First group of Georgian border guards graduate from OSCE Mission's intensive training programme

TBILISI, 12 July 2005 - A group of 77 Georgian border guards, newly equipped with specialist skills, are the first people to graduate from a four-week OSCE Mission to Georgia Training Assistance Programme course (TAP).

The course will be continuously repeated throughout the year at the four training centres in Kazbegi, Lagodekhi, Lilo and Omalo. A team of OSCE experts in border monitoring are involved in handing on core and specialist border observation and patrolling techniques.

"It is encouraging to see the first wave of successful graduates ready to return to service with the benefit of this kind of training", said Ambassador Roy Reeve, at a ceremony held on Monday in the mountainous region of Kazbegi.

"By the end of this summer, nearly 400 border guards should have taken the course, and we are confident the Georgian Border Guard service will be feeling the benefit of their new capacities."

At the Kazbegi Centre, graduates demonstrated their newly acquired skills in mountain rescue to both Ambassador Reeve and General Korneli Salia, Head of the Main Department of the Land Border Guard. Representatives of the international community were also present, as was the next group of trainees about to start the TAP course.

Since the Mission was mandated in mid-April to implement the TAP, it has worked closely with the Border Guard Department to rapidly develop and implement a professional and comprehensive curriculum. The tailor-made course includes instruction in:

• rescue operation in mountainous areas and security rules, including helicopter operations
• planning and management of border units during day and night
• patrolling, reporting, observation and recording techniques
• maintenance rules of special equipment
• map reading
• communications
• first-aid

Course modules, comprising both theoretical and practical components, are delivered simultaneously at all four centres. Course trainers are also identifying potential border guard tutors from among the trainees so that in future they can take on a training role and cascade the skills and expertise acquired.