TAJIKISTAN: CN CONFERENCE WORKING GROUP'S RECOMMENDATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000908 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL, S/P NSC FOR MILLARD, MERKEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: CN CONFERENCE WORKING GROUP'S RECOMMENDATIONS DUSHANBE 00000908 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. The International Conference on Counter-Narcotics and the second Meeting of the Central and South Asia Counter Narcotics Security Working Group participants met May 15-17 in Tajikistan to deliberate and recommend best approaches to improved border cooperation to halt the flow of narcotics out of Afghanistan. Representatives from all Central Asian countries, except Uzbekistan, participated in the working group. Afghanistan and Pakistan also took an active role in the working group. Conference participants from the United States, UK, Germany, ISAF, the George Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and the United Nations Office of Drug Control were observers. ¶2. Building on their last meeting in Garmish-Partenkirchen, working group participants of the Capacity Building Sub-Group drafted recommendations with the aim of improving regional security through integrated monitoring and detection systems and by providing cross-training. Although noting the working group accomplished its goal, Tajik Border Guard Chairman General Saidamir Zurhurov recommended future working groups and plans be more precise and concrete. The document has been unanimously adopted as a road map for future cooperation and a basis for future discussions. ¶3. The following is a summary of the Capacity Building Sub-Group's recommendations to the Senior Executive Council. ¶4. One recommendation is to improve cross-border cooperation by using common communications systems, conduct joint operations and patrolling and exchanging information. ¶5. Border management can be improved by coordinating the activities of various organizations such as UNODC, CARICC, BOMCA, IOM and others. Some of the group's suggestions also include providing salary supplements for border agencies and exploring the need to reform border agencies, establishing mobile detection teams, and integrating agencies. ¶6. Some countries have already exchanged drug liaison officers. The working group recommended increased exchanges would bolster crucial information sharing as well. It suggested senior leaders in countries such as Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan who have had successful exchanges share their experiences. The group envisions liaison officers to first operate at the border or DCA offices. In the future more senior officers can be exchanged between embassies or ministries. ¶7. The group also recommended counter-narcotics infrastructure such as roads, border crossings, and border outposts be renovated in addition to constructing new facilities. New technical equipment such as radios, vehicles, aviation equipment, drug dogs, and computers are also needed. The important element is that all the equipment between borders be compatible. ¶8. The group identified regional and joint training at the intermediate and advanced level as a priority for regional security. One possibility is to establish one central institute for the region where all officers can be trained. Another is to send mobile training teams to teach a common curriculum throughout the region. ¶9. One key action is to stop the flow of precursor chemicals into Afghanistan from neighboring countries. To do so would require a multi-pronged approach including distributing chemical testing kits to border crossing points, examining legal mechanisms to stop chemical importation and prosecute illegal suppliers, and mapping out the network of suppliers and routes used to import precursors into Afghanistan. DUSHANBE 00000908 002.2 OF 002 ¶10. Timely information and intelligence sharing is critical to border operations. The working group recommends that the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) serve as the backbone for intelligence-sharing efforts, and designated Pakistan to take the lead in developing a sub-working group to begin implementation. CARICC is headquartered in Almaty and is designed to facilitate information sharing among member states. Participants suggested CARICC invite Pakistan and Afghanistan to become members. Some ideas to improve information sharing include establishing a common database and nominating points of contact within each country. ¶11. The group tentatively set the next conference to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in November 2006. ¶12. COMMENT: Although the group did a good job of stating concrete recommendations and delineating steps forward, some conference participants were skeptical all goals will be realized. Many of the activities will require large amounts of donor assistance to start and sustain the projects. In addition, political will in each country is needed for action. This is the second time the working group has met. Its success will be measured in the next meeting to see how many recommendations have been implemented. END COMMENT. HOAGLAND