Travel document security focus of OSCE-supported training course in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAT, 16 December 2010 - Twenty officials from the National Security Ministry, Interior Ministry, State Border Service and State Migration Service are taking part in an OSCE training course on travel document security that opened in Ashgabat today.

The training course organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and delivered by experts from Belarus, aims at raising awareness of law enforcement officials about security features of passports and other travel documents, as well as means of their authenticity verification.

Opening the training course, Begoña Piñeiro Costas, the Officer-in-Charge of the Centre in Ashgabat, said: "The OSCE recognizes the importance of and is committed to improving travel document security throughout the OSCE region to effectively address transnational challenges and threats, including international terrorism, trafficking and organized crime.

"In order to respond adequately to these cross-border threats, law enforcement officials need proper operational and analytical capabilities, professional skills and up-to-date knowledge about travel documentation. This course is another step towards the enhancement of travel document security."

In addition to the training course, the Centre handed over to the State Migration Service two sets of atlases of passports and an electronic database of passports to be installed at the Passport Department of the State Migration Service and at international airports in Ashgabat and Turkmenbashi.

The OSCE Centre has been working on strengthening travel document security in Turkmenistan since 2008, and today's course is part of the efforts.