2004 Press Releases

U.S. Embassy Hands Over 10 Water Trucks to Turkmen Border Service

April 20, 2004

The U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan handed over 10 water trucks to the State Border Service (SBS) of Turkmenistan at a presentation ceremony held at an SBS military unit in Ashgabat on April 20, 2004. U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Tracey Ann Jacobson and First Deputy Chief of Turkmenistan's State Border Service Colonel Rakhmangeldi Annasakhatov participated in the ceremony. The trucks were donated through the Export Control and Border Security Program (EXBS), implemented by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Customs Service and administered by the Embassy in Ashgabat.

"The U.S. Government is committed to working together with Turkmenistan to fight illegal trafficking in narcotics, weapons, and persons," said Ambassador Jacobson during the ceremony. "Border Guards must often work in isolated locations along the border. Conditions can be difficult, and their work challenging. We are pleased to support their work with today's donation from the people of the United States of America." Colonel Annasakhatov expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Embassy "for participating in the mission of protecting the boundaries of our motherland." He also thanked the Embassy for previous donations of 40 UAZ jeeps, 40 night vision goggles, 140 binoculars, 7 interdiction tool kits, and 40 GPS devices. "I am assured that this equipment will be very useful and make the work of our border guards easier," noted the First Deputy Chief.

EXBS is an ongoing U.S. Government program supplying equipment and training to assist in the effectiveness of border security and designed particularly to deter the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Its function is to stop the transit of WMD and related items by attempting to halt these items in countries as close to the source as possible. 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 persons, and smuggling goods to avoid taxation.