OSCE Centre organizes training course on travel document security

ASHGABAD, 27 March 2009 - An OSCE-sponsored one-week training course on strengthening travel document security in Turkmenistan concluded in the Caspian Sea city of Turkmenbashi today.

The course, delivered by four international experts, included simulations, practical exercises and discussion, as well as training modules on trafficking in human beings and using the Interpol database. Eighteen participants from the Interior Ministry, the State Customs Service, the State Border Service and the State Migration Service completed the course.

"Crimes related to forged documents have become a serious security problem world-wide. Co-operation and sharing of information is absolutely necessary in combating this threat as criminals do not respect international or national borders," said Austrian instructor Mario Wimmer.

A similar course will be held for officials in the northern city of Dashoguz next week.

The course for border officials was developed by the OSCE Secretariat's Action against Terrorism Unit and Borders team, and was first held with the assistance of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad in September 2008.