2006 Press Releases

Altyn Asyr Border Crossing Checkpoint Opening Ceremony

Nov. 14, 2006

On November 10, the U.S. Embassy, the Nevada National Guard and Government of Turkmenistan representatives gathered to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Altyn Asyr border crossing checkpoint in Etrek Etrap, Balkan Welayat. General Cynthia Kirkland and General Robert Fitch visited Turkmenistan in order to head the National Nevada Guard delegation at Friday's ceremony. The cost of the new facility, to be used by the State Customs Service, State Border Service, State Service for the Registration of Foreigners, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, State Veterinary Service, State Sanitary Service and Dayhan Bank, is over $2.5 million, on a site that is over 25,000 square meters.  The Main Building itself is over 1000 square meters in floor space and will be used in support of the counter drug initiative between the government of Turkmenistan and the U.S. Government.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Jennifer Brush in her opening remarks in the Turkmen language, noted “I am encouraged by the priorities outlined in Turkmenistan's National Program on Fighting Illegal Drug Trafficking and Assistance to Drug and Psychotropic Substance Addicts for 2006-2010. (...) We look forward to increasing our bilateral cooperation in the future through the regular sharing of drug seizure data, information on narcotics-related crimes and data on domestic drug demand.”

The Altyn Asyr border crossing checkpoint is another example of the close cooperation and mutual respect between the United States Government - Nevada National Guard and the Government of Turkmenistan. The United States Department of State will continue the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement counter narcotics programs that have included the two UNODC-implemented Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border security projects, the national forensic laboratory support project, plans for a Turkmenbashy Port security project, a counter narcotics project in the welayats and the joint British-American English Language Training project. The embassy will also continue the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program. The embassy’s EXBS advisor works closely with the State Customs Service officials and State Border Security officers to provide necessary training and equipment to keep the borders secure and Turkmenistan safe from the threat of weapons of mass destruction. The Nevada National Guard supported this project under the auspices of the State Partnership Program between the U.S. state of Nevada and the Government of Turkmenistan.