Afghan customs academy officials visit Kyrgyzstan, OSCE Centre in Bishkek to discuss co-operation
BISHKEK, 2 April 2010 - The OSCE Centre in Bishkek hosted a delegation from Afghanistan's National Customs Academy this week to discuss the participation of Afghan officers in the OSCE's customs training development project in Kyrgyzstan.
Joint co-ordination meetings were held with representatives of Kyrgyzstan's State Foreign Ministry, the State Customs Service and the Embassies of Japan and Kazakhstan in Bishkek to discuss future areas of co-operation under the OSCE project, as well as prospects for developing relationships and wider regional co-operation in Central Asia.
Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: "Afghanistan, a key OSCE Partner for Co-operation, is grappling with multiple security and border governance challenges. This OSCE project, which enjoys the full support of Kyrgyzstan, is one of the concrete manifestations of the Organization's intensified engagement with Afghanistan. In enhancing the quality of training for both Kyrgyz and Afghan customs officers, the project effectively operationalizes the political priority given to Afghanistan, and in doing so boosts the stake of Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbours in that country's future."
The OSCE's Customs Training Development Project, launched in September 2009 and implemented jointly with Kyrgyzstan's Customs Training Centre, aims to help develop a comprehensive training curriculum, based on training requirements identified through a nation-wide questionnaire. In February, eight Kyrgyz instructors were appointed by Kyrgyzstan's State Customs Service to the Training Centre. Under the guidance of OSCE customs advisers, the instructors are developing a core curriculum and courses tailored in accordance with international standards and best practices.
Dmitry Fedorov, the Deputy Chairman of Kyrgyzstan's State Customs Service, said: "We are happy to receive our colleagues from the National Customs Academy of Afghanistan. This visit is a first step towards our co-operation in the framework of the OSCE-led project. We hope the joint training of Afghan and Kyrgyz customs staff will be fruitful."
A 2007 OSCE Ministerial Council decision on enhancing engagement with Afghanistan, drafted in response to the country's request for OSCE assistance in the area of border security, police training and combating drug trafficking, encouraged the OSCE's field operations in Central Asia, in consultation with their host governments, to intensify the involvement of Afghan counterparts in relevant activities. Engagement with Afghanistan is a key priority of Kazakhstan's 2010 Chairmanship of the OSCE.