OSCE Mission organizes crisis response training course for Georgian Interior Ministry staff

TBILISI, 28 November 2005 - Creating an effective crisis response to incidents of terrorism is the aim of an OSCE-organized training course for 21 middle-ranking Georgian Interior Ministry officials, starting today in Tbilisi.

The four-day course is being conducted by experts from the Jebsen Center for Counter Terrorism Studies, the Military Academy West Point, U.S.A, and New Scotland Yard, UK.

"When it comes to developing models for the most effective crisis management, there is no substitute for learning from real cases and incidents," said Ambassador Roy Reeve, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia. "We are confident that the Georgian Interior Ministry will make full use of the expertise on offer."

Shalva Janashvili, Deputy Interior Minister, thanked the OSCE Mission to Georgia for initiating this co-operation, and said: "The fact that high ranking international experts will deliver the training ensures its success. The effectiveness of our work heavily relies on co-operation and information exchange."

The training course is part of the OSCE Mission's programme of anti-terrorism activities.