OSCE organizes roundtable discussion on airport security in Podgorica
A two-day roundtable discussion on airport security organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in close co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, concluded on 21 December 2017 in Podgorica.
Over 30 officials from Montenegro and senior border experts from France, Portugal, Spain and FRONTEX (the EU border management agency), discussed existing standards and best practices in the field of airport security. The roundtable was held in an interactive setting with the aim to review public-private partnerships at the airport and develop recommendations for future activities. The event also provided the opportunity for a visit to the Podgorica International Airport.
The roundtable was the first event within an OSCE project on airport security developed by the OSCE Border Security Management Unit. Additional activities based on the recommendations are planned for 2018.
“Airports have to be open rather than suppressive places, while still providing a high standard of security for all travelers. The OSCE’s approach through its Boarder Security Management concept is to balance those factors to provide open but secure boarders that still conform to human right standards,” said Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department/Border Security and Management Unit.
“Participating States’ law enforcement agencies must constantly adapt to the global terrorist threat that has evolved significantly over the past decade, both in scale and complexity. The key to the success of any sustainable reform in the security sector is national ownership. OSCE assistance will be both tailor-made and well-co-ordinated,” Cosgrove added. “Success in this area will also depend on a multi-sectorial approach and intensive co-operation between all the participants involved in the process, followed by the implementation of the actions outlined in the strategic document “Border Community Security Programme.”
“I am confident that this roundtable discussion will help contribute to these plans,” said Ambassador Maryse Daviet, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.