OSCE holds workshop on supply chain security in the Mediterranean

ST. JULIAN'S, Malta, 16 December 2009 - Enhancing supply chain security across all modes of transportation while facilitating legitimate trade is the focus of an OSCE workshop that began today for senior experts from the Mediterranean region.

At the two-day meeting, participants will exchange experiences and information on national, regional and international initiatives to comprehensively secure the supply chain, including air, land and maritime transportation.

"Securing the supply chain is a complex, ambitious, yet essential objective," said Greek Ambassador Alexandros Rallis, representing the Greek OSCE Chairmanship. "We are all concerned about the possibility of terrorists and other criminals abusing or attacking the supply chain. In today's world we need to think of national security in expanded terms. With a supply chain disruption, the economic stakes are immense and the environment can be threatened."

Mario Bugeja, Head for Aviation Security, Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of the Republic of Malta, in his opening remarks to the workshop, said that Malta was pleased to host the event, inspired by the OSCE's conviction that security is indivisible: "The Mediterranean region is shared by many. With this common space come also interdependencies, common security challenges and therefore shared interests."

Raphael Perl, Head on Anti-Terrorism Issues at the OSCE Secretariat, stressed the need for international co-operation and public-private partnerships, as well as the facilitating role of the OSCE. "Because of the complexity of the supply chain and the large number of public and private stakeholders involved, better co-ordination and co-operation is needed on all levels," he said.

"We need to avoid isolated efforts, and rather strive towards partnerships to maximize use of our limited resources. We need to avoid costly ineffective measures, and rather reconcile security with the facilitation of trade and transport."

Representatives of 17 countries and 20 international organizations and private sector associations are participating in the workshop. The OSCE Action against Terrorism Unit organized the event with the support of the Greek OSCE Chairmanship and Kazakhstan, which chairs the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group.