Merging BOMCA and CADAP and Inauguration its Management Office in Bishkek
Since 2000, the EU has been developing and implementing several projects under two main umbrella programmes: BOMCA “Border Management Programmes for Central Asia” and CADAP “Central Asia Drug Action Programme”. The wider objective of these two programmes is to improve the security situation in Central Asian countries. In particular CADAP programme finances projects aiming at preventing drug trafficking while BOMCA programme finances projects aiming at modernizing the management of borders.
Both programmes are financed by the European Union. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its each field offices in each CA countries implements them. A Programme Management Office (PMO) staffed with two European Experts has been recently established in Bishkek with the aim to coordinate and support the implementation of the programmes as well as to reinforce EU visibility in the region, in close liaison with the European Commission Delegation in Almaty.
The initial phases of CADAP and BOMCA programmes that were implemented in Central Asia before 2004 have provided support to four major airports, to regional drug control agencies, to dog training centers and to training of border guards and law enforcement officer. Expert needs assessment missions have also been carried in Central Asia in preparation of the coming programme phases.
Thus, as of May 2004, the BOMCA and CADAP programmes will take their full dimension with the implementation start of 34 regional projects. The amount that has so been committed to the programmes is 36,5 million Euro for past, ongoing and future activities in Central Asia from 2001 till 2008.
Main projects of the BOMCA-CADAP programmes
The several phases of the BOMCA-CADAP programmes will launch about 34 regional projects subject to discussion and approval of the competent national authorities in CA.
These projects can be lumped into five main categories:
(1) Legal assistance: several projects will provide support for the adoption of modern legislation and organisational framework in the area of illicit drug control and border management. These projects will also provide training and equipment to judges and prosecutors.
(2) Assistance at the borders: several projects will reinforce the control capacities at the borders in the region: land borders, seaports (Aktau and Turkmenbashy), airports and railway networks. Many of these borders will be reinforced in terms of equipment and training. In some selected regions, the programme will support the creation of joint border posts. Training will be provided focusing on risk analysis as well as on modern border management methods. The modernization process will make provisions for delivery of modern transport means, telecommunication, scenting dogs, etc. The aim is to reinforce interdiction capabilities while at the same time facilitating the flow of legal passenger and cargo traffic. Finally the programmes will contribute at alleviating poverty and at easing the difficult social situation in the selected border regions.
(3) Intelligence and epidemiology: several projects will support the development of intelligence systems aiming at facilitating the collection and analyzing confidential data with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of the fight against drug traffickers. In parallel, other projects will create modern epidemiology system within Ministries of Health. These epidemiology systems will permit to better understand the actual drug abuse situation in each country and therefore develop appropriate prevention responses. More precise epidemiology data also facilitate the early detection of new trends in the drugs’ clandestine markets.
(4) Human resource: several projects will reinforce the long term training capacity of CA states. These projects will contribute to renovate and/or reconstruct training centre/academies for border guards in CA. Specific equipment and training will be provided. Modern curricula will be elaborated. The objective will be the establishment of a sustainable training capacity and training network based on modern technologies.
(5) Drug abuse prevention: Drug use and abuse is a threat for the region because of its negative impact on the health and on the security of the population. Specific projects aiming at preventing drug abuse will be implemented focusing on schools and on prisons as well as the population at large with the support of NGOs. High-risk population will be the main beneficiary of these initiatives.
Encouraging the adoption of harmonized methods
Crime is an international phenomenon. Therefore, to be effective, the response to this phenomenon needs also to be coherent and harmonized at international level. For this reason, the assistance proposed by the EU aims at facilitating regional cooperation.
All the projects of the BOMCA-CADAP programmes are coherent among the five CA states and promote the adoption of harmonized methods and standards. This coherence should enable operational cooperation among the states. It should be stressed that, while focusing on regional cooperation, the projects of the BOMCA-CADAP programmes are adapted to the country specifics. Moreover the implementation mechanism permits each country to implement their own projects at their own pace.
The programmes are also coordinated and coherent with other EU assistance programmes, notably the border management in CARDS countries, EU Custom programmes, and EU Drugs programmes in the Caucasus (“South Caucasus Drug Action Programme” SCAD) and West NIS (“Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova Action Drug Programme” BUMAD).
Recent events
The first regional management meeting for BOMCA and CADAP programmes took place on 31st March 2004 in Bishkek in the premises of UNDP. The event are attended by high ranking government representatives of the participating countries - Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, the European Commission, including Mr. Soeren Klem, EC Task Manager of BOMCA/CADAP, the newly appointed Head of PMO office in Bishkek Mr. Alain Scolan from the French Gendarmerie and his Deputy Mr. Paul Grassl from the Austrian Police, the UNDP and other international organizations, as well as government representatives of the European Union and of the United States working in Central Asia.
The meeting was followed by a formal inauguration ceremony of the European Union joint BOMCA & CADAP Project Management Office (PMO) situated in Bishkek. Mr. Chingiz Aitmatov, Kyrgyz Ambassador in BENELUX countries attended the ceremony and made a speech.
Future plans
In addition to the above-mentioned actions to improve the security situation along the “Silk Route” a number of new and complementary measures are being considered to further strengthen the capacity of the CA states to reinforce their security and fight organized crime in the region.
The actions will build on experience acquired in connection with the assistance to the new EU candidate countries and Western Balkans to improve their institutions in the field of Justice & Home Affairs.
The actions will include Western NIS, South Caucasus and Central Asia and focus on the following objectives:
Institution building: enhance the capacity of the judiciary and the law enforcement services (including border guards) to deal with terrorism and organised crime and to reduce human rights violations and corruption;
Implementation of the Drugs Action Plans and the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001);
Reinforce the capacity of the judiciary and the law enforcement sector to cooperate and exchange information with international, regional or multilateral organisations.
For more information please contact Edem Bakhshish, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13. E-mail: eb@undp.kg
Media Room 
