Monday May 26, 2014
Aibak (BNA) The European Union (EU) said in a statement Sunday that it would invest in cross-border trade and transit and improve security in the region.
“As part of EU’s 8 million Border Management Northern Afghanistan Project, EU Special Representative and Head of the UE Delegation to Afghanistan, Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin, on Thursday handed over a newly constructed Border Police,” said the statement. The event took place near the town of Djomarji Bolo in Badakhshan province, on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.
Handing over the facility, Ambassador Mellbin said “This project will help increase cross-border trade. Today, regional trade is far below what it should be. Every day the people of Afghanistan and Tajikistan indeed of the whole region are suffering from loss of economic opportunities, jobs and prosperity due to the lack of regional integration. The EU is investing to change this.” The Border Management Project will strengthen the capacity of the Afghan authorities to develop and implement a cohesive strategy on cross-border trade and regional security. It is intended to enable transit and trade, leading to improvements in the economic situation of border communities. One of the EU objectives in Afghanistan is to foster regional cooperation and enable the country to facilitate secure trade with its neighbors.
This project is a part of a larger Regional Cooperation Program between the EU and the Afghan Government and complements other programs in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Central Asia. Border management is most effective, if similar strategies and capacities are developed on both sides of international borders. Accordingly, this project in Afghanistan mirrors what has already been provided through an EU-UNDP partnership on the Tajikistan side of the border. Cross-border cooperation and consultations between law enforcement officials is a vital component in the fight against illegal trafficking of narcotics. These contacts are being nurtured through EU assistance and in the future law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan and Afghanistan plan to meet regularly, to discuss and settle matters of mutual interest.
Indeed, good trade relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors would diminish disputes and foster economy of the country further than ever and secure a link with other nations for further development and standardization. The European Union’s efforts to pave a better way of regional security through enhancing trade and transit ties between the country and its neighbors would help the war-torn nations once again stand on its feet and build their work capacities through engagement in different sectors expected to be built or revitalized after decades of conflicts and mishaps. Security is the key for bolstering any efforts to help the country’s frustrated, calm and solid economic infrastructures receive gradual development.
