DUSHANBE, March 3, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe and the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Tajikistan, supported by the EU-funded UNDP-implemented BOMCA and BOMNAF Programs, will host a two-day conference on ways to enhance border management and cross-border co-operation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

According to the European Union (EU) Delegation, the Conference has been designed within the framework of agreements reached at the EU-Japan summits, which took place respectively in Tokyo on the April 28, 2010 and in Brussels on May 28, 2011, where Japan and the European Union reconfirmed their commitment to work together in partnership with the Government of Afghanistan, the United Nations and other international organizations to promote a secure, stable and prosperous future for the people of Afghanistan.

The objectives of the Conference are to develop sustainable local capacity, improve border management and explore ways of furthering the collaboration between the Governments of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.  The focus will be upon identifying fields of training, aligning cross-border operations, strengthening counter-narcotic actions, enhancing transparency and accountability, improving cross-border services and trade facilitation.

The Conference will take place in Dushanbe from March 4-5, 2014.  The event will involve high ranking representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Border Police and Customs Service of Afghanistan, the Tajik Border Force, Drug Control Agency and Customs Service of Tajikistan, together with representatives from the Japanese Government, the European Union, accredited diplomatic missions to Tajikistan, and international organizations dealing with border management issues.

A Meeting with the Press will be held at 10.00am, Tuesday March 4, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The European Union, composed of 28 Member States, is the world’s biggest aid donor. Tajikistan got the main share of bilateral assistance in the Central Asian region (€66 million for 2007-2010 and €62 million for 2011-2013) in support of sector programs, technical assistance and grants. The assistance focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management. Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, migration, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest). The EU is active in Tajikistan since 1992 and provides approximately €25 million annually in development assistance.