DUSHANBE, November 8, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Thursday November 8, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mrs. Susan M. Elliott, on behalf of the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Military Cooperation, handed over $ 2 million in communications equipment to the special counter narcotics and law enforcement units of the Government of Tajikistan.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, this handover marked the successful completion of the first phase of an Interagency Communications System that will provide those specialized units with the capability to communicate with each other during counternarcotics, counterterrorism, and disaster response operations.

Ambassador Elliott stated, “It is my pleasure to support Tajikistan’s security forces in improving their communications capabilities. This system has already proven to be a great asset to coordinate an inter-agency response to real national events.”

Ambassador Elliott also kicked off Phase II of the communications system, which will incorporate other regions into the effort.

This donation is one of the many assistance projects the U.S. Embassy has provided Tajikistan’s law enforcement agencies.  Since 1992, the American people have provided over $1 billion in programs and humanitarian aid that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, security, education, and economic growth.