Strengthening Cross-Border Co-operation On 8-9 May 2014, TNTD/SPMU participated in the Informal Expert Working Group on Tools of Mutual Legal Assistance in order to discuss new functionalities and future directions of the UN Mutual Legal Assistance Request Writer Tool. The OSCE was identified as a partner organization for effective training, awareness raising and dissemination of the revised tool. From 12-16 May 2014, TNTD/SPMU represented the OSCE as an observer at the twentythird session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) held in Vienna. The thematic discussion on international co-operation in criminal matters addressed different topics, including new and emerging forms of crime, such as cybercrime and trafficking in cultural property. The CCPCJ recommended to the UN Economic and Social Council to approve several resolutions for further adoption by the UN General Assembly in such areas as international co-operation in criminal matters, the smuggling of migrants, the trafficking in human organs and the smuggling of timber, forest products and cultural property. The CCPCS also served as preparation for the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to take place in Doha, Qatar in April 2015 and the post-2015 development agenda. On 17-18 November 2014, in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, and with the support of UNODC and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Interior, TNTD/SPMU organized a workshop on “Information Exchange in the Fight against Organized Crime between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan”, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The workshop, attended by some 30 representatives from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, was geared at strengthening the capacities of the law enforcement agencies in tandem with prosecutorial and central authorities in conducting cross-border organized crime investigations through improvements in their information exchange mechanisms. Participants also explored possibilities for further co-operation between the pertinent institutions of the two countries. On 18-19 November 2014, TNTD/SPMU participated in a meeting of the “Treptower Group” in Potsdam, Germany, which was established in 2010 to co-ordinate donor support to countries in the Western Balkans. TNTD/SPMU gave a presentation on respective policerelated activities of OSCE field operations in the region, as well as of the Secretariat and OSCE institutions. The meeting comprised about 20 potential donor countries and organizations that agreed to establish and maintain a matrix related to donor assistance to the countries in the Western Balkans. TNTD/SPMU has been participating in these annual meetings since the establishment of the “Treptower Group”. Policing in Peacekeeping From 19-21 March 2014, TNTD/SPMU participated, upon invitation of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) Police Division, in the UN Thematic Meeting on Police Capacity-Building and Development, which was a continuation of a three-year process to develop an internationally agreed upon framework on policing in peacekeeping operations. The OSCE has been a valuable partner of the UN, among others like the EU and African Union, since the process was started. In addition, the event provided an opportunity to network with other international partners such as the African Union, National Police Commissioners from around the globe and other international actors active in the field of international policing. On 25 September 2014, TNTD/SPMU participated in the UN Peacekeepers training in Pula, Croatia, attended by 25 participants from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Slovakia. TNTD/SPMU provided a presentation regarding the OSCE’s police-related activities. The majority of participants were scheduled to join UN field operations in the near future. The event was also attended by representatives from the UN 29