Newsroom
OSCE Skopje Mission helps Ministry of Interior take over responsibility for controlling eastern border
SKOPJE 1 September 2004
SKOPJE, 1 September 2004 - The responsibility for eastern border security has been transferred today from the Defence Ministry to the Interior Ministry, following extensive training by the OSCE Mission to Skopje.
"Civilian border control is a symbol of a stable country, and in this context, of a country that is getting closer to Euro-Atlantic integration," said David Tingle, Head of the OSCE Mission's Police Development Unit.
At today's ceremony at the Razlovecko Vostanie barracks in Delcevo, he voiced support for the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and noted that the Mission would provide further assistance in border police training curriculum development.
The Mission has been assisting the Interior Ministry by training 40 managerial level border police officers and by donating over 60,000 euro worth of computer equipment. The training and equipment were necessary for the take-over and the inter-state information exchange, as required by the Schengen Catalogue.
In May , the Ministry of Interior took over control of the border with Greece and now also controls most of the border with Bulgaria. It plans to take control of the borders with Serbian and Montenegro and Albania in 2005.
"Civilian border control is a symbol of a stable country, and in this context, of a country that is getting closer to Euro-Atlantic integration," said David Tingle, Head of the OSCE Mission's Police Development Unit.
At today's ceremony at the Razlovecko Vostanie barracks in Delcevo, he voiced support for the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and noted that the Mission would provide further assistance in border police training curriculum development.
The Mission has been assisting the Interior Ministry by training 40 managerial level border police officers and by donating over 60,000 euro worth of computer equipment. The training and equipment were necessary for the take-over and the inter-state information exchange, as required by the Schengen Catalogue.
In May , the Ministry of Interior took over control of the border with Greece and now also controls most of the border with Bulgaria. It plans to take control of the borders with Serbian and Montenegro and Albania in 2005.