OSCE Centre enhances professionalism of Kazakhstan's border guards

KORDAI, Kazakhstan,16 November 2007 - Facilitating legal and controlled border crossings through better border management was the aim of a five-day workshop for Kazakh officials organized by the OSCE Centre that ended today.

The training course took place at the Kordai checkpoint on the border of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Some 25 participants, mostly border guards, received extensive training on modern border inspection techniques, detecting illegal border crossings and smugglers, counteracting corruption, and observing human rights standards.

Participants also learned how to use equipment, work with electronic databases and carry out vehicle inspections. Border reforms and existing practices in East European countries were also discussed.

The event was organized by the OSCE Centre in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Programme, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the United States Embassy, and the Border Service of Kazakhstan.

The project titled "Enhancing border control on the land border of Kazakhstan" is part of the Centre's efforts to promote OSCE standards in border security and management. The workshop will be followed up by similar events next year.