OSCE field presences in Central Asia discuss border-related activities

BISHKEK, 17 July 2008 - OSCE border-related activities and co-operation between its field presences in five Central Asian states was the focus of a two-day workshop that ended today.

The workshop was organized by the OSCE Secretariat's Operations Service and Border Team and hosted by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

"Border management and security is a gateway for enhancing co-operation among the countries in the region. The OSCE's operations seek to stimulate cross border co-operation and to promote modern standards of border management and security in the region," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "A significant outcome of the workshop was to generate practical proposals for how the OSCE field presences in Central Asia could further contribute to enhancing border security, management and co-operation in the region."

Jerome Bouyjou, Project Management Officer at the OSCE Secretariat's Operations Service and Border Team, added: "During the meeting, OSCE field presences in the region exchanged lessons learned and good practices, and considered ways of maximising co-operation."

Representatives of OSCE field operations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan presented their activities in the area of border management and security. Kyrgyz government officials elaborated on the situation in border areas of the country. A representative of the EU's Border Management and Drug Action Programme in Central Asia provided an overview of activities in the region with a focus on cross-border co-operation.