OSCE Presence in Albania

The Department for Security Co-operation of the OSCE Presence in Albania assists the police, particularly in the training of border police. It works closely with other international actors in the field and liaises with security-related ministries and the Albanian state police and military.

The Department actively participates in the International Consortium, the main forum for co-ordinating criminal justice and police assistance, including programmes to combat trafficking and organized crime. It provides technical support on relevant legislation and official strategies and co-ordinates future activities among participating organizations and government agencies.

Police assistance and border management

Established in June 2002, the Police Assistance and Border Management Unit co-ordinates the border-related activities of the Presence. It also assists government authorities with Joint Border Co-operation Meetings, which bring together representatives of the Albanian state police, UNMIK/KFOR and the Kosovo Police Service to discuss mutual concerns and solutions. These meetings take place along the Albania-Kosovo (Serbia) border at the regional level and at border crossing points.

The Unit is carrying out projects to strengthen secondary language skills among some 200 Albanian border and migration police and provide backup power solutions with solar panels for police commissariats and border crossing points.

Other assistance has included creating a radio communications network, which enhances the national police communications network, improving their ability to respond quickly to threats posed by cross-border and organized crime. The Unit also provides first-aid courses for traffic police and training workshops on border surveillance equipment for border police.