DUSHANBE, October 29, Asia-Plus  - Chief of the US Central Command, Admiral William J. Fallon is arriving in Tajikistan for short visit on October 31, Asia-Plus has learned at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

            The source at a MFA refrained from giving further details of the US Central Command chief’s visit, just saying that Admiral Fallon will stay in the Tajik capital till November 1. 

            We will recall that it is the second visit of Admiral Fallon to Tajikistan.  For the first time, Admiral Fallon visited Tajikistan in June this year.  That time, he held talks with high-ranking Tajik state officials, including President Rahmon, to discuss issues related to providing regional security.            

Admiral William J. Fallon assumed duties as the commander, U.S. Central Command on March 16, 2007, replacing the retiring General John P. Abizaid.

Fallon, the former chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, now leads more than 200,000 service members deployed in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, which includes 27 nations throughout Southwest Asia, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.  Fallon is the first naval officer to assume command of CENTCOM, which began as the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force in 1980.

U.S. Central Command conducts operations to attack, disrupt and defeat terrorism, deter and defeat adversaries, deny access to WMD, assure regional access, strengthen regional stability, build the self-reliance of partner nations’ security forces, and protect the vital interests of the United States within the area of responsibility.