2008 Programs And Events
Ambassador Visits Termez and Afghan Border Region (06/27/2008)
U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland visited Termez and the Syrxondarya Region on June 26-27, 2008, to take in some of the historical sites, meet with leaders of the local government and the German air base, and familiarize himself with border facilities that are essential to the development of both Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
On June 26, Norland met with Karakhan Tursunov, the Hokim (mayor) of Termez. He then visited the joint Uzbek-German airbase and met with Col. Willi “Sandrin” Kamuf, the German Operational Air Wing Commander, and other officers. The airbase at Termez has been used in support of NATO operations in Afghanistan.
Norland, who twice served in Afghanistan as a Foreign Service Officer, toured the Ayratom-Hairaton Border Crossing near the Amu Darya River separating Uzbekistan from Afghanistan. He later also toured the Termez City River Port, where barges transport supplies across the Amu Darya.
The U.S. Government contributed about $575,000 toward upgrades of the Ayratom-Hairaton Border Crossing, and another $700,000 for a similar upgrade that is underway at the River Port. Both projects are being conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The goal is to have secure, efficient stations for transporting supplies across the border, a key element for increasing trade with Afghanistan, said Tim Buckley, a Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy Tashkent who helped organize the Termez visit.
“One of the aims of the visit was to see these linkages across the border,” Buckley said, noting that Ambassador Norland had previously been on the Afghan side of the river, looking across into Uzbekistan.
Norland also met with civil society leaders in Termez and visited sites showing the region’s long history, including the fascinating story of how Buddhism originally travelled to the Far East from Nepal via Termez centuries ago. He toured the Termez Archaeological Museum and the Mausoleum of al-Hakim al-Termezi, a famed Islamic scholar of the 9th century. From Termez, Norland also traveled to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Emperor Amir Timur (Tamerlane).
The visit was part of Norland’s efforts to visit each region of Uzbekistan as he seeks to strengthen ties between Uzbekistan and the U.S.