AKIPRESS.COM - Twenty Kyrgyz Border Service Officers improved their skills in map reading, pathfinding and providing first aid in the field during a course held from May 8 to June 2 at the Gissar Training Centre in Tajikistan, as part of the third phase of the OSCE’s Patrol Programming and Leadership Project, the OSCE reported.

The course, which was led by a local expert with border management and patrolling skills, focused on analysis and observation through the use of topographic maps, satellite imagery and other tools and field exercises on alpine topography, land navigation and tactical movement by GPS. Participants were also provided with uniforms and some tactical patrolling equipment.

The course also featured sessions on gender mainstreaming and human rights provided by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan’s human dimension experts, as well as demining awareness lessons delivered by the Office’s Demining Unit.

“Building the capacity of Kyrgyz Border Service Officers is key to promoting security at the border between the Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE continues to support such efforts,” said Vyacheslav Abramets, Acting Head of the Politico-Military Department at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.

This was the 11th consecutive course held under the third phase of the Patrol Programming and Leadership Project, which aims at enhancing the capacity of Tajik, Kyrgyz and Afghan border staff in the detection and interdiction of illegal cross-border movements.