DUSHANBE, October 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Finland is ready to provide financial assistance to Tajik border guards.

According to the main border directorate within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), such an agreement was reached at a meeting of visiting Finnish delegation lead by the Minister of Interiors Anne Holmlund with senior representatives of GKMB here on October 22. 

The Minister of Interiors of Finland arrived in Dushanbe to participate at the Ministerial Conference on “Border Management and Drug Control in Central Asia.” 

The source at the GKNB said that in the course of the talks, the sides had discussed issues related to prevention of transportation of narcotic drugs via the Tajik-Afghan border, strengthening of drug control and measures to counter illegal migration and fight against international terrorism and religious extremism.  

During the meeting, Tajik security authorities noted that the Tajik government has taken efforts to improve the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border. 

The sides confirmed their commitment to opportunely addressing new challenges and threats to security in Central Asia and Europe.  

At the end of the meeting, the Finnish side expressed readiness to provide financial support to Tajik border troops to tackle the mentioned problems, the source said.