Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (December 6, 2007) – Today at a press conference the European Commission, UNDP and partners from the Kyrgyz Government discussed the Border Management and Drug Action in Central Asia (BOMCA-CADAP) Programmes’ implementation progress.

Mr. Joerg Ketelsen, Charge d’Affaires, EC Delegation in Bishkek, and Mr. Neal Walker, UNDP Resident Representative made statements. Mr. Ruslan Baiysh tegin, BOMCA-CADAP Country Manager presented the Programmes’ implementation facts to journalists.

Representatives of the Border Service, the Customs Committee and the Drug Control Agency told about the Government’s input to successful implementation of projects.

BOMCA-CADAP activities in Kyrgyzstan seek to improve the capacities of law enforcement agencies through the provision of equipment, training and infrastructure. The concept of integrated border management is being introduced as a component of this spectrum of assistance which has included:

Construction of two new Border Crossing Points (BCPs) – the one at Ak-Jol on the border with Kazakhstan, and the other at Kara-Suu on the border with Uzbekistan.

Construction of a three-storey training block at the central training facility of the Kyrgyz Border Guard Service, near Bishkek. The building will contain equipment necessary for state-of-the-art training in skills and integrated border management together with a fitness centre.

Drug and Explosive detecting dogs and handlers have been trained in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and are now deployed at BCPs and airports throughout the country. An existing inter agency Centre for Drug Detecting Dogs at Osh has been renovated and expanded, complete with veterinary treatment facilities, classroom and training area.

A Drug Profiling Unit has been established at Manas International Airport. The Unit has been fully furnished and equipped and the multi agency staff has been trained.

A Resource Center for non-confidential data collection and exchange on drug demand and supply has been set up and equipped at the Ministry of Health.

Training has included the use of equipment provided, methods of operation to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, integrated border management for BCP staff, and counter narcotics intelligence.

Six training rooms have been established at beneficiary agency premises in Bishkek and Osh equipped with computers where self teach drug related crime programme software has been installed.

The European Union provided assistance worth 3.5 million Euro through 2007 for BOMCA-CADAP Programmes in Kyrgyzstan.

The overall objective of BOMCA is to facilitate the licit flow of persons and goods over Central Asian borders and to increase security in Central Asia.

CADAP aims to balance an interdiction, intelligence-led approach to drug trafficking with the promotion of a public health approach to drug demand in Central Asia, in line with the balanced approach of the European Union’s Drugs Strategy.

UNDP implements and coordinates BOMCA-CADAP through its country offices in all Central Asian countries.