OSCE Centre to hold roundtable on cross-border co-operation in Ashgabad

ASHGABAD, 20 September 2005 - Finding a balance between legitimate border security requirements and the principles of free-flow of goods and people is the aim of a roundtable, organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The two-day event, which began today, will discuss threats posed by international crime and terrorism and cross-border co-operation of law enforcement and emergency agencies.

It will bring together representatives of the State Border and Customs services, the Service for the Registration of Foreign Citizens, the General Prosecutor's Office and the ministries of Defence, Justice and National Security and experts from Germany, Russia and Turkmenistan, as well as from NATO, the George Marshall Centre and the European Commission.

"A border is more than a geopolitical line of division," said Ambassador Ibrahim Djikic, Head of the OSCE Centre. "It is the point where countries must co-operate most effectively for the security and prosperity of all".

The roundtable, just like the 2003 symposium on borders, transit and trade in Central Asia, is part of the OSCE's efforts to promote stability and security while providing for trade development in the region.

The Centre plans to hold other training courses for law enforcement officials in the near future on drug recognition and testing.