OSCE course on travel document security concludes in Ashgabad

ASHGABAD, 12 September 2008 - A two-week OSCE-sponsored training course on strengthening travel document security concluded in Ashgabad today.

Officials involved in Turkmenistan's border control learned how to detect forged documents, improve analytical capabilities and update knowledge regarding worldwide travel documentation. The course included a module on the use of Interpol databases.

"Knowledge about forged documents is absolutely essential to fight security threats, such as terrorism, organized crime and trafficking in human beings," said Juergen Duftschmied, one of the three international experts teaching the course.

The 10-day training course mixed theory with practical exercises and discussions. The 15 participants represented the Interior Ministry, the State Border Service, the State Customs Service and the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan.

The course was developed by the OSCE Secretariat's Action against Terrorism Unit and the OSCE Borders Team for border control officials in OSCE participating States.

The Ashgabad course was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad as part of its security co-operation programme with Turkmenistan.