BOMCA in Uzbekistan

Today BOMCA in Uzbekistan works with 20 beneficiary entities, including five controlling bodies involved in border management: Border Guards Committee under the National Security Service, Customs Committee, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture.

According to law, Uzbek Border Guards are the key state agency responsible for border protection, and thus represent a powerful body in decision making on border issues. Bi-annual Steering Committee Meetings with Uzbek beneficiaries and EC participation have been institutionalized. For almost 4 years of cooperation, increased government ownership with respect to BOMCA activities has been evident by the Government of Uzbekistan.

The first full-fledged Inter Agency BOMCA-CADAP Working Group in the Central Asia region was established in Uzbekistan.  The Uzbek beneficiaries chair this group and provide premises for regular meetings. BOMCA/CADAP performs the Secretariat function of IAWG and supports coordination of international assistance. The EU best practices in border management, i.e. Integrated Border Management concept along with EU Core Curriculum for Border Guard Training, have become part of the Uzbek National Training Work Plan.

BOMCA activities in Uzbekistan have included:

• Establishment of the Inter-Agency Working Group for the introduction of Integrated Border Management, and provision of the secretariat;
• A Study Tour to Europe for Directors of Training Centers and Dog Training Centers to learn more about modern border management and training methodologies;
• Establishment of Drug Profiling Units (DPUs) at Tashkent international airports and Keles railway stations, and trainings for staff of the DPUs;
• Construction/renovation of training facilities for the Border Guards (BG). The Training Center in Termez was handed over to the beneficiaries on 30^th May 2008;
• Advocating for new BG training curricula for integrated border management, based on the EU best practice and expertise; train-of-trainers course for staff of border training academies in Almaty; introduction of inter-agency training at borders (Bukhara and Fergana);
• Provision of common software and training in intelligence analysis for representatives of Law Enforcement Agencies;
• Construction/renovation of border infrastructure (border crossing points, border posts) including Border Posts (BPs) Mamyk and Sokh were built and handed over to the Uzbek  Border Guards, and Border Crossing Points (BCPs) Vuadil, Madaniyat, and Sariosiyo were renovated. It is also planned to complete a construction of BCP Tynchlik in the Fergana Valley in 2008;
• Provision of equipment to Border Guards and  Customs at the borders (BCPs Karasu, Sariosiyo, Gisht-Kuprik, Oybek, Ayritom, Daut-ota, Tashkent and Bukhara International Airports);
• Training of staff involved in border control (visa management and identification of forged documents), inter-agency cooperation; vehicle and passenger search techniques, intelligence analysis and risk profiling; precursor detection (Customs Institute, BCPs Karasu, Sariosiyo, Gisht-Kuprik, Oybek, Ayritom, Alat, Khojeyli, Dustlik);
• Enhancement of dog capacities through provision of dogs and regional three-month training for dog handlers at the National Dog Training Center in Tashkent;
• Introduction of cross-border workshops of relevant law enforcement agencies for intelligence sharing and development of cross-border dialogs (at the Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Turkmen borders);
• Organisation of Skills Training at International BCPs along the programme's Trade and Transit Corridors where infrastructure and / or equipment has been provided under earlier phases of the Programme

Future activities will include:

• Construction of Tinchilik BCP in Kokand region Fergana Valley (2008);
• Organization of a regional three month training for Dog Handlers at the National Dog Training Centre in Tashkent (2009).