UNODC supports the opening of the Border Liaison Office on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border

On 7 July 2022, UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia, in partnership with the law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic, opened Border Liaison Office (BLO) at the railway border crossing point (BCP) Kaindy on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. It is the first BLO in Kyrgyzstan opened at the railway border crossing point.

The official opening ceremony was attended by Colonel Maralbaev Marat Melisbekovich, First Deputy Director of the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Mr. Shigeki Maeda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia, Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov, UNODC International Programme Coordinator, as well as representatives of UNODC and other law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic.

 

"UNODC supports the Border Service in ensuring border security. The opening of the Border Liaison Office equipped with state-of-the-art technical equipment and support in upgrading infrastructure provide compelling evidence of this. Such offices are successfully operating not only in Kyrgyzstan but also in neighboring countries in the region, contributing to the further development of cross-border cooperation and coordination of efforts in combating illicit trafficking in drugs and their precursors," said Colonel Maralbaev in his welcoming speech.

He noted that the opening of a new BLO was possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Japan. He extended particular gratitude to Ms. Ashita Mittal and Mr. Yusuf Kurbonov.

"The stability throughout Central Asia can only be achieved through cooperation and concerted efforts by all five countries of the region. The Border Liaison Office is provided with cutting-edge equipment to ensure effective border control. I expect this office will be utilized effectively and become a coordination hub and human resource development platform of regional significance for the Border Service," said Ambassador Shigeki Maeda in his welcome remarks.

Ms. Ashita Mittal thanked the Government of Japan for the continued support of UNODC in the implementation of important initiatives to ensure security in Kyrgyzstan and the Government of Kyrgyzstan for the fruitful partnership with UNODC.

"The BLO at the Kaindy border crossing point being the only checkpoint in the Chui region on the border with Kazakhstan and used for passenger and freight railway traffic can have a great impact on the further development of the economy of Kyrgyzstan. Being an integral part of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025, the Cross-Border Cooperation Project remains highly important and relevant, especially in the context of the geographical proximity of Afghanistan - the world's largest opium poppy producer," noted Ms. Ashita Mittal.

"Fostering greater cross-border and interagency cooperation is the only way forward for achieving our shared vision to build a more inclusive and fairer future, to make the region safer from drugs and crime, as well as healthy for the benefit of our generation and future generations to come," she added.

 

In the course of work on the establishment of the BLO, the premises of the Kaindy BCP were refurbished, the necessary equipment was provided, and law enforcement officers who will work at the BLO were trained.

BLOs are established within the Cross-Border Cooperation Project of Sub-programme 1 "Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism" of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia. The beneficiaries of this first project to establish BLOs in Central Asia funded by the Government of Japan are the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Border Troops, Customs and Drug Control Agencies of each participating country.

 

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For further information, please contact:

 

Nurangez Abdulhamidova

Communication and External Relations Officer

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia 

Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org