OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports training border officers to use Interpol database

BISHKEK, 20 December 2010 - A training course for Kyrgyz border troops officers from remote border checkpoints in south Kyrgyzstan on the practical use of the Interpol database, organized by the Interpol National Central Bureau with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, started today in Bishkek.

During the five-day training course ten border officers will learn both theory and practice in using the Interpol databases, particularly with regard to stolen and lost travel documents. Two experts from the Interpol National Central Bureau of the Kyrgyz Republic will deliver the course which will take place in the Bureau's new training centre recently created and fully equipped with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

"Terrorists and criminals frequently use false or stolen travel documents to help them achieve their aims. This OSCE and Interpol-supported training will give the border officers in southern Kyrgyzstan the tools to frustrate the activities and movements of terrorists and criminals," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. He underlined that combating terrorism remains an OSCE priority and can produce results only if the efforts receive strong public participation and coordination at the national, regional and international levels.

"It is important to help the Kyrgyz border officers to effectively use the Interpol database," added Colonel Konstantin Nazarov, the Head of the Interpol National Central Bureau. "Such training courses also help to enhance inter-agency co-operation and thus contribute to the collective effort to fight terrorism."

Today's training course is a part of OSCE Centre's support to Kyrgyzstan in combating terrorism principally through the safety of critical infrastructure; developing a nationwide, counter-terrorism public-private partnership; in the training of law enforcement officers; and in the legislative, human rights and educational fields.

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek in collaboration with Interpol will support another project in 2011, which is to help establish real-time connection of ten remote border checkpoints in the southern region of Kyrgyzstan to the Interpol Stolen and Lost Travel Document Database, to enable prompt information exchange.