OSCE police assistance programme helps set up emergency response call centre in Bishkek

BISHKEK, 19 September 2005 - A new call Centre, designed to ensure efficient and effective police response to emergency assistance requests from citizens, opened today in Bishkek.

Funded by the OSCE Police Assistance Programme, "Centre 102"  will feature specially trained personnel and modern communication equipment to help promptly react to the needs of the population and establish a closer link between the police and civilians.

"The new Call Centre will assist Kyrgyzstan in creating a modern police service based on the principles of transparency, co-operation and the rule of law," said Ambassador Markus Mueller, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "It is just one of the components within the OSCE-funded 3.8 million euros Police Assistance Programme for Kyrgyzstan."

The main partners for co-operation in this long-term programme are Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden, as well as the European Union.

The opening of  "Centre 102" was attended by representatives of the law enforcement bodies, City authorities, NGOs, the diplomatic corps of donor countries, as well as the media.