OSCE Office conducts border management workshop for Azerbaijani and Turkish officers

BAKU, 1 April 2009 - A two-day workshop for Azerbaijani and Turkish border guards and custom officers organized by the OSCE Office in Baku started today.

The workshop, which is being held on the Azerbaijani-Turkish border at the Sadarak-Dilucu crossing point, aims to strengthen the participants' ability to ensure the free, legal and secure movement of people and goods across the border.

"This workshop is intended to give Azerbaijani and Turkish partners a good opportunity to expand on the confidence and trust existing between the agencies," said Alexis Chahtahtinsky, the Acting Head of the OSCE Office in Baku. "I hope that it will expand the possibilities for exchanging experiences and best practices between the customs, border and police officers serving on both sides of the border."

The workshop will train Azerbaijani and Turkish border guards and customs officers on questioning techniques, combating trafficking in human beings, promoting cross-border trade, as well as identifying narcotics and forged documents.

The OSCE Office in Baku organized the workshop in co-operation with the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Consulate General in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. It is the first international cross-border workshop to be held on the Azerbaijani-Turkish border. The OSCE organized four similar cross-border workshops for Georgian and Azerbaijani officials.