Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 15 /Trend News, H.Hasanov/

Today, on Oct. 15, the Turkmenabat (eastern Turkmenistan) hosted the official opening ceremony of a new checkpoint Farap on the Turkmen-Uzbek border, the U.S. embassy in Turkmenistan said.

This modern, checkpoint will provide the conditions for the development of international trade, and at the same time will prevent illegal trade in drugs, weapons of mass destruction, people and other contraband.

"The checkpoint is the third granted by the Government of Turkmenistan to the United States that represent the continued efforts of the United States and Turkmenistan on cooperation in combating the forces that threaten peace and stability in our countries," the Charge D'affaires of the U.S., Sylvia Curran said.

The first checkpoint Altyn Asyr was opened in 2006 on the border with Iran, and the second - "Imamnazar" - in 2007 on the border with Afghanistan.

Today's ceremony has been also attended by delegations from the U.S. State Department and U.S. Central Command.

The U.S. government has already invested more than $6 million in the Farap project.

The Farap checkpoint was designed with the latest technology to ensure the increase in Turkmenistan's opportunity to inspect incoming and outgoing goods in the border zone.

This would enable the State Customs of Turkmenistan, the State Border Service, the State Migration Service and other relevant agencies to more effectively protect Turkmenistan from smuggling, the smuggling of drugs and other evils accompanying trafficking.

High level of technical capabilities of this checkpoint will significantly increase intact and safe transportation of goods to Uzbekistan, and from it.