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http://www.russiajournal.com/news/index.shtml?nd=14309#n14309 Russia Journal July 25, 2002 US ready for Tajikistan military cooperation DUSHANBE (Associated Press) - The United States is ready to expand military cooperation with this impoverished former Soviet republic, including assistance in training the Tajik military, the U.S. Embassy said Thursday. U.S. Ambassador Franklin Huddle met with Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Khairullayev on Wednesday to discuss new forms of military and technical help, the embassy said in a statement. Washington is interested in offering to train Tajik officers and help clear land mines left over from the country's civil war with Islamic militants in the 1990s, Huddle said. Impoverished Tajikistan shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan and is a key part of the drug trafficking route from Afghanistan to Europe. Unable to defend its borders, Tajikistan has relied on the help of 25,000 Russian troops stationed there to block the drug trade and keep refugees and militants out. Zarobiddin Sirojev, spokesman for the Tajik Defense Ministry, confirmed that the defense minister's talks with the U.S. ambassador had focused on expanding cooperation. Sirojev said the U.S. diplomat was also briefed on the present state of the Tajik armed forces. Tajikistan has given its support to the U.S.-led anti-terrorism war, offering air bases to assist Washington. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
