OSCE brings together experts from Central, Eastern Europe to discuss border crossings

MINSK, 9 October 2008 - Evaluating the performance of border crossings in Central and Eastern Europe and best practices in the field were the focus of an OSCE-organized meeting that ended in Minsk today.

The two-day event, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities with the support of the OSCE Office in Minsk and the Belarusian authorities, was attended by senior representatives of Customs and Border Guard authorities and international experts. The meeting is part of preparations for the publication of an OSCE/UNECE Handbook on Best Practices at Border Crossings, which will help policy makers and customs, border and transport authorities facilitate trade and transit within the OSCE region.

"The Handbook will facilitate legal trans-border commercial movement. It will contribute to more efficient border crossings and at the same time reduce opportunities for corruption, illicit trafficking and transnational crime and terrorism," said Alexey Stukalo, Deputy Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

Vladimir Serpikov, of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, added: "The topic of the meeting is important for Belarus. We have a significant transit potential and we are interested in further harmonizing border-crossing procedures with Russia, EU countries and others."

Participants reviewed ways to introduce and implement integrated border management measures, cross-border information sharing mechanisms and ways to increase inter-agency co-ordination and co-operation. They also identified areas that would need further improvement and presented recent and future policy reforms. Some of the information collected will be described in more detail in the Handbook.

A similar meeting will be held for Central Asia and South Caucasus regions in Bishkek on 23 and 24 October, completing the cycle of consultations leading to the planned publication of the Handbook at the beginning of next year.