OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan focuses on measures to prevent terrorists from crossing borders undetected under false identities

ASHGABAT, 27 November 2015 – A two-day workshop on tools and templates for joining the Public Key Directory (PKD) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concluded today in Ashgabat, with the aim of enhancing local capacities in preventing terrorists crossing borders undetected using false identities.

The workshop was held at the initiative of Turkmenistan and follows an awareness-raising seminar organized by the OSCE in the country in May 2015.

The workshop built on the information provided during May’s seminar by covering all the necessary steps for joining the PKD.

Joining the ICAO PKD is a proactive approach in fighting international terrorism and preventing the cross-border movement of terrorists because it allows for a fast and effective multilateral validation that an ePassport is genuine.

Following opening remarks by Simon Deignan of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the meeting was addressed in a video message by Jean-Paul Laborde, Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate. He emphasized the importance of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2178 on Foreign Terrorist Fighters, stressing that “any vulnerabilities in traveler identity or travel document security can facilitate the movement of terrorists and other criminals across borders.”

The event was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department/Action against Terrorism Unit, in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, and will result in concrete recommendations and steps for Turkmenistan to join the ICAO PKD.

The OSCE is working to increase the membership of the ICAO PKD (currently 24 OSCE participating States and five Partners for Co-operation) by organizing targeted workshops focusing on either awareness-raising or facilitating participation for those States wishing to join.

Since the adoption of the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision in 2009 on promoting the ICAO PKD, similar workshops have been held in Albania, Armenia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

For OSCE Travel Document Security Programme see: //www.osce.org/atu/73637