UNODC donated a vehicle to the State Border Service of Turkmenistan to support border management and security efforts

On 25 June 2021, UNODC Programme Office in Turkmenistan conducted a handover ceremony of the vehicle to the State Border Service of Turkmenistan.

An off-road vehicle Nissan Patrol Y61 was procured as part of technical assistance rendered within the framework of the Cross-Border Cooperation Component of Sub-programme 1 “Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia to the State Border Service of Turkmenistan and is intended to be used during operative activities.

The handover ceremony featured speeches by Mr. Moriya Yuki, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan - a donor representative, Mr. Vepaly Orazov, Head of Department of Central Executive Office of the State Border Service of Turkmenistan, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, UNODC International Programme Coordinator, and Mr. Batyr Geldiyev, acting Head of UNODC Programme Office in Turkmenistan and UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator.

Mr. Moriya Yuki commended the UNODC and Turkmenistan’s efforts in combating transnational organized crime and preventing terrorism. He noted that it was highly important that last year Turkmenistan had joined the UNODC Cross-Border Cooperation Component. Mr. Moriya Yuki expressed hope that “the vehicle will fulfill the tasks assigned on the Turkmen land and serve for the benefit of the Turkmen people.”

Mr. Vepaly Orazov thanked UNODC for continuous support in countering drugs in the Central Asian region, in particular provided to the State Border Service of Turkmenistan. “We are hopeful to continue our fruitful and beneficial cooperation under the UNODC Cross-Border Cooperation Component.”

Ms. Ashita Mittal highlighted that countering transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking was a shared responsibility and required greater efforts and cross-border cooperation in the region. Ms. Mittal highlighted the importance of the law enforcement officers’ work in ensuring peace and security, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov informed that despite the pandemic, UNODC had managed to conduct many activities via videoconference and reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to providing further support to the State Border Service of Turkmenistan.

UNODC representatives reiterated the organization’s commitment to continuing rendering technical assistance and strengthening cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan to address the challenges related to drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism - to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 16.

The Cross-Border Cooperation Component is funded by the Government of Japan.

 

For further information, please contact:

Nurangez Abdulhamidova

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (Dushanbe)

Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org