regional and international legal framework, risk analysis and management, travel document security, interviewing techniques, the use of data bases and/or watch-lists, and intra-agency and international co-operation mechanisms for the identification of potential FTFs. These deployments supplemented TNTD/BSMU’s efforts to prevent the movement of FTFs in line with UNSCR 2178 and in particular the OSCE MC Decision 6/16 on Enhancing the Use of Advance Passenger Information (API). An API system allows law enforcement authorities to receive information about a traveller before their arrival in a country, making it an effective tool in countering terrorism and organized crime. In 2017, the OSCE organized 4 national API workshops in Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. These workshops gathered all national stakeholders involved in passenger processing, as well as IT service providers, donors, and international experts, in order to draft an official Roadmap for establishing an API system in each country. Additionally, an OSCEwide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange was organized in Vienna in September bringing together over 120 experts to discuss good practices in implementing both API and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems. In October 2017, TNTD/BSMU and the Office for Combating Organized Crime and Protection of Cultural Property of Cyprus Police organized the three-day International Seminar on Trafficking of Cultural Property/Antiquities Smuggling in Larnaca, Cyprus. The event raised awareness regarding the illicit trafficking of cultural property and its impact on security and stability in the OSCE area and discussed best ways to respond to this transnational threat in a systematic manner, also in co-ordination with relevant national, international and regional organizations, the private sector and educational institutions. Around 60 participants (42 men and 18 women) from Marine and Port Police, Airport Security Police, Criminal Investigation Departments, Customs, Antiquities Department, Inter-Ministerial National Committee for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Prosecutors Office and non-Governmental Organizations, as well as the Contact Points of the EU Law Enforcement Authorities and Expertise Competent in the Field of Cultural Goods Network (CULTNET) participated in the event. Subject matter experts from UNODC, INTERPOL, Europol, CULTNET, Canada, Greece and USA provided their perspectives in addressing this transnational threat. In November, as a part of the project supported by the 2017 Chair of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group, TNTD/ BSMU conducted a five-day workshop in Vicenza (CoESPU), Italy, attended by 22 policy- and decision-making officials and operational experts from national services of thirteen 30 participating States and Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation. The event aimed to raise awareness regarding illicit trafficking of cultural property and its impact on security and stability in the Mediterranean region, and discuss best ways to respond to this transnational threat in a systematic manner, also in co-ordination with relevant national, international and regional organizations, private sector and educational institutions. TNTD/BSMU provided expert advice and support for capacity-building activities organized by the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) in Dushanbe, and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, which promoted co-operation between border security and management agencies across the OSCE area. TNTD/BSMU also participated and contributed to 10 other training events and workshops aimed to address cross-border co-operation together with international and regional organizations such as UNODC, UNCCT, NATO, BORDERPOL and Frontex. Border Security and Management / Customs The increasing trend towards “look-alike” fraud coupled with more complex and sophisticated forgery techniques, require a high-degree of skill for law enforcement officers to detect. In 2017, the OSCE organized hands-on practical training for front-line and second-line officers in the latest detection methods, as well as advanced ToT courses. The training courses included the donation of modern detection equipment for participants. During the year, a total of 235 officers were trained (126 front-line officers, 53 second-line officers, and 56 received ToT in the following locations: Kazakhstan in May and September, Uzbekistan in June, Turkmenistan in July, Pristina and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in August, Tajikistan in September, Bosnia and Herzegovina in October, Mongolia in November, Ukraine and Austria in December. In March, TNTD/BSMU, with the support of the Austrian OSCE Chairmanship, conducted the 11th Annual Meeting of the OSCE Border Security and Management National Focal Points (NFP) Network focused on new and innovative ways to further advance the implementation of the OSCE Border Security and Management Concept by participating States. The meeting aimed to provide the NFPs with an opportunity to discuss the emerging threats and risks and the available cross-border co-operation mechanisms for addressing those, as well as to take stock of current and planned OSCE activities in the area of border security and management. A total of 115 NFP representatives, national experts from the participating States and the Partners for Co-operation, as well as international and regional organizations attended the event.

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents