Office continued with the implementation of the extra-budgetary project “Preventing VERLT in Sughd Province, Northern Tajikistan”, which was successfully completed by September 2010. The project had a particular focus on youth as a vulnerable group endangered by trends of VERLT and consisted of four components: assessment of VERLT trends in Northern Tajikistan, facilitation of dialogue, awareness raising and the promotion of a cooperative approach between government agencies and civil society actors in the sphere of preventing VERLT. Moreover, the Office started the assessment phase of a second extra-budgetary project, “Counter-Radicalization Capacity Building in Tajikistan”, in March 2010. Building on the other project’s successful pilot assessment in Sughd, this project aimed at a countrywide assessment of VERLT trends in Tajikistan. With the support of a local research NGO, a survey was conducted among 3,500 respondents across 224 interview locations covering all but one of the country’s districts. Based on the results of both the survey and focus group discussions held with civil society representatives in seven local communities around the country, a comprehensive study was drafted by a SSA consultant. It was planned to be issued in early 2011 to serve as a basis for the design of training modules for Tajik lawenforcement officials in the second phase (to be started in early 2011). From 29-30 April, the Office facilitated the participation of the Chief of the Law and International Relations Department of the State Committee on National Security as well as of staff of the International Relations Department of the Executive Apparatus of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan in a workshop on the “2005 Universal Legal Instruments against Terrorism and the Implementation of their Provisions in National Legislation”, in Vienna. The workshop was organised by the ATU (see also 3.1). On 13-14 October, the Office facilitated the participation of the Director of the Centre for Strategic Research in an expert conference to prevent terrorism, held in Astana. In response to the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Border Guards, the Office, in co-operation with the ATU and Interpol, organized a Technical Assessment Visit to Tajikistan in order to connect ten Border Crossing Points with a secured internet connection (I 24/7) to Interpol in Lyon. The visit took place from 4 to 11 October 2010 to 10 border crossing points Tajikistan wide, with four of the crossing points being airports. The technical assessment examined the needs for each border crossing point for IT equipment and all relevant infrastructure development. The project was funded by Norway and allowed equipping BCP’s and training officers on Interpol equipment. Based on the technical assessment, recommendations were to be developed for installing the appropriate equipment at each border crossing point. On 7-8 December, the Office held a workshop on the Prevention of VERLT in Tajikistan. This event was organized in co-operation with the Centre for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. Several distinguished experts from various participating States were invited to share their practical experiences in different working environments such as police, intelligence co-ordination or policy advice with their Tajik counterparts and several representatives of civil society, embassies and international organizations. In the further development of the Anti Terrorism Unit (OMON), which is the MIA’s primary operational unit responding to terrorism threats and terrorist acts, the Office completed the refurbishment of the on-site tactical training room within the OMON premises. This tactical training facility shall enable the OMON to carry out professionally designed tactical training in order to enhance the capacity of the OMON to respond to terrorist threats or acts in Tajikistan. 103