of
northern Afghanistan.
