DUSHANBE, September 26, Asia-Plus – According to the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan, the EU UNDP Border Management in Northern Afghanistan (BOMNAF) planned project activities require that coordination meetings and events involving Afghan, Tajik and other Central Asian border officials are organized, implemented and hosted by the Project.

Therefore, UNDP’s EU-BOMNAF Project hosted a Workshop in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on September 25-26, 2014 to discuss Heart of Asia activities associated with regional security, trade and migration, between Afghanistan and their Central Asian neighbor nations, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

The meeting was reportedly attended by over one hundred and twenty representatives from border and customs agencies of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, ministerial representation from both sides of the border, as well as EU donors from the EU Delegations in Kabul and Dushanbe, experts and representatives from the international community working in the areas of trade and migration, customs issues, border management and associated areas.

The overall aim of the event was to encourage and assist collective engagement towards development of capacity and strengthening of coordination and communication between the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and its northern neighbors, the Republics of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, in the field of international border management. Principal areas of focus emphasized cooperation, coordination, collaboration and communication, between Afghanistan and Central Asia.

The event was co-chaired by Mr. Nizomiddin Zohidi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Ms. Cecilia Costa, Aid Coordination Task Manager of the EU Delegation in Afghanistan, Mr. Alexander Zuev UN Resident Representative in Tajikistan, Mr. Istvan Nyitrai, Charge d''affaires of the European Union in Tajikistan.

In connection with the event Mr. Zohidi expressed that, given the increasing importance of trade and migration worldwide, there should be no obstacles to commerce between neighboring nations.  He also said that organization of similar events have a special role and it is hoped that exchange of ideas for better ways of cooperation between Central Asian countries and Afghanistan are identified during the workshop.

Cross border cooperation and consultation between law enforcement officials is a vital component in the fight against illegal trafficking of narcotics.  Such contacts are fostered through EU assistance and law enforcement agencies in both Tajikistan and Afghanistan plan in future to meet regularly to discuss matters of mutual interest and to quickly resolve any challenges which may arise.

The overall objective of the European Union''s assistance to Afghanistan is to foster regional cooperation and enable Afghanistan to facilitate secure trade links within its neighborhood, especially Central Asia.  The BOMNAF project is a component of a larger Regional Cooperation Program of assistance agreed between the European Union and the Government of Afghanistan, and complements other programs in Afghanistan, in Tajikistan and in Central Asia.