| Press Statement Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman Washington, DC April 18, 2002 Joint Statement of the United States and the Republic of TajikistanThe following is the text of a joint statement issued by the U.S. and Tajikistan following the two-day visit of Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Talbak Nazorov to Washington, DC: Begin joint statement: A delegation from the Republic of Tajikistan, chaired by Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov, conducted broad-ranging and substantial consultations with the government of the United States in Washington, DC, April 17-18, 2002. The delegation met with Vice President Cheney and was hosted for lunch by Deputy Secretary of State Armitage. They also held discussions with the Treasury Department, the National Security Council, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense and key members of Congress. The talks focused primarily on economic development and security issues. The United States reaffirmed its deep appreciation to the Republic of Tajikistan for its historic decision to broadly support the international coalition against terrorism. Both countries expressed commitment to the qualitatively new, long-term relationship based on their common objectives to combat international terrorism; eradicate social, economic, and financial sources of extremism; and maintain peace and stability and strengthen security in Central Asia. The Republic of Tajikistan pledged to continue to implement its program of economic reforms, to send their first ambassador to the United States, and to establish an embassy in Washington, D.C. The United States committed to expand its broad cooperation and assistance to support these goals. |
 | |||
|
