DUSHANBE, May 27, 2009, Asia-Plus — The OSCE Border Management Staff College, which will help train border security managers and promote co-operation between OSCE States and Partner countries, was launched in Dushanbe today.
Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, senior representatives from the Main Border Directorate within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin as well as ambassadors and other representatives of OSCE participating States attended the launch ceremony.
OSCE ambassadors arrived in Tajikistan as part of a familiarization visit to Central Asia. On the occasion of this inauguration, the Norwegian Ambassador to the OSCE pledged a financial contribution by his Government in the amount of 170,000 euros to this year’s running costs of the College. The College is being funded by extra-budgetary contributions.
The college will offer border management training courses to senior border officers from the OSCE participating States and Partners for Cooperation, including neighboring Afghanistan, as well as provide an outreach program of workshops and seminars in Central Asia to enhance cross-border and inter-agency cooperation in the region. A research and development centre will also be housed at the college.
“The Greek Chairmanship is committed to seeing the Staff College flourish, in line with our continued support for border security and management initiatives in the entire OSCE area and particularly in Central Asia”, said Ambassador Mara Marinaki, who represented the Greek OSCE Chairmanship at the launch. She added that the Greek Chairmanship would contribute 80,000 euros for this year”s running costs.
The OSCE Border Management Staff College will address border-related challenges in all dimensions of the OSCE”s work, including terrorism, transnational organized crime, illegal migration and illicit trafficking in nuclear, biological, chemical and conventional weapons, as well as trafficking of human beings, drugs and hazardous waste.
Training and research will also focus on the free and secure movement of persons, border crossing procedures, facilitating trade and transport security. The College aims to provide a single point of knowledge delivery and promote international standards and best practices in all aspects of border management.
“We strongly believe in positive relationships with the OSCE and will take efforts to enhance our co-operation further”, said Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi. “I would like to emphasize that the launching of the Border Management Staff College is evidence of such positive relations.” Tajik minister noted that the OSCE states would provide 5 million euros for seven years. 2.3 million euros will be provided during the first year of functioning of the College, according to Zarifi.
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin said, “We attach great importance to this College as a unique entity that will play a strategic role in promoting international standards in all aspects of border management.” He noted that the Spanish, Finnish and Greek OSCE Chairmanships and Tajik Government had all significantly contributed to the Staff College concept and its implementation.
