AKIPRESS.COM - As part of the first phase of the two-day military Command-Staff Exercise "Barrier 2016", representatives of the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan, local authorities and civil society of Osh region focused on border security and management problems during a roundtable discussion and video-conference in Bishkek.

The discussions aimed to promote cooperation between the military, law enforcement agencies and civil society and improve the existing mechanisms of coordination. Participants were able to directly ask border management-related questions to the deputies of the Parliament, government officials and State Border Service representatives.

Head of the State Border Service Abdikarim Alimbayev detailed the complex measures taken by the Service to strengthen the Kyrgyz-Uzbek and Kyrgyz-Tajik border areas, such as improving the infrastructure of border units and setting additional border barriers and posts.

“Through improved relations with neighboring countries, the strengthening of border security and management will ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state and in this way safeguard peace and stability in the specific border areas and in the broader Central Asian region,” he said.

Daniele Rumolo, acting Head of the OSCE Center in Bishkek highlighted the crucial significance of border security for Kyrgyzstan: “Effective counter-efforts to the current challenges remain the most relevant strategic priority for continuous cooperation and also an important aspect of OSCE activities in the framework of transnational threats. The OSCE Center in Bishkek... expresses its readiness to further develop the cooperation in this field.”

First Deputy Prime Minister Mukhammetkalyi Abulgaziyev stressed the importance of cooperation between security and law enforcement agencies and local governments, stating that in their absence it would be impossible to resolve border crises. He also noted that in the past two years such joint exercises to enhance the combat readiness of units have demonstrated positive results.

On 8 July, following the roundtable discussion and video-conference in Bishkek, the practical phase of the Barrier 2016 simulation exercise took place in Osh with the participation of the Special Forces Unit, the State Border Service, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Armed Forces of Kyrgyzstan.

Barrier 2016 was held jointly by the State Border Service and the OSCE Center in Bishkek as part of the Centre’s project to enhance the ability of the Kyrgyz Government to engage in regional co-operation on border security and management.