OSCE Missions to help Georgian authorities with border management issues

SKOPJE/TBILISI, 19 March 2007 - Representatives of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the country's Border Police will visit Georgia this week to help conduct a study on border management.

During the one week trip on the invitation of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, the delegation will meet Georgian border police authorities and visit border stations and training centres.

"We are happy to share with the Georgian Border Police the experience of other border services which have recently reviewed their management approach," said Burgi Arlow, manager of the OSCE Mission to Georgia's Capacity Building Programme.

Since 2005, the OSCE Mission to Georgia has been addressing the short- and medium-term needs of the Georgian Border Police through specialized skills and management training programmes.

Bruno Hedermann, Border Police Instructor within the OSCE Mission to Skopje, added: "Despite the distance, Skopje and Tbilisi have similar issues to overcome in the process of implementing an integrated border management approach. Our Mission has introduced a programme to help border police efficiently deal with cross-border crime and develop inter-agency co-operation."

Sasko Kocev, Police Counsellor of the Interior Ministry in Skopje, said: "In order to comply with European Union and NATO standards, border security must be in line with contemporary integrated management. My country has done a lot in this area, especially in identifying illegal migration, combating human trafficking and smugglers. We look forward to working with Georgian border police to analyze the situation and suggest ways to improve their work."