Central Asia Can Do More To Boost Afghanistan’s Recovery, Its Neighbours Tell UN
New York, Sep 25 2006 7:00PM
The Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan called for stepped-up international efforts to help Afghanistan
establish peace and stability, defeat the drug trade and make economic progress during their addresses to the United
Nations General Assembly today.
Tajikistan’s Talbak Nazarov told the Assembly’s annual debate that Afghanistan’s neighbours in Central Asia should play a greater role in its
post-conflict reconstruction, especially in trying to combat the country’s narcotics problem.
The current programmes are ineffective, Mr. Nazarov said, urging the establishment of “an up-to-date, efficient and
capable Afghan border service” to police the boundary with Tajikistan and to implement joint measures with Tajik border
authorities against drug traffickers.
“We are convinced that these measures could serve as a basis for implementing the initiative of establishing the first
section of the security belt around Afghanistan,” he said.
In his address to the Assembly, Vladimir Norov of Uzbekistan also identified drug production as one of the most dangerous problems in
Afghanistan, threatening the security of the wider region.
Mr. Norov said “real progress in implementing the concrete project funded by the international community” needs to be
made so that Afghans can see they are making social, economic and humanitarian progress.
Both Mr. Norov and Mr. Nazarov also stressed the threat posed by terrorism, calling for regional organizations to play
an enhanced role in dealing with the scourge.
ends