OSCE evaluates Kyrgyzstan's system for lost and stolen ID documents

BISHKEK, 26 November 2008 - Assessing Kyrgyzstan's law enforcement system for lost and stolen identification documents and identifying measures needed for the country to join Interpol's database was the purpose of an OSCE-supported technical evaluation that ended today.

The OSCE's Action Against Terrorism Unit and the Interpol Secretariat performed the two-day evaluation, which was organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

"This assessment visit is important not only for the Kyrgyz Republic, but for the security of the entire Central Asian region in general in coordinating efforts to combat terrorism," said Matthew Ford, the OSCE Centre's Adviser on Anti-Terrorism Issues.

The OSCE Centre organized the visit together with the Foreign Ministry's National Central Bureau of Interpol and Norway's National Police Directorate. The evaluation included discussions, presentations and an assessment of infrastructure relevant to the identification of documents. The team also visited the border point at Manas airport, outside Bishkek.

"We want to know Kyrgyz law enforcement needs in terms of infrastructure and equipment to join the database," said Talgat Toleubayev, Regional Specialized Officer at Interpol's General Secretariat, adding that having Kyrgyzstan join would "help find lost stolen documents, as well as vehicles, in real time. It is important in terms of state security, in the light of human and drug trafficking, and terrorism."

The evaluation, financed by Norway, was held as a follow-up to a 2006 OSCE Ministerial Council decision that calls on participating States to prevent criminal use of lost and stolen ID documents by taking measures including joining the Interpol database.

Based on the results of the evaluation report, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek will support Kyrgyz authorities' efforts to implement the decision.