OSCE Mission helps Georgian government improve border management

TBILISI, 7 August 2008 - Strengthening border management was the focus of an OSCE-organized workshop for Georgian and Azerbaijani border management and security agencies that ended today in the Georgian district of Lagodekhi.

The two-day workshop was part of an OSCE Mission to Georgia programme that aims to support the efforts of border management and security agencies to allow free and secure movement of people and trade across the borders, while reducing the threat of cross-border organized crime, terrorism and trafficking of human beings, narcotics and weapons.

"The programme enhances the efficiency of border security and management by highlighting the importance of the OSCE Border Security and Management Concept and the Integrated Border Management Strategy recently developed and adopted by Georgia," said Ryan Grist, Deputy Head of Mission.

The one-year programme focuses on improving co-operation between border management agencies in Georgia and its neighbours. It is partially financed by the Austrian and Finnish governments, and is organized by the OSCE Mission to Georgia in co-operation with the OSCE Offices in Baku and Yerevan.

Another integral part of the programme includes joint training courses for students from the Interior Ministry's border police and the Finance Ministry's revenue service on topics of common concern.