BISHKEK, 23 October 2012 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek presented information brochures on requirements for passport photographs to Kyrgyzstan’s State Registration Service today.

The brochures, in Kyrgyz and Russian, were provided at the request of the State Registration Service to assist the relevant authorities in producing passports in accordance with international standards to enhance travel-document security.

“Our work is aimed at supporting key state institutions to help them ensure the safety and security of Kyrgyzstan’s citizens,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, highlighting the co-operation between the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the State Registration Service.

Erlan Saparbaev, Chairman of the State Registration Service, noted: “We are ready to reform the Service in order to improve its efficiency. We are also considering a number of proposals for more active co-operation with the OSCE.”

The brochures were produced as part of the Centre’s overall efforts to improve the capacity of border-management agencies. Additional training and technical assistance in the area of travel-document security is envisioned to take place in partnership with the State Registration Service along with several other border-management agencies next year.