Officials from Central Asia, Afghanistan discuss cross-border co-operation with Lithuanian counterparts at OSCE-supported event

Twenty-one officials from the border guard, border police and customs agencies of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan took part in an OSCE-organized seminar at the State Border Guard School in Medininkai in south-eastern part of Lithuania, which concluded on 9 November 2012.

The officials from Central Asia exchanged experiences with Lithuanian colleagues who focused on working with other partners in the European Union, as well as with the Russian Federation, Belarus and others. Issues relating to trade facilitation, border security, migration and stability, corruption and integrity, and specific transnational threats were also discussed.

Ambassador Zenonas Kumetaitis from the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry addressed the event participants: "The OSCE commitment to strengthening its engagement with Afghanistan is well served by you coming together, and sharing the experiences of your services and states." He reiterated that during the Lithuanian Chairmanship of the OSCE, a large package of projects aimed at enhancing the OSCE engagement with Afghanistan was adopted, with the current project specifically included at the request of the Afghan authorities.

The event, organized by the Borders Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, aimed to promote bilateral and regional co-operation on border security and management, foster professional relationships and a common understanding between participants from different states in the larger OSCE area. The next seminar will take place in March 2013.

The project has been supported by the United States, Germany and Lithuania.