2003 Press Releases

U.S. Embassy Presents 40 UAZ jeeps to Turkmen Border Service

June 25, 2003

At a presentation ceremony on June 25 in Ashgabat, the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan handed over 40 new jeeps to First Deputy Commander of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan Colonel Annageldi Gummanov. These UAZ jeeps were presented by the Embassy to the State Border Service (SBS) of Turkmenistan as part of the U.S. Government's Export Control and Border Security Program (EXBS). The U.S. Government is providing these new jeeps to the State Border Service of Turkmenistan to increase the effectiveness of the SBS in preventing the illegal movement of people and material related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) across the border of Turkmenistan. This grant is part of an ongoing U.S. Government program supplying equipment and training to assist in the effectiveness of border security.

The EXBS program constitutes the outermost layer of defense against the use of WMD. Its function is to stop the transit of WMD and related items. This is done by attempting to halt these items in countries as close to the source as possible. EXBS accomplishes this by providing training and equipment for countries' border security forces. Countries participating in this program benefit by using the equipment and training provided to secure their own borders. Equipment and training to stop the transfer of WMD and related materials can also be used to prevent trafficking in narcotics and smuggling of goods to avoid taxation.