PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
| This information is current as of today, |
Tajikistan July 19, 2004 This Public Announcement is being issued to remind U.S. citizens that the potential for terrorist actions against Americans in Tajikistan remains. U.S. citizens should evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before traveling to Tajikistan. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement dated January 20, 2004 and expires on January 18, 2005. The political security situation in Tajikistan has improved in the last two years. Nevertheless, elements of terrorist groups allied with al-Qa'ida, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), remain active in Tajikistan and still pose risks to travelers. In the past, the IMU has been responsible for hostage-takings and border skirmishes near the Uzbek-Tajik-Kyrgyz border areas. The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe continues to observe heightened security precautions. From time to time, the U.S. Embassy restricts the travel of U.S. Embassy personnel to certain parts of Tajikistan. Before traveling outside of Dushanbe, U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Embassy to obtain the most up-to-date security information. Embassy staff in Dushanbe work out of an interim Embassy facility. Resources and security considerations limit the availability of some consular services. Departure options from Tajikistan may be limited in an emergency. U.S. citizens, their family members, and their dependents can maximize departure options by obtaining extended visas for travel to countries with direct flight service or reliable land connections to Tajikistan. These include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, and India, for which visas in advance are required. Other destinations, via flights twice a week only, are Turkey and Germany, which do not require American citizens to obtain visas in advance. Please note, however, that in certain emergency situations, flights may be suspended. U.S. citizens are urged to register and update their contact information at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe. The Embassy is located at 10 Pavlov Street, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The telephone numbers are 992-372-21-03-48, 992-372-24-15-60, and 992-372-51-00-29. The fax number is 992-372-21-03-62. Some consular services for Tajikistan are handled in coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The U.S. Embassy in Almaty is located at 97 Zholdasbekova, Samal-2, Almaty 480099, tel. 7-3272-50-48-02, fax 7-3272-50-48-84. Updated information on travel and security in Tajikistan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or, from overseas, 1-317-472-2328. U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Tajikistan and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are available on the Department's Internet site at http://travel.state.gov. |
