OSCE Border Management Staff College concludes its 17th Border Management Staff Course

Professor Dmytro Kupriyenko, Lieutenant Colonel of the National Academy of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, presenting his research findings on counter strategies to cybercrime at the 17th Border Management Staff Course, Dushanbe, 6 June 2017. (OSCE/Eraj Asadulloev)

DUSHANBE, 16 June 2017 – The 17th Staff Course for current and future border security managers concluded today in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Twenty four mid- to senior-level officials from border and customs agencies of Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Portugal, Tajikistan and Ukraine graduated from the course.

The topics covered during the study sessions of the course included, among others, modern transnational threats; border security and management models; regional and inter-agency co-operation models; development and implementation of border management strategy; information sharing and the role of risk management; the OSCE’s approach to conflict prevention and crisis management; human rights in border security and management; anti-terrorism strategies; customs controls for revenue collection; integrity and anti-corruption; and leadership and management.

“Alongside the studies, this group of participants had the opportunity to develop their group research papers, which were presented this week,” said Dita Nowicka, the Director of the OSCE Border Management Staff College. The papers focused on the influence of mass migration on border security, maritime safety strategies, positive and negative aspects of open borders, local cross- border populations impact on border security, as well ways to improve border checkpoint efficiency.

“This exercise allowed the participants to apply the knowledge received throughout the course and engaged them in generating possible solutions to existing challenges,” Nowicka said.

Vasili Sabiashvili, Senior Lieutenant at Border Police of Georgia, said that as a professional working at the green border he was glad to have an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on the subjects covered during the course, particularly information on customs as well as the experience of different countries.

“I already had some information about the work practices of our neighbouring countries. However learning about the best practices employed by the fellow participants from other parts of the world was very rewarding,” he said.

During the course, participants had the opportunity to participate in a study tour to the Tajik – Afghan Border checkpoint at Nizhny Panj and engage in a cultural programme.

One of the highlights of the 17th and the 18th Border Management Staff Courses, which were conducted simultaneously, was a roundtable discussion on cyber security threats entitled “Virtual Frontier Protection: Potential Impact on Border Security”. The event bought together over 80 professionals, including international experts, diplomats, representatives from government agencies and international organizations.