OSCE Centre supports conference on transport security and trade facilitation in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, 12 September 2013 – Some 250 prosecutors and law enforcement officers from Kazakhstan gathered at an international conference that started today in Astana, with the OSCE Centre support, to discuss how to enhance transport security, improve transit and accelerate the movement of goods, in particular within the Eurasian economic space.

The OSCE Centre in Astana organized the event together with the Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, the Committee on National Security, the Transport and Communications Ministry and the Interior Ministry. Participants from across the country took part through videoconferencing.

The experts from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine focused on gaps, challenges and threats to transport security as well as border crossing points. The participants exchanged expertise and best practices in trade facilitation and transport security with special emphasis on Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia Customs Union’s procedures.

“In times of global economic crisis, Kazakhstan, during its Chairmanship in the OSCE, initiated the idea to build up the transport sector to reduce development gaps between the OSCE countries, which was significant.  A continued focus on the role of the transport sector and transport security remains relevant today, in the context of improving co-operation and sustainability of social and economic development of the OSCE participating States,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

“An increased integration in the Customs Union made it also possible to use transport for illegal trade operations, smuggling of goods, drug smuggling, illegal migration and terrorist attacks with the possibility for many casualties,” said Ibray Tleugaleev, Chief Transport Prosecutor.

“Since our countries are linked into one transportation corridor, uniting Europe and Asia, we should address these challenges together. I hope that today’s conference will facilitate that.”

The conference is a part of the longstanding effort of the OSCE Centre and the Prosecutor General’s Office to increase the potential, expertise and skills of the prosecutors in the field of economic and environmental security.