OSCE Mission organizes hostage negotiation training for Georgian Interior Ministry

TBILISI, 11 May 2006 - Fourteen officials of Georgia's Interior Ministry today completed a training course, organized by the OSCE Mission to Georgia, on effective responses to crisis situations, including negotiating with hostage-takers.

"International co-operation and exchange of experience and expertise is vital for an effective negotiated response to hostage situations," said Ambassador Roy Reeve, the Head of the OSCE Mission. "We are happy to continue assisting the Ministry by organizing such hands-on training."

Implemented in co-operation with the French Embassy in Georgia, the 10-day course included theory, exercises and case studies, and was delivered by experts from RAID, a special unit of the French police that deals with serious crimes and terrorism.

"The Georgian Ministry has developed useful links with RAID as a result of this course," said Gérard Pissard, Police/Security Attaché of the French Embassy in Georgia. "The participants have tackled this course professionally and I am sure they will benefit from it."

Officials from the Georgian Ministry's Counter-Terrorism Department, Special Operations Department and Special Operations Centre "Shavnabada" have been trained as part of the OSCE Mission's broader anti-terrorism programme of activities.