10 February 2004
U.S. Offers Tajikistan Support for Economic, Political Reform
Feb. 4, Dushanbe: Amb. Carlos Pascual after meeting with Tajik president
The United States is willing to provide support for Tajikistan's political and economic reform efforts, such as amending the election code, increasing media openness, strengthening competition in the political sphere, and liberalizing trade, says Ambassador Carlos Pascual, the coordinator for U.S. assistance to Europe and Eurasia.
Speaking to reporters February 4 in Dushanbe after meeting with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmonov, Pascual said they had discussed "Tajikistan's efforts to integrate itself with the international economy, and to become a member of WTO [World Trade Organization]. We discussed the importance of regional cooperation of opening borders and facilitating trade with Tajikistan's neighbors."
Tajikistan has agreed to participate in a U.S. effort to create "a trade and investment framework agreement with the countries of the region that would address trade barriers and constraints," Pascual noted.
He was in Dushanbe as part of a visit to Central Asia to assess U.S. assistance programs in light of a new U.S. law that requires significant progress on human rights and democratization as a condition for aid.
In his opening remarks to the press, Pascual said his discussion with Rahmonov covered "all of the challenges that are facing Tajikistan at this very important moment in its transition," including "the processes of political reform in Tajikistan and how the process of political inclusion can be a tool for stability."
Asked about the issue of regional cooperation, Pascual said open borders are good for the region and its entrepreneurs. "We truly believe that it will be good for Tajikistan, for Uzbekistan, for Kyrgyzstan if indeed there can be more open economic cooperation."
Regarding economic assistance to Tajikistan, Pascual cited U.S. interest in supporting "small and medium enterprise activities," land reform, and technical advice and support for Tajikistan's financial systems.
Following is a transcript provided by the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe:
(begin transcript)
U.S. Embassy
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
February 04, 2004
INTERVIEW WITH AMBASSADOR CARLOS PASCUAL, COORDINATOR OF U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO EUROPE AND EURASIA, FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OF TAJIKISTAN, EMOMALI RAHMONOV.
QUESTION (STATE TV): For more than three hours you have discussed the most important economic issues with the President...
AMBASSADOR PASCUAL: We had an extremely interesting discussion with the President today that really covered all of the challenges that are facing Tajikistan at this very important moment in its transition.
We discussed Tajikistan's efforts to integrate itself with the international economy, and to become a member of WTO [World Trade Organization]. We discussed the importance of regional cooperation of opening borders and facilitating trade with Tajikistan's neighbors. We agreed that Tajikistan would participate in an effort that the United States has started to create -- a trade and investment framework agreement with the countries of the region that would address trade barriers and constraints.
We discussed the processes of political reform in Tajikistan and how the process of political inclusion can be a tool for stability. And again the United States indicated its willingness to provide support on issues such as the amendments to the election code and further developments in the media law to help strengthen the openness of the media environment and help strengthen competition in the political sphere.
QUESTION (ITAR-TASS): You mentioned about the issue of regional cooperation discussed with the President. How does the United States view this idea of regional cooperation in general because this is one of the most important issues currently?
AMBASSADOR PASCUAL: We believe that open borders that are good for trade is good for the region and is good for the entrepreneurs of the region. On the way here we stopped at Osh and had the opportunity to see there the problems that existed at the border and the cost to the entrepreneurs of not having the opportunity to trade freely. And we truly believe that it will be good for Tajikistan, for Uzbekistan, for Kyrgyzstan if indeed there can be more open economic cooperation. And this is the message we will bring with us when we go to Uzbekistan in the next two days.
QUESTION (ITAR-TASS): Did you discuss any specific issues of U.S. assistance related to the economy of Tajikistan?
AMBASSADOR PASCUAL: Yes, we did. And one of the key themes of our economic assistance to Tajikistan is the creation of jobs -- because in the end if there are more jobs and greater prosperity in the country, that is only going to be better for the people of Tajikistan and is only going to bring more stability to the region. I reaffirmed our interest in continuing support for small and medium enterprise activities.
We noted our cooperation together on tax policy issues as a result of improvements in the tax system that has allowed the government to provide direct subsidies to the poor in the country. It is just a start; more needs to be done. We noted the work that the government is doing to continue the process of land reform. And again this is an area where the United States is willing to provide additional assistance.
What we truly believe is if there is an environment that allows for small and medium enterprises to grow that that can be the fastest way to create jobs in the economy. And we are committed to provide the kind of technical advice and support for your financial systems that can help to move it forward.
Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
