DUSHANBE, December 27, 2008, Asia-Plus -- Four-day online discussions of the environmental problems in Tajikistan on the site the Internet and Training Program (IATP), which is coordinated by USAID and IREX, ended on December 26.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Muazama Burhonova, chairperson of the Foundation to Support Civil Initiatives (FSCI), said that discussions had been dedicated to consider the environmental problems and ways to tackle them to promote sustainable development of the country.

“Some 100 questions put by various sections of the Tajikistan population have demonstrated their increasing in the environmental problems facing the country,” said Ms. Burhonova, “The discussions participants have also expressed their views on the environmental problems that face not only Tajikistan but the world as a whole.”  “Issues considered during the online discussions touched upon various aspects of protection of the environment, ranging from pollution of waters in the Varzo resort zone and state of nature reserves in the country to effectiveness of environmental protection legislation and Tajikistan’s joining the Kyoto Protocol,” she said.

The main goal of FSCI is to encourage and assist in making democratic transformation and reforms in various spheres of social life in Tajikistan, i.e. development of sustainable civic society, ecology, education, social initiatives

The Internet Access and Training Program (IATP) was established in 1995. Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), the purpose of the program is to provide BECA program alumni and others with free and open access to and training in the use of electronic mail and the Internet.  Additionally, the IATP seeks to empower end-users to obtain and publish on-line information and participate in the global electronic community.  The IATP serves as an access, training, and information source for Internet and exemplifies how it can benefit the daily lives of the Tajik community.  Popular from its inception, the program continues to expand rapidly alongside the technological growth in the New Independent States (NIS).  In addition to Tajikistan, the program encompasses numerous other countries