Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Central Asian countries join hands to fight smuggling and criminal activities in the region.
The first joint meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan has brought a joint strategy to fight against crime, terrorism and illegal cross- bordering events.
According to an official press statement, the meeting which was held the first week of October at city of Cholpon-Ata of Kyrgyzstan was attended by Ministers and officials of Ministry of Internal Affairs of all four central Asian states.
According to official news agency of Kyrgyzstan, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro, Kazakhstan – Kalmukhambet Nurmukhanbetuly Kassymov, Uzbekistan – Bobojonov Pulat Razzakovich.
Border Security
Heads of the main directorates and departments of the border areas of the Ministries of Internal Affairs of the Central Asian countries also take part in the meeting: heads of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Chuy oblast, the Internal Affairs Directorate of Issyk-Kul, Talas, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken oblasts (Kyrgyzstan), the Department of Internal Affairs of Almaty and Zhambyl regions (Kazakhstan), Ministry of Internal Affairs in Sughd region (Tajikistan), Department of Internal Affairs of Andijan, Namangan, Fergana regions (Uzbekistan).
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kashkar Dzhunushaliev, said that this meeting in the format of the frontier republics of Central Asia underlines the desire of ministries for closer and consolidated cooperation in the region.
Following the meeting, a joint protocol of the meeting of the Ministries of Internal Affairs of the Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) was signed. There was also the signing of other documents on interaction.
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan plan to jointly fight against organized crime
In addition, within the framework of the meeting, the Ministers of Internal Affairs of the two countries of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a joint plan on cooperation in the fight against organized crime, exchange of experience in countering extremism and terrorism, and interaction in ensuring public order and security in border areas.
The meeting with the participation of the heads of the Ministries of Internal Affairs was held in a friendly, businesslike and constructive atmosphere.
Regional Security
Regional experts believe that this initiative of President of Kyrgyzstan would help in intensifying friendly and good neighborly relations, fighting crime, smuggling and nabbing terrorists if they ever try to enter into region.
