Challenges in area of border security and management discussed in Forum for Security Co-operation meeting

Politico-military aspects of border security and management in Central Asia were the focus of a meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Tajikistan’s chairmanship on 22 May 2019 in Vienna.

Participants debated how to further strengthen stability and security in border areas in the OSCE region in general, and in Central Asia in particular. 

Ambassador Idibek Kalandar of Tajikistan, the Chairperson of the FSC, noted that given the Central Asia countries’ proximity to Afghanistan, they face threats related to the illicit cross-border trade of weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as other forms of trafficking. “These challenges should be addressed comprehensively and in a more efficient and effective way,” he said.  

Facilitating support to improve border security and management in the OSCE region through building capacity of border management staff was another topic of discussion during the meeting.

One of the key speakers, Jonathan Holland, Director of the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC), highlighted the role of the College in enhancing co-operation and information exchange among border agencies in the OSCE area.

The College is an internationally recognized educational institution that delivers expertise and good practices in border security and management, with particular attention to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Since its inception ten years ago, more than 3,000 representatives of border security agencies from 59 countries have attended its courses.

The College offers specific courses for women border officials, thus contributing to the promotion of gender equality in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Veronika Goncharova, Project Manager at the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) described the activities of the Program in assisting the countries of the region in enhancing their capacities in the border management and modernization of local border traffic regimes.

Since 2003, during nine phases the Programme focused on creating in Central Asia a modern border management infrastructure equipped with the necessary facilities, including 45 border crossing points and border stations, seven training centres and seven training classes for border guards, four dormitories for training centres.

Goncharova highlighted the main parameters of the next phase of BOMCA (2020-2025), which along with the Central Asian countries, will also include Afghanistan for the first time as a beneficiary.