Distinguished Deputy Commander of the Border Guard Service of Tajikistan, Commander of the Border Guard District of Shurobod, Ambassador of the United States of America to Tajikistan, officers and men of the border guard service, distinguished members of the media, ladies and gentlemen,

I bring you greetings from Washington.

Ladies and gentlemen, for most people in the world, the border is the line between two countries. For a narcotics trafficker, it is an opportunity to move his product. As you know better than I, narcotics traffickers do their business in this district. Some of your friends and fellow soldiers have paid the ultimate price. They gave their lives to protect their communities.

Today, we honor them and we honor you. Today we visit the new post in Shurobod. We, the Government of Tajikistan and the Government of the United States, owe you a professional facility.

This is the seventh border post that we have constructed together with the border guard service. We work together to create a more secure border. And a secure border protects the people of Tajikistan, it protects the people of Afghanistan, and it protects the people of America.

Men and women of the border guard service, I salute you. You honor us with your presence, and I wish you great success from your new post for years to come.

Congratulations and thank you.