The 18th Economic and Environmental Forum focuses on transport security

 

Prague, 26th May 2010 – The concluding part of the 18th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum took place from 24 to 26 May in Prague. The Forum was focused on transport security (»Promoting good governance at border crossings, improving the security of land transportation and facilitating international transport by road and rail in the OSCE region«). This topic had been proposed by Kazakhstan und was discussed in the framework of the OSCE second dimension.
Representatives of 56 participating States, international organisations, civil society, academia and the business sector have exchanged their experiences and good practices regarding  challenges posed to land and rail transport by the security and environmental factors, illegal trafficking, smuggling and terrorist attacks. The participants discussed how to promote good governance and anti-corruption at border crossings and to facilitate implementation of international conventions. Strengthening of regional co-operation in Central Asia and with Afghanistan has been particularly emphasized. The transport issue is of special interest for the landlocked countries in Central Asia. For Kazakhstan, who is chairing the OSCE in 2010, this was one of the main reasons for launching this topic in the 18th EF.
The Prague Forum presented a follow-up to the two Preparatory Conferences in Astana and Minsk and the first part of the Forum in Vienna.

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