OSCE support for Montenegro’s participation in ICAO Public Key Directory discussed with Deputy Minister of Interior in Podgorica
The Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department met with Montenegro’s Deputy Minister of the Interior, Milanka Bakovic, and her technical team during a country visit on 28 February and 1 March 2019 to facilitate the country’s participation in the Public Key Directory of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO PKD) – a central repository simplifying and facilitating the fast and secure authentication of electronic passports at borders.
Dennis Cosgrove, Head of the Border Security and Management Unit, outlined what benefits Montenegro could gain by becoming a member of the ICAO PKD and how the OSCE can support the country in this process.
Christiane Dermarkar, global focal point for the ICAO PKD membership, described the administrative requirements for joining the Public Key Directory.
Jeen de Swart, Senior Information Architect from the Dutch Ministry of Justice, demonstrated the technical steps for the integration of the Montenegrin National Public Key Infrastructure with the ICAO PKD.
Deputy Minister Bakovic positively received the initiative and stressed Montenegro’s interest in improving existing border security systems. She highlighted that Montenegro is working on upgrading to third-generation e-passports and joining the ICAO PKD will be the pre-requisite to meeting the ICAO standards.
After meeting the Deputy Minister, the OSCE delegation also met with representatives of the Civil Aviation Agency of Montenegro and discussed how the agency could support the government in joining the ICAO PKD.
The country visit was a follow-up activity to the first OSCE Regional Workshop for South-East Europe on ICAO PKD, which was organized in Montenegro in November last year. At the workshop Montenegro presented an overview of its e-passport system and together with recommendations from experts drafted a road map on how to join the ICAO PKD.