OSCE strengthens community policing in Kyrgyzstan through donation of vehicles to the Interior Ministry
BISHKEK, 4 February 2016 - The OSCE Centre in Bishkek handed over 18 all-terrain vehicles today to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Interior as part of its police reform programme to build the capacity of the country’s authorities in the area of community policing.
“We hope that this technical assistance will further enhance the efficiency of the Kyrgyz police’s work particularly in strengthening community policing and addressing public safety and will significantly contribute to the new police patrol service establishment,” said Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, during his address at the donation ceremony. “The handover demonstrates the high-level of partnership and mutually beneficial co-operation between the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Kyrgyz Government.”
Earlier on 26 January 2016, Kapinos together with Kyrgyz Minister of Interior Melis Turganbaev had signed an agreement on the donation of the vehicles. Kapinos also addressed the annual meeting of the Interior Ministry late last week.
Summing up the co-operation between the OSCE Centre and the Ministry, Kapinos noted the importance of the memorandum of understanding of 16 July 2015 signed between the two on reforming law enforcement bodies and governmental agencies dealing with internal affairs, national security, economic crimes, the penal system, customs, the border service, financial intelligence and drug control agencies. Kapinos said that it was an important milestone in the government’s commitment to implementing security sector reforms.