2002 Press Releases

Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia William Taylor Visits Turkmenistan

Aug. 26, 2002

Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia in the Department of State William B. Taylor, Jr., arrived in Ashgabat Saturday evening. Ambassador William Taylor met today with President of Turkmenistan Sapamurat Niyazov to discuss U.S. assistance programs for Turkmenistan.

As part of his program in Turkmenistan, Ambassador Taylor is visiting some of the activities undertaken by the implementing partners of USAID and the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat. USAID Central Asian Mission Director George Deikun and USAID Turkmenistan Country Representative Bradford Camp are accompanying him. Within the framework of his stay, Ambassador Taylor will have the opportunity to meet with local NGOs and alumni of U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs.

Ambassador Taylor oversees the bilateral economic, security, democracy, and humanitarian assistance of U.S. Government agencies providing assistance to 27 states of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. U.S. assistance to Turkmenistan reached $16.4 million in fiscal year 2002, compared to $12.2 million in fiscal year 2001.