OSCE-organized conference on transnational threats and border security takes place in Dushanbe

Ambassador Markus Mueller, Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan addresses participants of the Cross Border Research Conference in Dushanbe on 2 December 2013 (OSCE BMSC/Farhodjon Nabiyulloev)

DUSHANBE, 2 December 2013 – The OSCE Cross-Border Research Conference on evolving transnational threats and border security began at the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) today.

Twenty-seven researchers and senior-level officers from border, customs, and drug control agencies representing 15 OSCE participating States and two Partners for Co-operation, will present their research at the conference. Scholars from the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, Siberian Institute of International Relations and Regional Studies, National Border Guard Academy of Ukraine, George Washington University, will also participate in the event.

Promoting and developing demand-driven and practice-oriented research on border security and management is one of the OSCE BMSC’s core objectives. The purpose of the conference is to facilitate a constructive exchange of expertise, research findings, and experience between border security and management practitioners and researchers specializing in security studies.

“In order to address issues related to border security and management, co-operation and dialogue among both practitioners working at borders, and researchers on the topic is crucial. The inclusion of border staff is important as it helps build a fuller picture of the issues,” said Henryk Raczkowski, Director of the OSCE Border Management Staff Course.

The OSCE Border Management Staff College will host the conference again in 2014.