DUSHANBE, April 23, 2013, Asia-Plus – On Monday April 22, Patrick Bellinger, the Regional Security Officer (RSO) of the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, congratulated 20 participants from Tajikistan''s Ministry of the Interior, Drug Control Agency, and State Committee on National Security on completing the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Instructor Development Course.

According to the U.S. Embassy, the ATA course covered subjects such as Instructional System Design, communication and presentation skills, and lesson development and planning.  The course also introduced participants to a variety of terrorism and counterterrorism topics.

RSO Bellinger stated that the Instructor Development Course is one of several U.S. Embassy sponsored Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) courses planned in 2013 for Tajikistan’s Law Enforcement Officers.  He thanked the participants for their daily efforts to fight terrorism.  The participants were also recognized for their great efforts in training new personnel for the law enforcement community.

The Office of Antiterrorism Assistance was established in 1983 as part of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in the U.S. Department of State.  It is an essential U.S. Government mechanism that provides training, equipment, and technology to partner governments actively engaged in fighting terrorism.

Since 1992, the American people have provided over $1 billion in programs and humanitarian aid that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education and economic growth.