DUSHANBE, April 12, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Tuesday April 12, President Rahmon received visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake.  During the meeting, Mr. Blake reportedly conveyed the U.S. authorities’ gratitude to President Rahmon for Tajikistan’s support for peaceful settlement of the Afghan problems.

Following a two-hour meeting with President Rahmon, Mr. Blake told journalists that they had discussed cooperation between the United States and Tajikistan in combating drug trafficking and in strengthening Tajikistan’s border security.

According to him, he met with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tajikistan (AmCham Tajikistan) Tuesday morning.

AmCham Tajikistan has been working here over the past two years and Mr. Blake asked the AmCham Tajikistan representatives about opportunities for participation of American capital in implementation of a number of projects in Tajikistan.

The U.S. Assistance Secretary of State stressed that he informed Emomali Rahmon that American companies might participate in energy and mining projects in Tajikistan.  But firstly, Tajikistan ought to tackle some taxation problems, Mr. Bake noted.

He added that they had also discussed issues related to freedom of speech and religion in Tajikistan.